Fridge seal on Bavaria 38 Ocean

heywoodp · December 30 2017, 23:01

The fridge seal on my boat is leaking cold air and the wine is not getting cool enough out in Greece. Has anybody replaced this seal ? If so, what with. I guess its a standard top loading fridge that is common to the Bavaria range

mikeiso1192 · December 30 2017, 23:39

I also have a B38 in Greece and suffered a lack of refridgeration.
On the basis that hot air rises an cold air sinks and experience of fitting a seal to my fridge lid with no noticable improvement I undertook a complete rebuild.
See http://darleymist.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page_11.html
Hope that it is of some use.
Mike

Yngmar · December 31 2017, 00:02

See this thread.

heywoodp · December 31 2017, 17:36

Thanks Mike and Yngmar, think the fridge unit itself is working fine. In the height of the summer, I get a lot of condensation around the lid particulaly at the front which I'm guessing is due to the cold air escaping. The old black seal in the base certainly looks like it needs replacing so that's the first job. Think I've found some 1/2 round neoprene at sealsdirect which should do the job. I had a quick look earlier this year at the insulation but couldn't find any access to it. Maybe another look when I get out there in the spring and also squirt some expanding foam in the area if I cant get to it.

Club 56 · January 03 2018, 23:51

Had similar issues on our V42.
Front fridge door mainly. Found a similar seal but thicker at a local rubber specialist.
Single sided adhesive soft neoprene foam.
Tested by putting strips of paper in the closed door and pulling them out. If they pull out easy then the seal isn't pressing against the door enough. If you feel resistance then the seal should be good.
Try the paper strip test around all the seals. I found the bottom worse than the sides and top.
Cheers
Club 56

heywoodp · January 05 2018, 18:53

Mines a top loader but I take your point about the strips of paper.

Odysseus · January 06 2018, 19:49

I had same issue in hot weather fridge was running all the time, apart from putting another fan in to take hot air out (see my entry for fridge) in Odysseus posts I developed an insoluation barrier on the fridge top loader cover. It works, no condensation on top cover.
Hope this helps
Odysseus bav 38

Kaptajnen · January 08 2018, 22:24

I have the same fridge - and I need an insulation barrier. How did you construct it - can you please elaborate.

Thanks

Salty · January 08 2018, 22:36

I added 15mm self adhesive closed cell foam to the inside of my fridge, including to the underside of the lid. It has made a difference as the fridge compressor does not cut in as frequently as before and runs for a shorter time before it cuts out.

Kaptajnen · January 09 2018, 23:48

Sounds like a great solution... but I have not found a source for the self-adhesive closed-cell foam here in Seattle.
Presume you are in the U.K....what is the name of the manufacturer?

Salty · January 10 2018, 06:14

Quote from: Kaptajnen on January 09 2018, 23:48
Sounds like a great solution... but I have not found a source for the self-adhesive closed-cell foam here in Seattle.
Presume you are in the U.K....what is the name of the manufacturer?

Suggest you try an eBay search (closed cell foam sheet self adhesive), there's masses of the stuff for sale within the UK, so no reason why the same should not be available in USA. I specifically looked for white foam as it would look better. Black is used a lot for sound insulation, but I noticed that now you can also get foil covered foam which should provide even better thermal insulation. Don't use open cell as it will absorb water.