Retiring my Frigidaire!!! What now???

[Ted Smith]

After 26 years of service the Frigidaire Elite on my 1988 53ED is being retired and put out to pasture. It owes me nothing. I would greatly appreciate any advice on replacing it with either a counter depth model or on modernizing my galley with under counter drawer type refrigeration options. The drawer type will be much more expensive but would allow more counter space.
I know the replacement has to be less than 24 inches wide to fit down the stairs and preferably 69 inches or less in height.
Your experience and photos could save me a lot of headaches!!!
Thanks in Advance.
Ted

 

[Pascal]

I almost went with drawers but decided the extra costs juste wasn't worth it for me since my new galley up and aft has enough counter space. I really like drawers (We have sub zeros on the boat I run, 2 sets of fridge and one set of freezer). When I looked into it I found some good deals from defender who carries two brands, vitrifrigo and isotherm. Some are available in Dual voltage. They are no the as nice as sub zeros but much cheaper, still in the $2000 range though. Vitrifrigo is used on a number of new boats incl. Marquis.


If the stairs down your later ED are the same than on my early Classic it's not just the depth but also the width as there isn't a lot of vertical space either. I posted pictures last week.

 

[seajay71]

Fisher&Paykel makes a series of 17 cu ft. counter depth refrigerators which are 67 17/32 in tall, 31 3/32 in wide and 27 3/8 deep. With the doors removed, they are less than 24 in deep and will fit down the stairs and into the lower galley. They come in several different models- French door and top and bottom configurations, with and without thru door ice and water dispensers.

https://www.fisherpaykel.com/us/kitchen/fridges-freezers/fridges/

 

[Pascal]

I don't have experience with fisher paykel fridges but I ve had issues with their drawer dishwashers. Even with a new one which replaced an older one. Maybe the fridges are better but in any case it s a lot more difficult to get service on their product than other major brands

 

[SKYCHENEY]

In my 53ED I went with an LG 24cuft side-by-side. There is already limited cabinet space and the drawers would have taken even more of.

The dimensions of most of these units keeps changing to meet the energy star guidelines so you will have to measure and look at dimensions online to determine what will fit.

 

[Ted Smith]

Fisher&Paykel makes a series of 17 cu ft. counter depth refrigerators which are 67 17/32 in tall, 31 3/32 in wide and 27 3/8 deep. With the doors removed, they are less than 24 in deep and will fit down the stairs and into the lower galley. They come in several different models- French door and top and bottom configurations, with and without thru door ice and water dispensers.

https://www.fisherpaykel.com/us/kitchen/fridges-freezers/fridges/

Thanks...Most helpful!!! Went and looked at these models today. Doors off they are under 24 inches except for a bulge of about an inch near the bottom. This may be critical. Will re measure tomorrow. The narrowest door is from the salon to the pilothouse. Did you make it through???

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Thanks...Most helpful!!! Went and looked at these models today. Doors off they are under 24 inches except for a bulge of about an inch near the bottom. This may be critical. Will re measure tomorrow. The narrowest door is from the salon to the pilothouse. Did you make it through???

Seajay has a 61CMY so you'd better measure.

 

[seajay71]

Thanks...Most helpful!!! Went and looked at these models today. Doors off they are under 24 inches except for a bulge of about an inch near the bottom. This may be critical. Will re measure tomorrow. The narrowest door is from the salon to the pilothouse. Did you make it through???

Thank you, I didn't notice the bump you saw! I have a 61 CPMY and my critical dimension is the stairway down to the galley below. I have not installed a new refrigerator yet as I am still in the process of designing a complete galley rebuild. I am leaning towards a 36"w model when I do, they are also less than 24"d with the doors off and are a few inches taller, which will not be a problem because of a planned replacement of all the cabinetry.

I am also thinking about removing the lower dinet and going with a computer workstation/more cabinetry as I don't think I have EVER used the dinette.

 

[Ted Smith]

Thank you, I didn't notice the bump you saw! I have a 61 CPMY and my critical dimension is the stairway down to the galley below. I have not installed a new refrigerator yet as I am still in the process of designing a complete galley rebuild. I am leaning towards a 36"w model when I do, they are also less than 24"d with the doors off and are a few inches taller, which will not be a problem because of a planned replacement of all the cabinetry.

I am also thinking about removing the lower dinet and going with a computer workstation/more cabinetry as I don't think I have EVER used the dinette.

