Newbie Frozen in Chicago

[crashpad]

Just joined your awesome group! ..In sept we purchased our 1990 Carver 3207 (aft cabin) in Seneca IL, after 2 short shake down runs, brought her on a 14 hour run up the river through 3 delayed locks to her year around
(in water) home at Marina City Chicago. Shes a great (original mom and pop) boat, with under 800 hours all original and unmolested!

I use her as "crash pad" in the city when I overnight. Beats the 2 hour commute home to the suburbs. And allows me all the joys of summertime family boating in Chicago.

After this short winter, Ive learned much of whats required to keep a boat warm, Engs and pipes unfrozen and liveable in the "arctic". knock on teak, the only issue Im researching is the replacement of a 25 yr old, poorly running Norcold (nevercold) fridge. I will look at RV models and or going to non DC voltage (for cost savings).
Shes mostly at the dock anyway! let me know if Im off base or should drop the $2K+ on a OEM replacement?
Kinda hard to explain to the wife a $2k beer cooler! LOL

Looking forward to Learning and putting my 43 yrs boating of experience to good!

Sandy Rogers
(this below seems weird)
Kayak (lol)
14 ft Sears fisher
Pontoon/25 Evenrude
Malibu euro f3 /Mercruiser inboard
1990 Carver 32 aft cabin (Crashpad) 350/Crusaders

[RGrew176]

I am in a similar situation with my 81 Carver. The refrigerator is on its last legs. It cools to 43* in the refrigerator section and 21* in the freezer section. I hate the thought of spending so much for a dual voltage fridge and am considering a conventional replacement too. I hope to get one more season out of the original before doing something either a dual or conventional replacement.

It is nice having a dual voltage fridge when spending weekends on the hook but a cooler does the job too.

[waybomb]

Welcome aboard.
I replaced the aft deck 12/120 Norcold with a 120vac unit when the Norcold went south.
You may have a problem finding one the same size. The one I put in was larger, but with a little bigger hole and some nice teak trim, it looked original.