How to moisture proof wood fridge top

[OjoRojo]

Our Columbia 36 is on her 3rd life as we are preparing to cruise to Mexico this fall for 4-6 months. A new fridge top is not in the budget. Our solid maple top is beautiful but may not be the best at holding off moisture as it eventually swells and is a bear to get open after that. Currently it has been cared for with Sea Fin oil which was fine when it was just an ice box but I was wondering if sanding then applying some varnish or shellac or something else on the bottom of it would help with the swelling issue. We will also try finding a better gasket as now a dollar bill will slip right through. We live in SoCal but the weather and water will be much warmer down south
Ideas appreciated.

[Hudson Force]

My system is far from perfect, but I have no issues with swelling causing sticking. My lid is a gravity drop seal with the inside foam of about 4inches covered in an epoxy coating and significantly smaller than the opening. The larger lid that it is mounted to has a large gasket under to lip that compresses against the top of the opening when the lid is seated. No hinges, no tight clearance side to side, but a fairly heavy lid that sits well in place.

[micah719]

Shellac is lovely stuff.....but not around water.

Go W.E.S.T.! (Wood Epoxy Saturation Technique)