Wine Cooler Removal-Resale Impact

[fishheadbarandgrill]

We’re not wine drinkers so the wine cooler is a power sucking waste of space for us. We’re going to pull it and add the same louvered doors to the opening and create more storage. That decision has been made. The question for the group is this... Do you think the removal of the wine cooler hurts the boat at resale? We may modify the opening so the opening may not accommodate a plug-and-play re-installation.

 

[FWTMD]

I'll take a crack at your question, since I am a prospective buyer.

I drink wine, but to me the cooler is a "nice to have" but by no means a must-have.

My wife does not drink wine, but thinks having a wine cooler is cool, especially in the stateroom. I doubt the lack of one would be a deal killer, but she really likes the idea. A lot.

Go figure.

I wouldn't let this stop me. Its probably more about the quality of the job to make the change, and its usefulness to others.

 

[Matty]

Big boat little wine cooler. Zero impact.
And i like wine.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

None. Lots of owners pull them out. In fact my dealer put one back in my boat before I bought it. I never use it. If you are really worried keep it at home and swap it back in when you sell.

 

[iggy]

For me the wine cooler acts as a 2nd fridge for those long trips. It can be turned off.

I think it really depends on what your needs are. When it comes time for resale, you can give the new owner the cooler and leave it up to them.

 

[Jfrano]

Yes, we use as second fridge for liquids. Keep on while on shore power or under way.

 

[Hydraulicjump]

These boats have a free wine cooler in them: the storage space beneath the galley cabinets. Also a good place to put booze when you cross the border. It stays cool all the time in temperate climes and, if like us, everything in those cabinets is in tupperware, you can get to the wine quickly. These boats have a dearth of easy access storage, so to us, the wine cooler should go. It is a glam addition and a power hog at anchor. Stick it in the garage and put it back in when you sell the boat.

 

[rackline]

The wine cooler was what got the admiral to approve the boat purchase! However, it's never worked and we're curious about what others have done with the space after removing. We're especially interested what doors others have found when creating a locker and where you found them.

 

[Captain Nice]

Teak louvered doors that Ranger used (at least at one time) - marinedepotdirect.com

CN

 

[scross]

Bob,
If you decide to sell in the future, I could go as high as $5,000 for your boat (sight unseen) since it won’t have a wine cooler! We are confessed wine snobs and I was appalled with your decision to remove such a valuable feature from your boat!
Just kidding! In reality, I don’t think it will make any difference at all on your resale value. While we are really wine snobs, we don’t have a wine cooler in our R25 Classic and we survive just fine! When boats approach a decade in age there are many, many more important issues in determining valuation than the condition of the wine cooler! Just MHO!

 

[Captain Blok]

The admeral uses it to store our bread and keep it cool. Works great for that and we just shut it down when not running. We may take it out though for the extra space. Like to hear about your conversion if you do it and where you get your teak door.

 

[BradN]

Our wine boxes don't fit in it very well.

 

[Katmat]

People will see if they remove the wine cooler how deep that space is (about 3'6")!!

 

[NorthernFocus]

I'm in the camp that removing it will be a huge negative impact on resale. So if you want a lower dollar value boat just save yourself the hassle of removing it and I'll trade you straight up you boat for our 25 classic. 😀

 

[Mr. Ed]

I had the wine cooler deleted from my build from the factory. FWIW the space has enough room for four standard orange life jackets, two boxes of flares, a first aid kit and a small trash can. And there's still some space left over.

 

[Captain Blok]

Holly S**t, you winebibbers can keep yours, but if there over 3' of space in there...thats a no brainer, we are decently removing ours now!

 

[Cutwater28GG]

out of interest for removal, is the fridge screwed in place from outside the cabinet below in the downstairs berth?

 

[sjreib]

I see the wine cooler as a waste of space and it sucks a lot of energy, so take it out. Want to cool your wine? Drop it over the side in a mesh bag for 20 minutes. Works great in the PNW.

 

[H28]

I was thinking of doing that as well. besides every time I walk up and down into the berth, I brush the power button and either turn it off or on..... Why not pull it out and save it, and then reinstall it for resale? I have Mazda Miata seats in y 1974 TR6 and slotted mag wheels. People say "orginal, resale, blah blah blah" well, the original seats and wheels are in my basement on a shelf..........

 

[Captain Blok]

I got this email from Marco at FM

Hi Bill!

Sorry for the delay, I have been swamped with projects for the past couple of weeks. To answer your question, this is how you remove the wine cooler:
Open the access under the helm seat
The inboard wall is a panel, wrapped with rat fur
On the panel, there will be screw covers at the corners. Remove the covers and pull the screw out. They should be #2 square drives
Pull on the panel
Behind the wine cooler, you should see 1-2 L-brackets holding the bottom side of the wine cooler, unsecure those
You can snip the two wires (power and ground) for the wine cooler. I would pull the fuse for the wine cooler at the fuse block for safe measure. Secure the wires as needed, I would recommend rolling them up and taping or zip-tying them.
The wine cooler should slide right out

Unfortunately we do not make any sort of woodwork to convert it into a storage area.

Going to pull mine tomorrow