Best Boat Fridge? Reviewing Engel, Bodega and Alipcool

[@mathieut3197]

Bought a 12v Bouge RV 55l 2 compartments cooler/freezer last year. We keep it as a salon table so I wired a fresh circuit off the panel to the salon with a 12v lighter socket. It has performed flawlessly so far, and more frugally on the amps than we expected. A few hundred $$$ on Amazon, although we bought it direct from their canadian distributor to flip off Bezos.

[@lonefox-9837-renardsolitaire]

I just buyed one , for camping , I,am 72 make camping alone , my wife past away in 2017 , I rent no electricity , salvage camping in Qc, Canada . Don't stop your videos Clark , ✔✔✔

[@RF-yh3qh]

oh boy I wanna do the same as I have your age...

[@oday3514]

Very good video review! I like the technical part as much as the overall review. In 2016, I bought a Dometic (Waeco) CF-50, which is sadly no longer available. Two of the primary considerations were; it uses a Danfoss BD-35 Compressor (well known & reliable), and it is 14.0" in width. The width allows it to slide PERFECTLY under the navigation station of my O'day 35, and the compressor and fan are well vented into the cabin. A bonus of this unit is that it runs on either 120VAC or 12VDC without the need for a power brick. The unit failed during a trip up the AICW in 2020, but I was able to get it to work in "emergency mode" where it ran at low power all the time. I fixed it with a new power board from an on-line supply for RVs. The fridge is still working great in 2024!

[@svamandolin3546]

Aside from the Frugality and sage wisdom, Upon discovering this channel, I immediately had to have Clark's Hat. I ordered 2 as I always lose hats and eyeglasses. Love it! Expensive but worth every penny

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Mine are ultimate hats. They are no longer made so I buy them used from eBay.

[@marklapierre5629]

Thanks for the recommendation, and the link. I added a book mark to your recommended model for the day when I'm ready to obtain refrigeration for my refit project.

[@gefginn3699]

Great post my friends. 🌞⛵️🌴

[@johnnylightning1491]

Thanks for the update. I have a Coleman that I bought at a yard sale for $15. I now know why the sold it, it doesn't work. We have a fairly large refrigerator in our RV so we haven't decided whether or not we're going to replace it yet but if we do we'll be finging this video. Keep the good stuff coming guys.

[@dennishively5994]

Great video again, I have been looking around at getting a cooler for travel & maybe using on my sailboat at the lake for long weekend trips, thank you for sharing

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Glad the video helped

[@SoItGoesCAL34]

Thanks for the video. We purchased an Alpicool T60, 2-compartment fridge/freezer from Amazon last August (2023) and we are very happy with it. We have been in a marina so we are running it off of AC but when we return to anchor (soon, fingers crossed) we will use 12 volts. Plus, it has a light when you open the door for a nighttime snack! Occasionally we will have a little wetness on the middle of the lid but nowhere else, even in the hot summer weather.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks for the information. It helps all of us.

[@jimb348]

Wow! Those are some big discounts they are offering from your link! I'm tempted to buy one even though I don't need one. 😀 p.s. to those looking, you have to select the different models to see the different discounts.

[@MarceloPires-q6o]

Thank you for your videos, very informative. I bought a Vevor 53-liter fridge last year ($250), a rebranded Alpicool, and placed it inside my rebuilt icebox, leaving a hole at the bottom for air circulation. I wired it directly to the boat's 12v. It's working flawlessly and cheaply - same consumption as you mentioned. I fortunately, did not experience the condensation you mentioned. Mind you, I placed 2 inches of Poly ISO insulation around it just because I had the room and it is super efficient now. It has exactly the same compressor and in fact, the refrigeration chassis looks identical, as most things from China, it's probably one company that makes them for everyone else. Great units, but the life span is around 7 years, as you said, if it breaks, get a new one.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Yep I think you "fixed" it with that foam. Glad it worked. We were nervous buying the alpacool but the cheap fridges seem worth the money. Thanks for chiming in. Makes the decision easier for others.

