Adios wine cooler...

D

dbsea

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 1, 2021
Messages
1,063
Fluid Motion Model
R-23 (Outboard)
Vessel Name
HALCYON
MMSI Number
368365270
After repeated bumps of the power switch, poorly cooled wine, and frustrations over storage space, it was time for the wine cooler to go. I leveraged the existing power run to install a motion sensor LED light bar in the space (downsized the fuse to 1a!), and I'm having a custom Starboard door made from boatoutfitters.com to cover the space. Talk about a cavernous storage area! Few photos:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!An3QgiOrn39prTLxbMd ... V?e=xe4jVM

https://1drv.ms/u/s!An3QgiOrn39prTGAS6P ... v?e=n5Zz6Y

Lightbar:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081M ... UTF8&psc=1

Custom door from boatoutfitters:

https://www.boatoutfitters.com/build-yo ... -boat-door
 
Love this idea. Wine cooler doesn't help me with anything. Love to see a picture when complete.

-martin610
 
I'll share pics as soon as the fabricated door comes in, they are telling me two weeks. I really wanted the wood door but the factory isn't doing custom wood orders any longer...
 
I removed the wine cooler two years ago and after frustration finding a suitable door option used a curtain that matches our replacement curtains throughout. Not bad, but not ideal. Looking forward to seeing photos of your door. I added a shelf, which doubles the floorspace for storage but limits the height of items to be placed. We use this space mostly for fresh food and have a couple baskets that slide out of the shelf (lip on shelf keeps them in place underway).
 
Very nice!
 
I, too, removed the wine chiller a year or two ago. Love the added space and I don't miss the chiller -- an energy hog and of limited utility.

I have a machine that can sew heavy canvas, leather, and similar materials so I sewed up a Phifertex Plus (a dense poly mesh) cover that I attached via snaps. I like having the ability to snap it off completely and have nothing in the way of the opening. I think the Starboard door solution looks great, though, and equally functional!

Gini
 
I am a non-drinker and I use the wine cooler for vegetables. It works great except for accidentally hitting the off switch and on extremely hot days, it doesn’t stay very cool. I would never take it out as long as it works.
 
Do you have the dimensions of the hole handy?

Without going down to the boat I want to see if something like this would fit

https://www.homelabs.com/products/ice-maker

I know that it would probably use even more power and is 120V, but at least I'd get some value out of it at the dock and while in transit.
 
watson1987":110idlya said:
Do you have the dimensions of the hole handy?

Without going down to the boat I want to see if something like this would fit

https://www.homelabs.com/products/ice-maker

I know that it would probably use even more power and is 120V, but at least I'd get some value out of it at the dock and while in transit.
Click to expand...

I would measure yours several times, as even mine was not uniformly cut all the way around which you'll see with the trim off. Mine came out to approx 16 11/16 tall by 10 1/2 wide. It varied by a few 16ths of an inch depending on where I measured it, so I had to go with the widest / tallest dimensions.
 
I'm interested in removing mine, but not entirely sure where would I start to disconnect and un-mount it for removal. I'm assuming it's bolted in somewhere, and that it's likely I'd have to remove a panel down in the quarter berth to get to the mounting hardware?
 
JDubya":26asp6c8 said:
I'm interested in removing mine, but not entirely sure where would I start to disconnect and un-mount it for removal. I'm assuming it's bolted in somewhere, and that it's likely I'd have to remove a panel down in the quarter berth to get to the mounting hardware?
Click to expand...

hey JDubya, slightly less challenging than that. 😀 Inside the under-helm seat storage cabinet, there's a monkey fur panel that abuts the back of the area where the fridge is mounted. The panel is secured with 4 square head screws. Remove the screws/panel, and you'll see that there are 4 mounting brackets holding the fridge in place. Simply remove the screws and you can take out the fridge, as well as the wood piece the fridge is resting on. Don't' forget to remove the teak trim from the front of the fridge first! As far as disconnection, I simply cut the wire, and reused the wiring for a 12v motion sensor LED light bar so the interior of the space is lit when I open the cabinet now. In doing this, I also downsized the fuse to 1a.
 
Sounds a bit easier on the CB 30s. For anyone with a R31 who is thinking about removing the wine cooler, you'll want to remove the forward panel in the mid-berth, which will give you access through a cutout in the panel above your head after crawling into the area. Not hard really. But not as readily accessible as on the CB 30.

Gini
 
You were right, Dave, super easy to get out. Turns out I only had 2 square head screws on the monkey fur panel, and the cooler was only attached with 2 brackets on the bottom. When I took the brackets off the cooler, it slid right out without having to remove the teak trim, so I have a decent looking opening there for books or other storage.

I'm definitely considering that door from Boat Outfitters (I'll have to remove the trim for that, it's caulked on pretty good) as well as the light solution.

Thank you so much for sharing the details on this project.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top