How do you keep your refrig door shut?

[SeaEric]

I recently replaced the original 1966 Frigidaire refrigerator on my boat. Although it still worked OK, it was time for a more modern unit with a separate freezer and an icemaker. The old refrig had a single door which had a hook and eye setup installed by Hatteras in 1966 to keep it from opening underway. It worked quite well.

The new refrigerator has 2 doors and is positioned so that the existing hook will not meet an eye if it was installed on the lower door. I could re-position the hook, add another for the freezer door and put eyes on both doors.

I'm curious to know if there is perhaps a better mousetrap.

I was aboard a boat yesterday that has a nice setup. It's a catch that goes between the doors and turns vertical to keep the doors closed, and turns horizontal to allow the doors to open. It's pretty slick. It attached to the refrigerator box in the existing holes that the hinges would attach if the doors were reversed. (See photo) Has anyone seen this before? Do you know where I can buy something like this?

 

[SeaEric]

Old refrigerator:

 

[SeaEric]

New refrigerator:

 

[thoward]

Ours uses a strap/snap

 

[Boatsb]

Will power Eric.

 

[Glory]

Will power Eric.

I thought the same time, unfortunately I sometimes lack it

JM

 

[Finalee]

The magnet has kept mine closed , even in a gale.

 

[holtcl]

Mine is black so I used heavy duty velcro. I only put the strip on when I'm out in heavy stuff.

I'll tell what NOT to do- don't go drilling a hole in your new unit to install a latch or other hardware. You could hit a freon line (that's an "ask me how I know").

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[finatic]

Run out of beer!!!

 

[fissioneng]

Nice looking frig. What brand/model?

Maybe the folks at Coastal Climate Control have such a gadget. Rob there has always been helpful. They seem to sell lots of fridges.

 

[Fanfare]

Another reason to be careful drilling is that some refrigerators have sealed vacuum panels, just like a thermos bottle. I heard this from a refrigerator installer who told me that Sub Zero does this, much to his surprise.

 

[dottieshusband]

Unfortunately, I keep the daiquiri mixer in the fridge, so it's just not feasibly possible to keep closed..

 

[DCMY #92]

I also made the mistake years ago of drilling into the side of the box. Who would of thought there would be a freon tube there. It's a hot gas tube to prevent condensation around the seal.

I didn't put a latch on the replacement. The doors never came open. 41 DCMY so the fridge arrangement is the same. Having said that, I'd like to learn where the T handle latch can be had.

 

[bigbill]

check with the owner of the boat, or the manufacturer and see where they got the t handle thing. or you could make one yourself.

 

[SeaEric]

Nice looking frig. What brand/model?

It's a GE Model #: GTR10GBEWW. After lots of research, I chose this model because it would fit in the existing space exactly, and with the doors off it came through the side cabin window with the glass removed. (Removing the side window sliding glass was a whole-'nother subject, but we got it done) The wood grain panel on the doors is Formica which has been cut to fit and then attached with very thin peel and stick magnet sheets.

 

[SeaEric]

I just got off the horn with GE customer service. (Nice guy named Justin who spoke native English) He advised that the doors contain no wires or Freon lines of any kind so attachment of hook and eye hardware would be fine. Absent any further data/availability on the latch pictured above, I'll probably go back to the hook and eye protocol as was previously existing.

 

[Tim Powell]

I just got off the horn with GE customer service. (Nice guy named Justin who spoke native English) He advised that the doors contain no wires or Freon lines of any kind so attachment of hook and eye hardware would be fine. Absent any further data/availability on the latch pictured above, I'll probably go back to the hook and eye protocol as was previously existing.

I went to northern Hydrolics and purchased a 3.00$ black T handle and put ( a nut with for lack of better discription teeth) in the wood and screwed the handsl in it works grate and hids easy between the two when not in use. If off shore we use it at the dock not necessary. I have two new ulines the doors open both from the middle. The T handle is tapered allowing to tighten well.
Mooderator Jim I am at home and can not produce a pick sorry!!!!

 

[DCMY #92]

Well darn Tim! Us slow guys need a photo of what you did.

 

[Tim Powell]

Well darn Tim! Us slow guys need a photo of what you did.

I thought it was just mooderators that needed picks Pm me your cell number i will send saturday AM

 

[jim rosenthal]

This mooderator is in Illinois playing with cars. Sorry. Today I am going to drive a 1938 Packard Twelve and a 1939 Cadillac V16 limo. A rotten job, but someone's got to do it. I'll try to post some photos in another thread.