[@sailingwinddragon]

We ended up getting a Dometic unit, very much like the Bodega, with our boat. Been happy with it so far. Also installed a Norcold unit that is basically a 12 volt dorm fridge/freezer. The two fridges are for sure our biggest energy draw.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks for sharing the results

[@chhindz]

I have engel that came with the boat, have not seen rust except a little on the handle, I suppose if you had steel boat it would be one tiny extra thing to paint.

[@bobuncle8704]

Great review. Thank you

[@emilybh6255]

I have an ICECO that is very similar to yours (came with all the accessories yours has and a 5 year warranty) and has the same interior storage design with a light that comes on when you open the door. It also has a latch and snaps closed like yours.. It opens at the end instead of on the side though. It is a 42 quart size and has three energy settings. It doesn't show the amperage used that I can see, although it might in the "app" which I don't use. It came with a "protective nylon insulated cover" that I keep on except for the top for added insulation. Their website says this model is priced at $529. I've had it for over 5 years and got it as a back up fridge/freezer to keep important food frozen during power outages.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Good information for us all. Thanks

[@lonefox-9837-renardsolitaire]

I forgot I bouth a Bodega 55. Cooler freezer I always camp , 5 or more days ,no stores around....

[@Doberman296]

Recently i get Outsunny 40l,looks very similar with Bodega.Cost me 151pound

[@jamarrjs]

Just bought a Bodega 38 qt single zone after watching this episode. Works great and draws very little power.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks for sharing. That helps everyone

[@theglobalvagabond3074]

Yea, so liveaboard life is great, but IMO you should make a video on courage. You have displayed courage that many can only dream of. Keep up the great work. Take car.

[@lenwhatever4187]

We have a 30-ish foot boat that came with: A built in icebox, A larger Dometic portable that the PO said was AC only and he had a 500watt inverter to run it and a small cheap cooler that looked the same as the little one you took camping (I haven't noticed any sweat though that may be cooler temperatures here). The thing is, the two coolers, though they work fine and keep us from using the icebox for any more than storage make one of our quarter berths into a storage space or take up all the space under the table where our legs would like to be. So I thought about converting the ice box to a fridge/freezer..... yeah, each bit seems to cost as much as a whole portable box.... a kit is 5 times as much or more. As it turns out, the Dometic works fine, I think he had the AC plugged in at the same time as the 12vdc and the dometic AC mode supplies 24v to the 12/24v fridge internally and so the DC cord melted, SO two good units. Anyway, all that to ask: why not use the parts from cheapo portable cooler that is really too small anyway to convert the ice box to fridge/freezer? With the money saved, I can pay for a refrigeration refill compressor and have lots left over. Extracting the cooling plate from the case seems like the hardest part of things aside from the recharge. I do have storage space right next to the icebox..... I guess I should check the the icebox wall is thick enough to make it worth while.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

It certainly can be done. This might help Boat Refrigeration and A/C 101: kzbin.info/aero/PLsT7_jPsZM5qNlstuF-fdlgjrimo18tq7

[@lenwhatever4187]

@@Clarks-AdventureYup, that would be my reference. ;)

[@MattRios-jn1qx]

Useful.i could have learned more if she'd explained the freezing department and fridge one

[@marc4322]

Great review! What ever the model size 30 liters or 45 liters etc...., at the end it is the same compressor unit capacity? At 3 amps

[@SoloSailer]

I have the bodega in my van. No problems after a year

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks for sharing

[@haydenwatson7987]

I got a similar 50-liter unit that I use for a deep freeze on both my boat and my motorhome. It uses about 25A/day at 0ºF and never sweats. Fantastic value at $280. I figure that if my icebox conversion ever becomes un-repairable, I will buy another of these units and tear it apart for the parts to build a new icebox cooler.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks for the report. This helps others making the decision

