Bigger fridge for my wines please

[PresentSpecial88]

You know how those old fridges are still working until now? We got a Waeco 18L fridge under the nav station of out 1982 Dufour 31. It's been reliable but just like old fridges, it's a power hog and for me, it's quite tiny. I have to make room for my champagnes! We thought about upgrading to a larger Waeco unit, but the compartment's too narrow, only the 25L version fits, and that's still not enough. How do we make room for a bigger fridge? Anyone with a Dufour 31 found a setup that works? Would love to hear ideas!

 

[SperryGata_]

You could look into a DIY cold plate system where you can build a custom-insulated box.
I imagine this would let you maximize the available space for a much larger fridge, and then install a cold plate and a remote compressor unit.
I know it's more of a project than a simple replacement, the result can be a highly efficient, larger fridge that draws very little power.
You can also consider a chest-style fridge that could be installed elsewhere, like under a settee or even in a cockpit locker.
Either way, upgrading to a modern, well-insulated system will make a huge difference in both power consumption and your ability to provision for longer trips!

 

[sailingevensteven]

A few years ago I spoke to a guy that had converted a galley locker to fit a fridge and I think it was a 45L unit, which he was super stoked about. Not sure how much DIY is involved in this process, but you might want to look into it.