Refrigerator replacement

[Jerry G]

We have a 1986 53' Classic. The full size, original refrigerator just died and cannot be repaired. Does anyone have any suggestions for removal and replacement? Was the boat built around the original one? We have measured from every angle and though the old one will probably have to be removed in pieces, how do we get a new one in? We were hoping to replace it with something not quite as large, but not the size of a college dorm room fridge either.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks, Donna & Jerry

 

[Boatsb]

There's plenty of full size apartment units out there and I'm sure some people on the site have used them.

I have an apartment size in my 41c for 10 years now. The only thing I wish it had was an icemaker.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I cut my old one up with a sawzall for removal then replaced it with a new LG side-by-side. Look at the specs for every make/model until you find one that fits. With the doors off, the new one will go down the stairs.

 

[Scarlett]

On our 53 the area to the right of the lower helm has been made narrower so full size appliances go right down the stairway to the galley. It also opens up the stairway area visually. I think Pascals boat had the same thing before he remoldeled it. John

 

[SEVEN]

Yes the boat was built around the refrigerator. If you search past posts you can see step by step instructions with photos from owners and how they did it. Like Sky said sawsall makes it simple to remove. Send us your photos and details as well. Good luck.

 

[krush]

Get a fridge that runs on 12volt or use an inverter?

 

[Boatsb]

12 volt on a 53 motoryacht is like coal in California. You can't use it for anything worth while.

 

[Pascal]

If you don't have anything to the right or the helm you can easily enlarge the opening to the stairs gaining about 5". You can also open up the space vertically by cutting the fiberglass ledge over the stairs. It makes a huge difference not just to get appliances in and out but also visually.

Finding appliances that will get into a boat, not just our hatts, can be challenging and time consuming. Search on line. I recently got a Samsung French door fridge / freezer down into the forward lower foyer of the 84 lazzara i run with 1/4"' to spare after removing the doors. We needed more refrigeration for Exumas trips and it was the only solution. I must have spent hours searching till I found one that would make it thru

 

[Fanfare]

If nothing else works cut a hole in the galley overhead and drop the new one in. Carefully done it won't show.

 

[piripucha]

Some years ago we replaced on our 58 YF, wich I believe has the same dimention than the 53, the original refrigerator/freezer with a GE house unit, ( sorry I do not have the model number at hand) with 2 vertical doors. The limiting factor was the dept of the unit. As I can recall, we took off the doors and we even had to remove the wooden moulding of the walls going down the stairs. It was a VER CLOSE fit but we managed. It was a 4 person job. One brain and 3 "Hey you !!". Good luck.

 

[Red Hatt]

I put in a 36inch sub zero counter depth and love it. It fit right down the steps.

 

[ian w]

The biggest mistake I made on replacement was not going for aluminum .The new ones rust quickly !!!!

 

[SEVEN]

I put in a 36inch sub zero counter depth and love it. It fit right down the steps.

What year and size Hatteras do you have? I looked up your profile and it says your not a Hat owner? Also if you have a 53 or 58 can you give me the name and model of the refer you put it. Thanks

 

[Rivahman]

We have a 1986 53' Classic. The full size, original refrigerator just died and cannot be repaired. Does anyone have any suggestions for removal and replacement? Was the boat built around the original one? We have measured from every angle and though the old one will probably have to be removed in pieces, how do we get a new one in? We were hoping to replace it with something not quite as large, but not the size of a college dorm room fridge either. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!Thanks, Donna & Jerry

What Frig did you end up installing?

 

[Angela]

I recently got a Samsung French door fridge / freezer down into the forward lower foyer of the 84 lazzara i run with 1/4"' to spare after removing the doors.

I hope you bought the extended warranty on that. My Samsung went tits up at 3.5 year mark and it was a failure in the sealed system which is unrepairable. I had a 5-year extended warranty from Home Depot, but they bailed on it when they realized Samsung had a 5 year warranty on the sealed system. Samsung didn’t like what the first tech said, so they sent another, and another, and another. I fought with them for six months. I had to use a Yeti cooler for six months for refrigeration. I finally sent a certified letter from my law firm, and they cut a check for just under $2,000 to me the next day. I guess they wanted to see if they could frustrate me so badly that I would eventually just go away which I didn’t. Samsung needs to stick to televisions and phone and leave the major appliance business to someone else. There customer service sucks beyond belief.

 

[SeaEric]

+1 on Samsung sucks. $$$$ Samsung front load washer bit the dust like 2 minutes after the extended warranty ended. Never again on their appliances.

 

[Pascal]

No extended warranty. I never buy them. They re not that expensive so by the time you jump they all hoops and agravation it s easier to replace.

 

[Angela]

No extended warranty. I never buy them. They re not that expensive so by the time you jump they all hoops and agravation it s easier to replace.

I only bought it on the refrigerator since it was the most suspect appliance I had going in the new galley and the most difficult to “throw overboard” and buy a new one. To me, all refrigerators are suspect. I’ve got a collection of Kitchenaid going into the condo I’m buying across the street from the marina. I hope my luck is better on that refrigerator.

 

[Angela]

+1 on Samsung sucks. $$$$ Samsung front load washer bit the dust like 2 minutes after the extended warranty ended. Never again on their appliances.

All stainless steel drum front load washers do that after about 6 years, even my beloved Bosch. The SS drum is attached to a crappy Chinese pot metal (or maybe even zinc) spider bracket in the back. That spider bracket turns to dust due to electrolysis (nothing to do with being on a boat). No one ever finds that out until you actually take one apart, and no manufacturer ever expects a consumer to do that. The repair guy will say the bearings are shot because that is the symptom produced with the spider bracket turns to dust. To repair the spider bracket, you have to take the entire washer apart - every single part of it.

As for Samsung washer/dryer...the apartment I’m in for the moment has a brand new one and the dryer is rusting inside already. It’s about 4 months old.

 

[Walter P]

It never ceases to amaze me about all our appliances not lasting near as long as they did as recent as
30 years ago. We moved into our brand new house in June 2012 and we wanted all decent appliances
etc. Well we just sprung for a new furnace a couple of days ago. It seems that something happened
to the heat sensor and it overheated and all the electronics (it's a high efficiency unit) went south. The
repair company called tech support after trying to get it going and was told to just replace the furnace
as it would cost more to fix it than replace it. Now I have to fight with them about the warranty since
they are usually covered for 5 years and that happened about 6 months ago. Big surprise... I think
that the expression "they don't make them like they used to" is absolutely correct except for cars. Cars
are much better built today than years ago. Rust was common after a few years, engines lasted less
than half the time they do today. Tires also last much longer than they did. The reason appliance
makers sell us crap today is because they figure we'll just buy another new refrigerator or washer/dryer
or whatever other appliance and they get to keep a captive market. BTW the furnace overheated probably
because it had to work so hard because of the extreme cold we've been having in NJ this year.

Walt