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The refit · Galley

A “real” fridge.
A galley of our own.

A photo journey through Kopelia’s galley rebuild.

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Rebuilt for life aboard.

The galley was our biggest interior layout change. Kimber wanted a “real” refrigerator, so Greg cut out the original top-loading refrigerator box and installed an upright fridge/freezer. He also rebuilt the separate freezer with a new compressor and cold plate. Kimber got her refrigerator; Greg got two independent refrigeration systems and the redundancy he wanted.

The rebuilt galley with its upright refrigerator, stove, wooden counter, and double sink.
The rebuilt galley with its upright refrigerator, stove, wooden counter, and double sink. Photo: 2022-03-24.

The rebuild · 01

Making room for a different galley

The original system used a freezer cold plate with spillover cooling into the refrigerator. Changing that arrangement meant opening up the old boxes and making space for the new equipment.

Measurements marked out in the stripped galley.
Measurements marked out in the stripped galley. Photo: 2021-11-06.
The galley before the new cabinetry and equipment.
The galley before the new cabinetry and equipment. Photo: 2021-11-06.
Looking down into the opened-up box area.
Looking down into the opened-up box area. Photo: 2021-11-12.
The upright refrigerator opening taking shape.
The upright refrigerator opening taking shape. Photo: 2021-11-21.

The rebuild · 02

Two refrigeration systems

The separate freezer stayed part of the plan. Rebuilding it alongside the new upright fridge/freezer gave us the two systems Greg wanted.

Work around the rebuilt top-loading box.
Work around the rebuilt top-loading box. Photo: 2021-12-12.
A closer look inside the rebuilt box.
A closer look inside the rebuilt box. Photo: 2021-12-12.
The upright refrigerator fitted into its new space.
The upright refrigerator fitted into its new space. Photo: 2022-02-05.

The rebuild · 03

Cabinets and wooden counters

Cabinetry and counters turned the equipment layout into a working galley. The photos follow the sink fitting and the wood surfaces as they came together.

Upper cabinetry being fitted along the galley wall.
Upper cabinetry being fitted along the galley wall. Photo: 2022-03-11.
The galley cabinetry and counter area during the rebuild.
The galley cabinetry and counter area during the rebuild. Photo: 2022-03-12.
The wooden countertop in place.
The wooden countertop in place. Photo: 2022-03-14.
Fitting the double sink into the wooden counter.
Fitting the double sink into the wooden counter. Photo: 2022-03-16.

The rebuild · 04

The finishing details

A faucet, backsplash, and fitted cover brought the work together. The result was a galley shaped around how we wanted to live aboard.

The sink and counter as the galley came together.
The sink and counter as the galley came together. Photo: 2022-03-20.
The double sink, faucet, and backsplash.
The double sink, faucet, and backsplash. Photo: 2022-04-24.
A fitted wooden cover beside the sink.
A fitted wooden cover beside the sink. Photo: 2022-04-24.
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