Well, in spite of reading everything I could find on this site and others, I still did not understand what could go wrong. So, for the edification of everyone present and future searches, here goes.

Plan: As a source of components I used a new Kenmore dorm minifridge. Based on what I have found in stores, this would be considered a typical fridge right now. It "appeared" to be a straight forward swap of components; cold plate/icecube holder, thermostat and compressor. The plan was to disconnect everything inside, cut a hole in the back of the fridge, remove the cold plate, wiring and thermostat, unbolt the compressor and move the entire assembly to the port cockpit locker. Cut a corresponding hole in the back of the icebox, slip the coldplate and thermostat inside, seal the hole, make a permanent mount in the locker for the compressor and wire the 110v into a new circuit breaker on the AC panel. I started documenting all this with photos. What made this seem so easy was the small number of components.

Reality: Along the way someone made a brief mention of NOT using a new style fridge, but looking for an older but gently used one. No further explanation why. After destroying the back and inside of the new fridge, I had everything disconnected. After two weeks of letting the slice in my thumb heal, I started in again to unbolt the compressor and make the move from my workshop to the boat. It was this moment that everything became clear. I discovered two small copper lines, about the diameter of a pencil lead, that were not obvious before. On new style fridges these lines(roughly 10' of it) snake back and forth on the sides and top and are attached to inside of the steel outer skin with aluminum tape. The whole thing is foamed into place (which is why they were unseen until now). The entire outer skin is used as heat sink to cool the freon. That would require removing the foam, then the tape, then the tubing without making a hole or a bend. Transferring a small copper octopus to the port locker and somehow setting this up to cool correctly. The last thing I need is a copper tube mess in the locker with the boat poles, fenders, dock lines, etc. The old style of fridge uses a much smaller cooling grid (roughly 1'x2') that is attached to the back of the fridge and can be removed and relocated relatively easy. I thought the new models had some marvelous new way of cooling the freon so fewer parts and no grid at all.

All that said, the new destroyed dorm fridge is sitting in the garage, the project is abandoned, at least for now. With the amount of conversion work and expense required to make one of these new style units work, it seems pointless for anyone to do it to save $$.