I'm looking for a fun winter project under the cover. We're spending more time on board in season these days. How often we need to replenish things is on my mind.
Coastal sailing is a feast underway, for us. We like to prepare and eat fresh food along the way. Naturally, my first thought is the icebox.
22 seasons use, I haven't done a thing to it, thanks to Aldens solid design and building in 1961.
But I have melted hundreds of pounds of ice in it.
It has a separate sump in the bilge that holds about a gallon of wastewater. There is a hand pump under the counter that pumps that out via a T on the galley sink drain. It's easy, maintenance-free, and foolproof.
In less than two hours yesterday - thanks to good old-fashioned 'stick building', I managed a full commitment to improving it.
No surprise, it is insulated, sort of,... with the 50s-60s polystyrene. The stuff is flying all over the saloon now.
There's a full 2" all around the SS liner. The liner is suspended from the counter(a lip is screwed into the perimeter of the curb for the 2" lid.
I expected to remove the countertop (I'd love to replace the '61 Formica but Mary Ann loves it's retro look,(it matches the plastic-ware - oh well). But I see I don't have to as I can slide new insulation into place all around.
Right out of the gate I could achieve near double the R-value by using polyisocyanurate material.
There has been a lot of condensation over the years (61) around the copper outlet pipe (lower left of box). Hmmm. I'm thinking of encasing that in foam somehow, and perhaps insulating the hose that connects to it and leads to the sump.
Not sure a raised loop would help that much but might hinder drainage. Always going to be a loss but the system works so well I can't un-improve that. A shut-off would likely mean flooded food.
What about spray foams? I'm familiar with the products. There are guns and hoses that can get into crannies and maybe help seal areas around corners? I even thought about a hybrid system; say 1 1/2" Iso-foam sheet and then a foam envelope between that and the SS box?
After the product, the installation will be the most important. I'm thinking of trying a better air sealing envelope than the one I found. Plus I could use a bit of expanding foam to press the foam board against the SS box.
I'm only expecting to reduce our time between adding ice. Ice is cheap and plentiful in our cruising ground but more time between would be nice.
Our typical icebox underway is packed full with fresh food - and ice, most locally picked along the way (half the fun), and has to have space for an average of 40 pounds of ice blocks.
So what can I do to get the most out of this meager 2" space around the box?
Now that we are a 3 sailboat family (our 2 kids now live in town), I expect the icebox is going into overdrive in the coming seasons (think raft-ups). Xmas brunch 2021. We like to cook!
Coastal sailing is a feast underway, for us. We like to prepare and eat fresh food along the way. Naturally, my first thought is the icebox.
22 seasons use, I haven't done a thing to it, thanks to Aldens solid design and building in 1961.
But I have melted hundreds of pounds of ice in it.
It has a separate sump in the bilge that holds about a gallon of wastewater. There is a hand pump under the counter that pumps that out via a T on the galley sink drain. It's easy, maintenance-free, and foolproof.
In less than two hours yesterday - thanks to good old-fashioned 'stick building', I managed a full commitment to improving it.
No surprise, it is insulated, sort of,... with the 50s-60s polystyrene. The stuff is flying all over the saloon now.
There's a full 2" all around the SS liner. The liner is suspended from the counter(a lip is screwed into the perimeter of the curb for the 2" lid.
I expected to remove the countertop (I'd love to replace the '61 Formica but Mary Ann loves it's retro look,(it matches the plastic-ware - oh well). But I see I don't have to as I can slide new insulation into place all around.
Right out of the gate I could achieve near double the R-value by using polyisocyanurate material.
There has been a lot of condensation over the years (61) around the copper outlet pipe (lower left of box). Hmmm. I'm thinking of encasing that in foam somehow, and perhaps insulating the hose that connects to it and leads to the sump.
Not sure a raised loop would help that much but might hinder drainage. Always going to be a loss but the system works so well I can't un-improve that. A shut-off would likely mean flooded food.
What about spray foams? I'm familiar with the products. There are guns and hoses that can get into crannies and maybe help seal areas around corners? I even thought about a hybrid system; say 1 1/2" Iso-foam sheet and then a foam envelope between that and the SS box?
After the product, the installation will be the most important. I'm thinking of trying a better air sealing envelope than the one I found. Plus I could use a bit of expanding foam to press the foam board against the SS box.
I'm only expecting to reduce our time between adding ice. Ice is cheap and plentiful in our cruising ground but more time between would be nice.
Our typical icebox underway is packed full with fresh food - and ice, most locally picked along the way (half the fun), and has to have space for an average of 40 pounds of ice blocks.
So what can I do to get the most out of this meager 2" space around the box?
Now that we are a 3 sailboat family (our 2 kids now live in town), I expect the icebox is going into overdrive in the coming seasons (think raft-ups). Xmas brunch 2021. We like to cook!