I like your plan a lot and would be interested in an update. I have 26 inches width in the stairway to the galley with the handrail removed. My smaller opening is the salon to the pilot house with 24 1/4 width. Today I checked out the Sub Zero drawer line... 24 inches would solve my access problems. They come in 30 and 36 inch widths. Not cheap but may be the best option.
Re the dinet, I heard of one owner who raised the dinet so you could see out the window and put drawers under the step up. Would like to see pictures of that reno.
Thanks again for your help.
Ted

 

[SeaEric]

Today I checked out the Sub Zero drawer line... 24 inches would solve my access problems. They come in 30 and 36 inch widths. Not cheap but may be the best option.

High end appliances now-days are ridiculous prices. I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on a WOLF 36" Pro Range dual fuel for my home kitchen. If anyone had ever suggested that I would actually even consider spending over $10K for a stove, I would have considered them to be insane. Turns out I'm the one who is.

 

[Ted Smith]

High end appliances now-days are ridiculous prices. I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on a WOLF 36" Pro Range dual fuel for my home kitchen. If anyone had ever suggested that I would actually even consider spending over $10K for a stove, I would have considered them to be insane. Turns out I'm the one who is.

This may make you feel a little better....If you lived in Canada like me you'd have to add on another 25% exchange!!! But it's only money...can't take it with us.

 

[krush]

I never understood the fad of bending over and opening a draw to get a beer. Seems like as one ages it would get even more difficult.

 

[Ted Smith]

I never understood the fad of bending over and opening a draw to get a beer. Seems like as one ages it would get even more difficult.

You're right!!! Besides the drawers hold less than 3 cu. ft. of beers or anything else. So that option is out!!!

 

[Pascal]

The subzeros do hold a lot of stuff. We have no problem carrying enough food for 8 to 10 days and 8 people when in the exumas using two sets of 30" fridges (four drawers total) and one set of 30" freezer plus a cold plate freezer that's about the size of another subzero. But again, that s 8 people for over a week and charter level gourmet cooking... Not hot dogs and boxed crap

 

[BobWaz]

High end appliances now-days are ridiculous prices. I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on a WOLF 36" Pro Range dual fuel for my home kitchen. If anyone had ever suggested that I would actually even consider spending over $10K for a stove, I would have considered them to be insane. Turns out I'm the one who is.

Eric...We did feel the same. However in our first experience with Viking appliances, they are worth every penny of it. After all we are Hatteras people not Bayliner!

 

[drburke]

I never understood the fad of bending over and opening a draw to get a beer. Seems like as one ages it would get even more difficult.

Actually, depending upon your circumstances, the beer moves closer to you in the drawer arrangement.

 

[Ted Smith]

Out with the 27 year old Frigidaire in 3 pieces...Shipwright said they sure don't build them like that anymore!!!

 

[Ted Smith]

After 26 years of service the Frigidaire Elite on my 1988 53ED is being retired and put out to pasture. It owes me nothing. I would greatly appreciate any advice on replacing it with either a counter depth model or on modernizing my galley with under counter drawer type refrigeration options. The drawer type will be much more expensive but would allow more counter space.
I know the replacement has to be less than 24 inches wide to fit down the stairs and preferably 69 inches or less in height.
Your experience and photos could save me a lot of headaches!!!
Thanks in Advance.
Ted

New Blomberg Fridge Freezer for Prime Time IV. Measured carefully and it fits like a glove. Exact height of old Frigidaire and is counter depth taking up far less space in the galley. Mary is very happy with the job!!!

 

[roy]

After 26 years of service the Frigidaire Elite on my 1988 53ED is being retired and put out to pasture. It owes me nothing. I would greatly appreciate any advice on replacing it with either a counter depth model or on modernizing my galley with under counter drawer type refrigeration options. The drawer type will be much more expensive but would allow more counter space.
I know the replacement has to be less than 24 inches wide to fit down the stairs and preferably 69 inches or less in height.
Your experience and photos could save me a lot of headaches!!!
Thanks in Advance.
Ted

I replaced mine on our 1988 53 four years ago. Cut up the old one to get it out(left all the refrigeration in tack) Found a counter top depth Fisher Paycal and got it down there by taking the doors off and the door and trim on the electrical distribution panel on the starboard side of companion way going down to the galley. You will be amazed at how much less heat the new frig. puts off.