Greets!

[Noname1]

I'm Mike.
I'm a retired industrial refrigeration tech with experience with some boat equipment.
In a moment drunken on the sunshine and crystal clear water in the USVI a couple of years ago I bought a very tired Pan Oceanic 46. Soon we will move aboard her and begin a living aboard refit. Wish us luck please as we are gonna need it LOL!

[flashmutt007]

Welcome and please concider this your first wish good luck. Many more are on their way!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mike.

Having been a closet sailor for decades, we bought our first sailboat (a very long time ago) under a similar salubrious influences.
WARNING - stand by for refer' querries.

[Noname1]

Thanks all!
Gord be happy to help if I can. On my own boat gonna rebuild the box with pull out drawers to maximize storage and minimize heat gain. Can't wait to tear out the top loading travesty.

[Fishman_Tx]

Originally Posted by michaeldsusa

Thanks all!
Gord be happy to help if I can. On my own boat gonna rebuild the box with pull out drawers to maximize storage and minimize heat gain. Can't wait to tear out the top loading travesty.

I'd like to see the design on that! Make sure and post some pix!

Oh and BTW....Welcome!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Michael,
Welcome aboard the forum of many opinions! There is a reason for top loaders. I'm assuming you are talking about the reefer.
Don't take as long for your refit as I have.
regards,

[James S]

Hey Mike, welcome to the forum.
I'm sure looking forward to some refit details and pics.
You're a brave guy to do it with a mate while living aboard.
Good luck and keep us up to date.

[beachgirl1952]

Hi Mikee, good to see you here ...
you know, I follow everything you do on the boat ...
back in St Croix, right?
welcome to the board, have fun and share your knowledge ...

greetz (also for Vickie) ...

[Islandmike]

Welcome aboard Mike,

I am looking forward to hearing about your refer project, be prepared for a load of questions..

[Noname1]

Hi Anya! See you again soon I hope.

JohnL if I were planning my travels based on where I could get ice and haul 50# blocks via dink possibly I might go with a top opening box. With solar panels and Danfoss compressors and 8 T-105s no way am I gonna have a top loader. The drawers make the air exchange loss very small. The sensible heat for air is 1.08/CF*Delta T and for latent would need ambient conditions but the loss isn't that great - sufficient to say if Vickie wants a front loader then that's what she will have

James S I'm not sure brave is the right word - crazy more like it but necessity is the mother of invention and we will soon be homeless in Cincinnati and I would rather be in El Caribe on the boat anyway.. I wouldn't even attempt a liveaboard refit on most boats. Ours has the aft cabin isolated from the rest of the boat by the pilot house. We cook in the cockpit anyway and I will add a head and shower to the existing vanity area in the aft cabin and so will have a nice clean refuge from the mess up front. I hope. Please Neptune let this work....