Engel MT27 Refrigerator Install
After a sailing season of buying ice, draining the original icebox, and planning meals around what would survive a warm box overnight, I finally installed a proper refrigerator aboard Queen of Hearts. The Engel MT27 is the result of a lot of research and input from the Nor'Sea 27 community, and it just barely fits.
Why the Engel MT27
The Nor'Sea 27's icebox opening is roughly 13 inches wide, which eliminates most marine refrigerators outright. After asking around in the NS27 community, people had a range of solutions. The Engel MT27 stood out for our specific constraints: compact footprint, low power draw, and rugged construction. It runs on the Engel Sawafuji swing motor compressor, known for reliability, low vibration, and the ability to operate up to 30 degrees off level, which matters on a sailboat.
The MT27 had been out of production for a period, which made it hard to source new. My first unit came from eBay but arrived damaged. I ended up ordering directly from Engel, and the new unit arrived in perfect condition.
Specifications
| Model | Engel MT27F-U1 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 22 quarts (~27 cans) |
| Exterior (L × W × H) | 21.2" × 12" × 18.2" |
| Interior (L × W × H) | 11.5" × 8" × 13.5" |
| Weight | 39 lbs |
| Power | 12/24V DC & 110/120V AC (auto-switching) |
| Current Draw (12V DC) | 0.66 – 2.75 A (variable) |
| Typical Draw | ~1–2 A/hr under normal conditions |
| Compressor | Engel Swing Motor (Sawafuji) |
| Refrigerant | HFC-134a (CFC-free) |
| Max Incline | 30° off level |
| Warranty | 3 years (personal use) |
At roughly 1–2 amps per hour average, the MT27 is a very manageable load for a boat with modest solar.
The Original Icebox
The original icebox with its teak divider, and the butcher block cutting board that covers it.
The Nor'Sea 27's icebox is a top-loading unit with an aluminum liner, thick foam insulation, and a distinctive yellow fiberglass surround. It's a well-built box, but not a refrigerator. Every passage required ice packs, and every morning meant checking the drain.
The Install
The MT27 sitting in place: 12" wide in a 13" opening, with just enough room for the spacers.
Getting the unit in required careful maneuvering. The MT27's 12" exterior width fits the ~13" opening with about half an inch to spare on each side.
One of the PETG spacers installed on the side of the unit, keeping it centered in the opening.
To keep the unit centered and rattle-free, I designed and printed custom spacers in PETG. They screw directly into the Engel's housing and press against the sides of the opening, holding the unit steady without any slop. The spacers also align the Engel's top opening flush with the existing fiberglass surround, so the lid fits the same footprint the original cutting board covered.
The unit wires directly to the house bank through the new electrical panel on a dedicated fused circuit.
3D-Printed Spacers
The spacer files are available on MakerWorld for anyone fitting an Engel MT27 into a Nor'Sea 27 or similarly-sized opening.
Results
Initial testing is excellent. The compressor is audible when running, but settles into a nice low hum. It reaches temperature quickly, cycles infrequently, and the power draw is modest enough that even on cloudy days it shouldn't stress the battery bank. We're excited to put it through a full sailing season.