karenandglen@erols.com writes: >Here's what I decided to do for a refrigerator. I bought a 5 cf >CHEST type >freezer for $179 at Circuit City. I got a freezer because they have >twice >the insulation of reefers. On my last post, I indicated that I was >going to >change the thermostat so that it could maintain temps above freezing >but >I've changed my mind and made it simpler. Just a word of warning: I used to be a refrigeration mechanic and found many household freezers with leaky inner liners. As long as they are used as freezers, this is not a problem. But if they are maintained above freezing (or shut off for some time), water will accumulate and leak into the insulation. Wet insulation is poor insulation and furthermore moisture between inner and outer shell of your freezer will cause rusting and eventually possible loss of refrigerant. My recommendation would be to really carefully inspect the seems at the inside bottom of your freezer and if in doubt or maybe just for good measure seal these seems with a liberal bead of Sikaflex before the first use. Otherwise I think your idea is very good and I might copy it to replace my totally inadequate icebox in my boat. Ciao - George (Liveaboard on a sloop, dreaming about a trawler).