Can the refrigerator be left running all the time, especially at night?
Updated on: 26/05/2025The fridge runs on electricity, so if you're plugged into shore power at the marina, yes, you can leave it running all night.
If, on the other hand, you’re at an unmarked anchorage, no, this isn’t recommended because the fridge runs on battery power. Of course, if the batteries are new, this usually isn’t a problem, but if they’re a bit worn out (which is often the case at the end of the season), they’ll drain faster and you risk running them down.
Our advice: if you’re spending the night at an anchorage outside a port, avoid leaving the fridge on. This won’t spoil your food, and you can always turn it back on in the early morning by running the engine. We recommend, of course, that you keep this in mind when shopping.
If the boat you’re renting is equipped with a generator, you can choose to run it overnight to avoid draining the batteries. However, this isn’t ideal, as it’s a noisy device, especially for people sleeping in a cabin near the generator.
