The Refer is DEAD

[dwaynec]

The old Frigidaire died and so we have to get a replacement. Big question is; How do you get the slider window frames out of the boat. The new refer is 23 inches deep with the doors off, and that is just about precisely the amount of space there is between the top of the bottom part of the frame and the top of the frame. Through the slider is the only place we have on our boat (48 Yachtfish) to get the refer in. The doorway to the aft/bridge deck is only 20 inches wide.

I could get one of the panes of glass out of the window, but the other must be just a little wider from top to bottom as it will not clear.

If I remove the outer frame , does that contain one of the panes of glass, both panes or neither? Does anybody have any tricks on how to get the inner frame out?

Thanks.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Don't remove the frames. Take 2 small wood blocks and a cheap bottle jack. Center the windows and jack the frame apart slightly at the end of the windows. One of your windows may have a tiny wood block in the upper track that keeps people from sliding it to gain access to your boat. Remove the 2 screws and pry the block out. When they made those frames, the glasses could be lifted up and out. The weight of the flybridge causes a slight sag in the frame so you need to spread it apart with the bottle jack and blocks. While you have the glasses out replace the fuzzies and lower track. Sam's has these parts and they aren't expensive.

 

[Boss Lady]

If it still won't clear you can remove the window frames, but you will need Debond to loosen the 5200 sealant/adhesive they used to install them. There are previous posts on this topic, do a search.

 

[dwaynec]

I can get by with just the one pane that comes out easily as long as I am careful. I guess the major question I had, and didn't ask clearly is more about the inner frame that looks like it may be just a finish ring. Is that ring just there for looks, or is it structural? Is it too sealed by 5200, or something different since it is on the inside of the cabin? I would really like to remove that since doing so would give me another two to three inches of room. I just really don't want to damage the interior wood. Thanks.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I can get by with just the one pane that comes out easily as long as I am careful. I guess the major question I had, and didn't ask clearly is more about the inner frame that looks like it may be just a finish ring. Is that ring just there for looks, or is it structural? Is it too sealed by 5200, or something different since it is on the inside of the cabin? I would really like to remove that since doing so would give me another two to three inches of room. I just really don't want to damage the interior wood. Thanks.

That entire window frame is made as a one piece extrusion. The inner lip is part of that. The corners are welded, so that inner splash shield is an integral part of the frame and doesn't come off. The window glasses are easy though.

 

[dwaynec]

Yeah, once I got all of the "stuff" out of the way so that I could actually see everything I could tell that the inner lip was part of the outer frame. I used a sawzall to get the old refer out yesterday and will get it hauled off today. I am not sure what time new refer will get her today, but I have help lined up to get the thing into the boat. It should just barely fit through the window without removing the frame (God, I hope so!!!) I am going to have to run off to the hardware store to get an electrical box as the old refer was hardwired into the boat. It seems that even removing the plug from the cord could cause my warranty to be in jeopardy.

 

[dwaynec]

Well, I got the new fridge in on Monday. We had to go with a Fisher&Paykel unit as it was the only one we found that would basically "fit right in".

The old refer came out in pieces as to get it out of the boat in one piece would require that the entire window frame for the sliders in the saloon to be removed, and that was a project that I didn't want to tackle right now. The new refer is only 23" deep except at the bottom edge wher there is a cover for the compressor. That part is 24". Since the distance from the top to bottom on the slider frame is just a tad over 23" we had to do a little extra work to get it in. Also had to get the rail loose so that it was not in the way. The opening in the cabinet had to be made an inch and a half wider as this new refer is 31.1" wide and the way the door opens you need a little extra room.

Only problem we had was getting the thing squared up with the opening in the cabinet. The refer does not have any leveling legs on the back, just rollers. I know that these refers are not designed and built with being installed in a boat in mind, but house floors are not necessarily level and flat either. It took a couple hours, but finally got the refer squared with the door and stable on the floor so there is no rocking or rubbing.

Other than a couple scrapes on the wood that will be easily refinished nothing got damaged during the install process. But, when I was putting the slider back in the frame, I didn't hold something just right and the window cracked. Oh, well, it was old anyhow.