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01-10-2017, 11:12
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 1,131
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Sealing the reefer door/lid
The sealing strips on my reefer door are old, hard and cracked, probably doing a lousy job of keeping the heat out. It looks like the old stuff the PO used was just weather stripping from Home Depot. What is the best stuff to use to reseal the door?
Thanks,
David
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Mark Twain
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01-10-2017, 20:13
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran
Posts: 7,294
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
__________________
'You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
Mae West
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01-10-2017, 22:14
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#3
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cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 405
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
Usually something very soft and sponge. Not a gasket like on your domestic fridge as they rely on a magnetic infill to make a seal as they attract to the fridge cabinet's metal lining. Suggest once you have replaced the seal, put a torch inside the cabinet on a dark night to make sure the seal seals totally. Leaking door / lid seals greatly increase fridge unit run times and contribute to rapid frost / ice build up on the cold plate.
Cheers, OzePete from www.ozefridge.com.au
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02-10-2017, 04:54
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#4
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Toronto On Canada
Boat: Bristol 45.5
Posts: 736
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Sealing the reefer door/lid
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.e...000117953.html
We tried plenty of different door seals some were to stiff and would not allow the door to settle and some wear far to soft and the weight of the door would crush the seal . We found the stuff above to do the best job . Yes homedepot , you just got to get the right stuff.
Regards John
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02-10-2017, 05:02
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#5
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 52,270
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
Quote:
Originally Posted by OzePete
... put a torch inside the cabinet on a dark night to make sure the seal seals totally...
Cheers, OzePete from www.ozefridge.com.au
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Just to clarify. I believe Pete is referring to what we, in North America, call a "flashlight". (not a firebrand)
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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02-10-2017, 08:33
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 1,131
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
Quote:
Originally Posted by GordMay
Just to clarify. I believe Pete is referring to what we, in North America, call a "flashlight". (not a firebrand) 
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I grew up in South Africa and in England, so am very familiar with the term "torch" for a battery-powered light. Still, the mental image of someone using a flaming firebrand to light up the inside of their boat really made me laugh!  Thanks, I needed something to lighten my mood this Monday morning.
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Mark Twain
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02-10-2017, 08:34
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 1,131
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColdEh Marine
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.e...000117953.html
We tried plenty of different door seals some were to stiff and would not allow the door to settle and some wear far to soft and the weight of the door would crush the seal . We found the stuff above to do the best job . Yes homedepot , you just got to get the right stuff.
Regards John
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Many thanks, John!
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Mark Twain
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02-10-2017, 08:34
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Currently on the boat, somewhere on the ocean, living the dream
Boat: Morgan 461 S/Y Flying Pig
Posts: 2,303
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColdEh Marine
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.e...000117953.html
We tried plenty of different door seals some were to stiff and would not allow the door to settle and some wear far to soft and the weight of the door would crush the seal . We found the stuff above to do the best job . Yes homedepot , you just got to get the right stuff.
Regards John
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We used that to start. Not deep nor flexible enough.
Use the stuff which looks like a stylized "e" = the circle part is the frame, and the tail is the seal. Much more forgiving and height-helpful.
I'd give you the part number but I'm away from my computer. Same department, just a different product.
L8R
Skip
Oops - found it: Pictures: Flying Pig Shakedown 2013-2014/Refrigerator Gaskets
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02-10-2017, 08:48
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#9
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: New York
Boat: Islander 28
Posts: 116
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
NAPA auto parts has a very good selection of weatherstripping profiles. You may need to ask to look in the catalog.
After you are done, get a neoprene mat sold (Homeworks, Bed Bath, etc.)as foot cushion in front of the sink, easily cut to size and placed over the top of the reefer lid. Even with a good gasket, much is lost through the top. Cheap upgrade.
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02-10-2017, 10:16
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran
Posts: 7,294
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
Obviously, if the door frame isn't metal, my suggestion wouldn't work.
Our door frame is the remains of the original Isotherm, but two inches back, the whole thing is from scratch with Aerogel and fiberglass sheeting.
__________________
'You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
Mae West
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02-10-2017, 11:10
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: PNW
Boat: Bruce Roberts Ketch 40
Posts: 477
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
I want to hear more options please.
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02-10-2017, 12:17
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 1,131
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
Quote:
Originally Posted by skipgundlach
We used that to start. Not deep nor flexible enough.
Use the stuff which looks like a stylized "e" = the circle part is the frame, and the tail is the seal. Much more forgiving and height-helpful.
I'd give you the part number but I'm away from my computer. Same department, just a different product.
L8R
Skip
Oops - found it: Pictures: Flying Pig Shakedown 2013-2014/Refrigerator Gaskets
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Thanks, Skip!
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02-10-2017, 14:45
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Currently on the boat, somewhere on the ocean, living the dream
Boat: Morgan 461 S/Y Flying Pig
Posts: 2,303
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid

Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidhoy
Thanks, Skip!
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02-10-2017, 17:38
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Tweed Heads,N.S.W. Australia
Boat: Dinghies to Admirals Cup contender,the lot.
Posts: 143
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
Try one of those places that specialise in replacing seals on domestic refrigerators, they will have all the knowledge and make a professional gasket.....
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26-01-2019, 19:21
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BC Canada
Boat: Marples 37
Posts: 137
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Re: Sealing the reefer door/lid
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColdEh Marine
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.e...000117953.html
We tried plenty of different door seals some were to stiff and would not allow the door to settle and some wear far to soft and the weight of the door would crush the seal . We found the stuff above to do the best job . Yes homedepot , you just got to get the right stuff.
Regards John
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That link doesn't seem to work. Could you resend it if you get a minute.
Thanks John.
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