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okay, but with two BIG "ifs"
The biggest (and I consider only) problem with dry ice is that it produces CO2 as it melts. It should be okay.....IF: 1. Your ice box (lid) is air tight. AND 2. Your ice box drains directly overboard (NOT to the bilge!) Good luck!
The biggest (and I consider only) problem with dry ice is that it produces CO2 as it melts. It should be okay.....IF: 1. Your ice box (lid) is air tight. AND 2. Your ice box drains directly overboard (NOT to the bilge!) Good luck!
Will change the flavor
CO2 will affect the flavor of some foods in the ice box. Most important is that CO2 displaces the oxygen. I almost passed out one time when I forgot and stuck my head inside while searching for a cold beer. You also have to be very careful how you handle it. Don't ever let it touch your skin. Kind of like the kid with his tongue stuck to the flagpole in winter. I have finally convinced my wife it is cheaper and safer to use block ice. Only use cubes for drinks, they melt faster. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
CO2 will affect the flavor of some foods in the ice box. Most important is that CO2 displaces the oxygen. I almost passed out one time when I forgot and stuck my head inside while searching for a cold beer. You also have to be very careful how you handle it. Don't ever let it touch your skin. Kind of like the kid with his tongue stuck to the flagpole in winter. I have finally convinced my wife it is cheaper and safer to use block ice. Only use cubes for drinks, they melt faster. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
Mosquitoes
Carbon Dioxide is what attracts mosquitoes. For extended trips I keep two "five day" coolers, one for storing block ice to draw upon once a day to keep my utility cooler going. Mark Major s/v Lesismor 86H23
Carbon Dioxide is what attracts mosquitoes. For extended trips I keep two "five day" coolers, one for storing block ice to draw upon once a day to keep my utility cooler going. Mark Major s/v Lesismor 86H23
We have used dry ice...
for years in our H31 cooler box with success. The same issues regarding food flavor apply as with a normal portable picnic cooler. Since you only have space for a small single layer at the bottom of that space, the CO2 emissions are nominal and disperse quickly. I am assuming you cover the dry ice with at least a bag's worth of regular ice. To minimize the flavor issue and avoid hard freezing of items, we insulate the dry ice from the wet ice with a layer of newspaper and are careful what we put directly on top of the wet ice. Anything kept on the removable tray stays cool for an entire weekend.
for years in our H31 cooler box with success. The same issues regarding food flavor apply as with a normal portable picnic cooler. Since you only have space for a small single layer at the bottom of that space, the CO2 emissions are nominal and disperse quickly. I am assuming you cover the dry ice with at least a bag's worth of regular ice. To minimize the flavor issue and avoid hard freezing of items, we insulate the dry ice from the wet ice with a layer of newspaper and are careful what we put directly on top of the wet ice. Anything kept on the removable tray stays cool for an entire weekend.
Hi Mike, my first mate and I cruised three...
seasons in our H28 with an ice box. We stayed out ten to twelve days and returned with the dry ice gone but the bag ice was still frozen solid. I poured two bags of regular ice in the bottom of the cooler, then layed the dry ice on top, then covered the dry ice with two more bags of regular ice. Just keep the boat well ventilated and the ice box lid close tight. Twenty pounds of dry ice enclosed with the four bags of regular ice usually lasted about ten days, and the regular ice the remaining two for a total of twelve days. Terry
seasons in our H28 with an ice box. We stayed out ten to twelve days and returned with the dry ice gone but the bag ice was still frozen solid. I poured two bags of regular ice in the bottom of the cooler, then layed the dry ice on top, then covered the dry ice with two more bags of regular ice. Just keep the boat well ventilated and the ice box lid close tight. Twenty pounds of dry ice enclosed with the four bags of regular ice usually lasted about ten days, and the regular ice the remaining two for a total of twelve days. Terry
Safety Concerns
We used dry ice which we got free from a local grocery store. It was used to delvier ice cream and other frozen items so they dumped it (end of the line) every Thursday evening. I picked it up with ski gloves, put it in large plastic pails, and stoked the ice box with it. Positive: Friday evening we put in some regular ice and it lasted for several days. Positive: Everything stayed VERY Cold. Problems: It is deadly. You can die from it. CO2 is heavier than air and you can't smell it. The watermellon and honeydew mellons, milk, and a few other items became carbonated. Ever had carbonated watermellon? Not all that good. Problems: Sometimes things got too cold. Frozen milk, for example. Have refrigeration now - no problems with deadly gas.
We used dry ice which we got free from a local grocery store. It was used to delvier ice cream and other frozen items so they dumped it (end of the line) every Thursday evening. I picked it up with ski gloves, put it in large plastic pails, and stoked the ice box with it. Positive: Friday evening we put in some regular ice and it lasted for several days. Positive: Everything stayed VERY Cold. Problems: It is deadly. You can die from it. CO2 is heavier than air and you can't smell it. The watermellon and honeydew mellons, milk, and a few other items became carbonated. Ever had carbonated watermellon? Not all that good. Problems: Sometimes things got too cold. Frozen milk, for example. Have refrigeration now - no problems with deadly gas.
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