NovaKool fridge freezer

Capt Maritime · Jan 17, 2026

I'm considering swapping out my side by side fridge/freezer for a over/under fridge freezer. I have seen newer Cabo 40's that have the over/under drawer type. My Cabo is a 2005. Anyone have any info on what units Cabo used on the newer models? My ACDC control module is not working properly so I have to pull the units anyhow and my wife has been asking for the drawer type units for a while now.

Capt J · Jan 17, 2026

Sub zero drawers were used on the newer ones.

ranger58sb · Jan 18, 2026

Not Cabo, but our boat came with Sub-Zero units, a door freezer and a 2-drawer fridge. AC only. We recently had to finally bag the freezer, and replaced it with a Summit Outdoor door unit, exact same dimensions and fit, still AC only. Cost of the new unit, including shipping, was only about $150 lower than the estimated cost to repair the original Sub-Zero. If the fridge goes, I expect we'll replace that with a Summit Outdoor unit too.

-Chris

Capt Maritime · Jan 18, 2026

Thanks for the feedback - Sub zero and Summit units. I'm going to pull my NovaKool units in the next week or so to get actual dimensions and to see about the ACDC control module that is mounted on the back.

I'm going to stay with an ACDC unit plus the doors need to be latched so that they do not open underway in choppy seas.

ranger58sb · Jan 18, 2026

AC vs. AC/DC... pros and cons, of course.

We've had NovaKool in the past, worked well enough -- including the freezer portion -- but needed defrosting from time to time. We also have a Norcold unit on the bridge now, AC/DC, works OK as a fridge but needs defrosting from time to time.

The Sub-Zero and Summit AC-only units need either genset or inverter while underway, and we added an inverter to feed most of the light AC house loads, including fridge and freezer. All of these units seem to get a lot colder -- the freezers make decent ice -- and we've come to appreciate the frost-free part of it.

The boat builder added some extra latches. The new Summit freezer unit comes with it's own door lock mechanism, too, and while we haven't yet tried to stress that, the lock seems very positive, likely sufficient all by itself. Dunno what the drawer units do. Didn't shop to see if there are combo fridge/freezer drawer units... since we wouldn't really want that in our case.

-Chris

Capt Maritime · Jan 18, 2026

Chris -

Thanks for the feedback. Bottom line is I have some choices and since its winter I have some time to figure out which option to go with. This is what we are looking for and this is on a 43 Cabo convertible.

Capt Maritime · Jan 18, 2026

Crappy weather today so I decided to remove the NovaKool refrigerator/freezer. Looks like the original one was replaced as this one has a 2015 factory sticker on it.

Going to get some info on the ACDC control unit tomorrow.

Capt Ralph · Jan 18, 2026

Pending what your issues are, there may be a fuse in that controller box.
I recall those were DannFoss DCv compressors. The ACv was just crudely converted down.
AND, That fan has to run or over temp all out.

Capt Maritime · Jan 21, 2026

Looks like it is the ACDC control module as I have have AC voltage through the fuse/control box into the module.

Capt Ralph · Jan 21, 2026

So, Still assuming you dont work on ACv but DCv good?
Yank that box and crack it open. Check for fuses.

Capt Maritime · Jan 29, 2026 at 8:18 PM

Fuse was good on the AC side. The ACDC module quit working. Time to repair that or replace with a new module.

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NovaKool fridge freezer

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