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8 Ways a Boat Freezer Can Be Customized: Yacht Marine Refrigeration Customization

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We all take pride in our tools and toys. Our vessels can be both.

Making them uniquely our own is part of the joy of owning them. Just as your boat is unique and customized to your liking and style, your appliances can also be tailored to your wants and needs. Your vessel’s refrigeration is not likely to be your first thought when it comes to parts of your boat that can be customized, but there are many available options and reasons to have your refrigerator or freezer customized.

At Frigibar, our marine refrigeration options are designed to be as versatile as they are dependable and stylish. Regardless of the manufacturer you decide to work with when purchasing a freezer or refrigerator for your vessel, here are eight ways you may be able to customize your unit.

1.  Sizing

Space on your boat is limited. To fit in confined spaces, marine refrigerators and freezers can be crafted to fit in nearly any space you have available, whether on the deck, in the cockpit, or underneath a cabinet.

If you need help determining the size of the unit you can fit on your boat, read “Marine Refrigeration Fit: How to Determine What Size Freezer or Refrigerator is Right for Your Boat or Yacht.Contact Frigibar and we can help you determine what’s the best fit for your boat and what customization options you should consider.

2.  Dual Control

Dual control is one of the most valuable customization options available. With dual control, you can utilize your unit as either a refrigerator or freezer, allowing you to keep your bait cold for a day-long fishing trip or your food safely frozen for a week long adventure.

Learn About Dual Control: How Dual Control for Refrigerators and Freezers Works

3.  Seating

Bench-style freezers make great seating options and are easily fitted with a cushion. Frigibar uses mildew-resistant 3-inch thick Snap-On marine cushions. They can be custom-designed and come in many different colors. They not only help you have additional seating, seat cushions can add to the look and feel of your boat.

4.  Colors and Finishes

No freezer or refrigerator should stick out like a sore thumb. Depending on the manufacturer and what you’re looking for, you can have a unit customized with a color that compliments your style and current design. At Frigibar, we offer custom gel coat colors and faux wood as customization options.

5. Alarms

Freezer alarms aren’t meant to tell you when someone is stealing your pint of ice cream, but to protect your entire freezer of food from spoiling. Defrost warning alarms work to give an audible indication when the freezer is failing, giving you the opportunity to save the contents. This is particularly helpful in marinas when no one may be on the boat.

6.  Mounting

Mounting options can set the look of your freezer or refrigerator apart from anyone else’s, and will make your unit easier to move. There are multiple options available in many different styles, materials and finishes. These mounting systems can help fasten a freezer to a boat’s deck and allow for quick release when needed to be moved. Custom mounts can also be fabricated to match the deck of a vessel.

7.  Motor Orientation

Some manufacturers give you the option for the orientation of the motor on the freezer/refrigerator unit. Say you want to have one unit on the starboard bow and the other on the port bow. Flipping the orientation of the motor on one of the units will ensure that the motor is not facing oncoming sea spray, and also make the units look uniform on the deck.

8.  Manufacturer-Specific Customizations

Each manufacturer offers something different. Even if a manufacturer doesn’t list the options you want, contact them to discuss. If wanting to explore Frigibar’s customization options, please call us at 305-757-7697 or email us at info@Frigibar.com.

 

 

How Dual Control for Refrigerators and Freezers Works

When you think of versatile products for your boat or yacht, rarely do you think of a freezer. Its primary purpose is simple — keep food frozen at a safe temperature, but it’s an important appliance and can serve additional purposes. Just as not all freezers are of the same quality, not all freezers are solely one-function appliances.

Among the customization options Frigibar offers on our cockpit freezers is “dual control.” Dual control allows a freezer to serve as either a refrigerator or a freezer. This option enables the boat owner and crew to utilize the unit as a refrigerator for short trips to keep drinks or bait cold, and use as a freezer for longer voyages to store food safely for weeks.

How Dual Control Works

Freezers and refrigerators have different temperature ranges. Most refrigerators keep food cold at temperatures from 34 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit, while freezer temperatures can range from 32 to as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit and beyond.

The condensing unit, which acts as the brain of your refrigerator/freezer, is controlled by a thermostat. The thermostat, like the one used in your home, can be set to keep a consistent temperature. If using the refrigeration box as a refrigerator, the temperature should be kept above freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Depending on the quality of the box (insulation, quality of the seal, etc.) and what you are trying to keep frozen, the temperature should be kept well below freezing if using as a freezer. Often, 0 degrees Fahrenheit or just below is desired.

Getting a Dual Control Refrigerator/Freezer For Your Boat

ensign-open-mibs-2012Frigibar’s cockpit units come standard as a freezer. When ordered, you can choose to have the unit built as just a refrigerator or select our dual control option, allowing you to make your unit the temperature you need when you need it. This option makes the entire unit either a freezer or refrigerator depending on the dial selected, however, the units can’t run as a freezer and refrigerator simultaneously.

Interested in a dual control freezer/refrigerator for your boat or yacht? For more, call us at 305-757-7697 or view Frigibar’s product catalog.