Mainship 400 Summer Kitchen idea

[Bay Retriever]

My 2004 MS 400 came without a cooking grill installed on the flybridge Summer Kitchen box so the space under the box top is empty other than the small sink. I’m wondering if anyone has installed a small top loading electric refrigerator or perhaps a small Yeti cooler. I’m thinking of the later as perhaps a way to save money from a full electric install. Going to speak with my boatyard today about whether they think it could work. Feel free to chime in particularly if you have pictures.

 

[garmstro55]

Ours came with an icemaker but a fridge should fit too.

 

[Bay Retriever]

I measured this afternoon with Taylor at Tiffany Yachts and my Yeti 45 should fit perfectly. They are going to cut an opening in the top of the summer box and install it on a shelf along with adding a drain hose.

 

[Dougcole]

Yes, we installed a pretty decent sized, top loading, dometic drop in fridge. We absolutely love it, and use it as a "drinks" (ahem, beer) fridge most of the time.

Linky:

BI-53 Build-In Deep Freezer or Fridge, AC/DC, Stainless Steel Interior, Air Cooled, Remote Compressor, 1.87 cu. ft. | West Marine

Check out our BI-53 Build-In Deep Freezer or Fridge, AC/DC, Stainless Steel Interior, Air Cooled, Remote Compressor, 1.87 cu. ft. and more from West Marine!

www.westmarine.com

We had to do a few modifications. First was having a stainless flange built for the top edges so that it could screw in, I went to a sheet metal shop, they did it cheap. Second, I fabricated a better lid, hinged in the center, out of starboard and attached it to the oem lid by screwing through the oem lid and up into the starboard. I also added some vents to the summer kitchen (three, I think).
I ran 8 gauge wires forward through the back of the summer kitchen and under the port side FB benches then tapped into the "Bridge Main" posts under the FB dash, which have a breaker at the panel. I also added a small blue seas fuse panel and ground buss inside the summer kitchen and wired the fridge to that.

 

[Bay Retriever]

This sounds like a very doable project. For now, I’m going to put it on the list of things I’d like to have along with solar and inverter. Those will be very useful for extended cruising and anchoring out, which sounds like what you’re already doing.