[@haydenwatson7987]

@@Clarks-Adventure I was really surprised at how well they work. I have had mine in the basement compartment of my motorhome running continuously since before Christmas and it has never missed a beat. The best part is that it has almost no frost build up after all that time.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

That means it's life steals tightly

[@scotty6435]

The bodega seems to have a small gap in the black lid seal at the back, that might explain a fair bit of the ice build up inside it.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

The lid seems to seal quite well. I do see the gasket void, but didn't until editing the video. I guess one could put some soft caulk there to fix it. I think the frost is mainly from opening it in the humid tropics.

[@Steve-ul8qb]

If you put your veggies in a tupaware type container they will last 3 times as long 😊

[@matthewtatarian147]

Engle makes a Engel MR040 made of plastic for boats. No rust

[@hogfishmaximussailing5208]

I’ve had that model for years. It works very well, gets as cool as I want it too, and it uses very little energy.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks you two for the report It helps all of us

[@quasimojo7399]

Great video, thank you.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

You are welcome

[@RF-yh3qh]

on 10:46 wich type of coffee machine is that? I want it!! I have on italian type but it doesnt have the vapor to blow the milk

[@Clarks-Adventure]

It's in our Amazon store. It's great.

[@benkanobe7500]

C&E, Do "refrigerators" (coolers) that work off the Peltier effect do a good job efficiency wise? I know they are slow, very slow, to cool down and you only want to put pre-cooled stuff in them whenever possible, but once they reach a low set temperature (assuming equivalent insulation), are they more (or less) efficient than refrigerator/coolers with actual compressors?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

They are terrible in all aspects.

[@benkanobe7500]

@@Clarks-Adventure Thank You!

[@neilfromclearwaterfl81]

@@Clarks-AdventureThey are fairly bad at being refrigerators but pretty good when you reverse them to keep food hot such as when bringing cooked foods to a pot-luck, picnic or a hot lunch while working remotely. Best one or would it be more accurate to say Least Bad one I've ever used had a deep heavy square aluminum pan for its liner instead of a cold plate or heat sink with a fan and it was very cheap (around $30) and branded as Brinsdon. I've had that one for about 40 years now and its still in very good shape aside from some yellowing of the white plastic. I have another larger newer Igloo with the heat sink and fan and the liner shrank and cracked horribly after a few years and required substantial plastic welding to keep it in usable condition. Electronics on both have been reliable but the fans require regular disassembly, cleaning and lubrication. Both can leave you with a low enough battery in far less than 8 hours leaving you stranded if you aren't paying attention so yes power hogs especially since many don't really have an actual gasket on the lids or a stiff enough lid to make a gasket useful due to the weak latches they put on them. I don't use them as a primary refrigerator but only for incidental use after loading them with near frozen items after pre-chilling them on a 120 volt power converter and use them as a cold assisted cooler for cold items. Just barely ok to make items from a broken fridge last a little longer while the real one is being repaired. Most can't make room temperature items cold for a long, long time unless you get a really tiny one with a big thermal chip inside it. Best!

[@dfhepner]

I bought a BougeRV unit a few years ago as it will cool down to -8 F so I can transport ice cream 30 miles home. It does not have very good insulation as the bottom and sides developed frost. I’m going to add foam box around it. Do you use HF radio for Sea crossing or just hope VHF will work?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

I used to use hf a lot. Mostly for weather over pactor. But now I just rely on my cell phone when I'm close to islands.

[@johnormond8817]

I have a smaller cruising sailboat with an inboard diesel. I’ve been thinking of a small refrigerator and putting it in the outboard engine fuel locker in the cockpit. The waste heat would discharged outside. Any thoughts?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Sure why not

[@MattRios-jn1qx]

Her husband explained things much better. I like that long cord, it's what I must have

[@tonystites2134]

first-time watcher loved the video. I was shocked when you showed your husband. between your voice and the way, you look, I would have thought you were his daughter.

