Fridge-freezer

The fridge/freezer was Dad's domain, and woe to those who repacked something wrong, or at least differently. The galley was U-shaped, the safest shape in a yacht; it allows your hip to be pushed into a corner or against a wall so the boat's motion does not throw you about. If you stood facing the port side of Franda II's galley, the gimbaled stove and oven would be on your left (aft). In front between you and the port hole was a bench top with small cupboards situated against the hull extending both ways, aft behind the stove and forward above the freezer. On your right (forward) side, the bench was about 60cm wide and extended from the cupboards on the hull for 80cm until the sink and the stairwell wall. The freezer lid took up the greater half of the bench top. Situated evenly from all sides, it could not be lifted with anything on the bench.  Because of its proximity to the sink and dishes, one had to be extremely careful not to get the bench wet as it would then run into the freezer and possibly damage some foods or at least ensure a clean-out was necessary. Washed dishes were put on a movable rack, sitting on a tray and draining back into the sink. In this way, the bench tops stayed dry.

The freezer was a rather deep rectangular box with two brine tanks dividing it into three. The freezer section was between the two brine tanks - everything froze except the items on top, like bread. On the outside of the two brine tanks is where other fridge items went. Items would freeze if they touched or were close to the tanks, and further out from there, the vegetables and fruit could be safely kept.

So it was an "art" in these outside areas to keep the fresh vegetables well away and to ensure that only items that freezing wouldn't hurt were between the vegetables and the brine tanks. Also, because the fridge was so deep, about 60cm, those items on the bottom layers had to withstand the weight of the items on top, so squashable items did not go at the bottom. The bottom of the fridge would also get colder than the top.
Another consideration was the length of time that the freezer was run. Typically, only one hour in the morning and one in the evening, but if left longer, the cold air would morph outward further from the tanks, causing freezing issues.... The freezer unit was powered by a small Yanmar generator that sat at waist level between the main engine, on the centre line, and the portside hull. The generator ran the freezer and also charged the batteries. Cold drinking water was in two two-litre square-shaped bottles; these lived outside the brine tanks but touched them. It was fine if they had some ice and were a good insulator for the other foods. When the water bottles were removed, one had to ensure that the other foods did not move to fill the gap or touch the brine tanks, causing freezer burns. The water bottles must be refilled before being put back, even if only one glassful has been removed. This was also fraught with danger; if you did not check the hole it had come out of, you might squash something that had moved into the space. Not filling water bottles was a regular upset on the boat, or if they had been replaced in the wrong spot or put on something squashable. The concern with not filling water bottles is that there were only two, and on a warm day, the 6 family members would drink the 4 litres of cold water. If one had been put back only half full, there was not enough cold water.

It is interesting that now, decades later, I understand what Dad went through. Sons that put empty containers back in the fridge. Someone repacks the fridge or a drawer differently or pushes a perishable item backwards onto the cooling wall. Puts heavy vegetables on soft squashable ones. Yes, now I understand.