Refrigeration trends for voyagers Whenever cruising boaters gather marine refrigeration is always a hot topic. Back in the day it was a lot more controversial due to the prevalence of competing system philosophies, but what was once the new kid on the block now dominates. And the winners, by a long shot, are the many different 12-volt powered systems, either in self-contained refrigerators that are semi-permanently installed or as the cooling equipment for a custom built-in fridge. In the past you used to see a lot of rugged, long-distance cruising boats with refrigeration compressors powered by belts from the main engine, or…

Marine refrigeration design, maintenance and repair Over the past 25 years, first with a CSY 44 monohull and now a St. Francis 44 catamaran, I have spent countless hours and way too much money messing with my refrigeration systems. Early on, I needed professional help before attempting modifications, maintenance or repairs. Now, after all this time at it (for me, learning these things takes time) I am a bit smarter and can do most of the work myself. Below find some of what I have learned along the way about refrigeration equipment design, maintenance and repair. Since big refrigeration systems…