[@benkanobe7500]

If someone was to build their own refrigerator for their boat, what is "the best compressor ever made" and are they still available in different sizes? What metric do small compressor makers use for their size/capacity (I'm guessing it isn't "Tons")?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

What's most important is COP (coefficient of power) and size. Expect cop numbers from China to be made up.

[@benkanobe7500]

@@Clarks-Adventure When Clark was examining the Bodega's compressor he made comment about the best compressor ever made as though he had one in mind. That is what my comment was about. What compressor was Clark talking about?

[@vt2lachris]

He mentioned the BD 50F from Sescamp when he and I were chatting the other day. Probably the most used and “best” compressor available. Correct me if wrong Em & Clark.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Yep or the bd35 f. Same family just a bit smaller

[@benkanobe7500]

@@vt2lachris Thank you vt2lachris!

[@MiQBohlin]

Aye m8’s! Cool review ❄️ All of the Bodegas at Amazon seems to be out of stock?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Works in the US. They show out when I try from the DR as well

[@MiQBohlin]

Even when I change my VPN to US I get the same information 🤔 “Currently unavailable”

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Strange try it from our Amazon store

[@MiQBohlin]

And yes, I also did try from your own Amazon store link

[@fisheater844]

Just checked the Amazon link word got out none of the coolers are available( out of stock) for shipping to Australia . Seen your coffee machine,they are advertised here lately is it any good , would love some feedback, thanks.

[@Clarks-Adventure]

I'd check back later. They see to have sold out for some reason?? The coffee maker is great. I bought it in the 90s. If you get one please follow the link in our store.

[@lubberwalker]

Is the bodega fan brushless?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

The compressor and fan should both be brushless DC motors

[@mattgartside7885]

I use insulin for my diabetes, it has to be kept in the refrigerator or it will go off. I bought two Alpicool boxes so I have back up. I have two electrical systems, wind generation and solar panels. I have one set to refrigerator mode where I keep my insulin and various bits of food. The other is set to freezer mode. I have encased this one with 2 inches of insulation (a gap has been left for the fan.) This runs much more efficiently with the installation and condensation isn’t a problem. Has anybody had any problems with these refrigerators? I’m rather nervous that both will fail and therefore my insulin will be unusable within a few weeks. If my insulin becomes unusable it could lead to very bad things. :-) by the way, this is on a boat in the Scottish Hebrides.

[@hughvanduyn6482]

Over FIVE THOUSAND Views, and only just over 500 thumbs!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@bryrensexton4618]

👍!!!

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Thanks

[@AlsinoFerreira]

😎

[@redsailor101]

On of those costs more then my boat😂😂

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Yeah, I wouldn't buy that one either

[@benkanobe7500]

CORRECTION: (I found it on the actual amazon listing.) ps. I didn't see a discount code, but the link did take me to a $299.00 one on amazon that sure seems worth the $299.00. Is the discount code right there and I missed it??

[@Clarks-Adventure]

It's just not there today. Once it is I hope to see the discount coupon right near the price. I'll contact them

[@Clarks-Adventure]

We updated the link. The seller changed the ad for some reason

[@benkanobe7500]

@@Clarks-Adventure Thanks you guys! I'm figuring on which one!

[@TimsWorkshopTJY]

Her leaving must have been very sudden being this was 5 months ago. She must have been unhappy but she covered it well. My guess is she wanted to start a family living at a normal house.

[@gabrieltucker4232]

Let’s not traumatize our guy my brother 👍

[@paulgarfield4196]

When I click on the Bodega link it takes me to: Outsunny 30L Car Refrigerator, Portable Compressor Car Fridge Freezer, Electric Cooler Box with 12/24V DC and 110-240V AC for Camping, Driving, Picnic, Down to -20℃? - Just me?

[@Clarks-Adventure]

Odd... It works for me. Anyone else having an issue?