We've had an old Dometic three way top opening fridge on our
boat for 25 years and it has been brilliant. It is enclosed in cabinetry so you can't see it,
lift the tea tray cover and open the top.
Our "voyaging"
boat is a small
classic Dutch traditional sailboat. We don't tend to use the fridge when we are on a sailing
passage but we spend most of our time motoring in canals and rivers and moored of course. We have run the fridge on
propane solid for months at a time switching to
shore power when available.
You know the principal but for those who don't, it has a small flame or
heating element that drives the heat
pump. There are no moving
parts so it is dead reliable. Ours has a piezo ignitor but still the most difficult thing is
lighting the small flame to runs
propane. On 12 volts it is only practical if the
engine is running, uses about 4 amps continuous but no problem on
shore power. Ours is set up for 230 AC as it is in
Europe right now. Propane
consumption is continuous so even the small flame uses a lot, one pound lasts three to four days.
Safety, I check the propane system monthly and have individual shut off valves. The fridge does have a thermo couple but I think it is best to have an external shut off. I also have a propane sniffer in the
bilge and replace all hoses every five years.
For our purposes, the system is amazing but I would look closely at changing to 12 volt if our fridge dies. My main concern is that I don't know who or where these are made.
Years ago I used to bring in a small Domestic 3way fridge for my buddies that were into Overlanding. I'd sell it for $300 and it was funky roto-molded plastic and not very high quality but worked well for keeping your
beer cold for 3 days on a Coleman 1lb cyl. Certainly made more sense than an expensive 12 v fridge,
solar panels and extra
battery with all the weight and expense. So, your brother is right, he has the trick system for an RV on the beach.
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