Bob sold our Freeport Islander 36 for us and I spent some time with him so I felt comfortable discussing his design choices.

I was at a boat show in San Diego a few years ago and he was aboard showing off his new 50' motorsailer. I brought up his placement of the refrigerator which opens athwartship and asked if it was his idea or the owners. He said it was his. We had that configuration on TD and didn't like it at all. When you're under passage you can't open the refrigerator to get anything as it will all tumble out onto the floor. We even had to put in a second refer (Engle 35) to get food when we were on a starboard tack passage or we couldn't open the door. A small item not even related to design really but he was very defensive. I know he doesn't like a boat to heel usually saying that a beer shouldn't fall off a table when your sailing.

His defensive response?

My boats don't heel! I put the refrigerator that way because it's irrelevant which way it opens.

Sorry Bob, you're wrong.