Need More Fridge Space? Try a Portable Refrigerator/Freezer

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Do you need more fridge space to keep your drinks cold? Most boat refrigerators are smaller than optimum. When we bought Optimystique, there was a portable refrigerator/freezer included, operating from a 12v plug on the back deck. This solved the issue of an icy cold beer at the end of a long day nicely. (NOTE: We spent most of this week winterizing our Illinois home, so “real” Loop posts will resume next week!)

On our sailboat we solved the “need more space for drinks” issue by using our Grizzly Cooler, but it requires a block of ice to keep stuff cold a long time.

The back porch – you can see the portable refrigerator just behind the teak chair to the right of the door.

Other than just being small, every time you open the refrigerator door, it lets out all the cold air. So a cooler has always been our solution for drinks. This portable refrigerator on also makes for a convenient spot for ice cold water bottles during long hot days at the upstairs helm.

New Whynter Portable 45Q Refrigerator/Freezer ready to go to the boat!It would also run on the 12v plug in our vehicle if we wanted to use it in the truck.

Unfortunately, it clearly says in the instructions that it’s not to be used in rain or direct sunlight, both of which were a bit of a problem on our back porch … and I imagine salt air outdoor use in Florida was hard on it as well. So after several years and half a Great Loop, it started acting up.

Here’s the original on the back porch – it looks almost identical like the new one we just got above – except for the label.

We went a couple of weeks without and David decided it’s a must have. So I found a similar unit (actually it looks like EXACTLY the same unit with a different label) and we ordered a new one (with PRIME from Amazon). Now we’re back to having nice cool drinks – and ice cold beer at the end of each day of our Great Loop!

Whynter 45Q Portable Refrigerator/Freezer

If you’re looking for a solution for more drinks than the typical small boat refrigerator will hold, check out the Whynter Portable Refrigerator/Freezer (yes, you can also use it as a small chest freezer if you’d prefer by merely adjusting the thermostat).