Does Dry Ice work any better then conventional ice? I am planning a week+ of cruising for later this summer and would like to know if this would be a good way to keep the icebox cooler longer. Thanks Tim
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Ed Fluss
MAKE BLOCK ICE
There are great articles about using dry ice in the archive. Most say DO NOT. Reason: there are some dangers to using dry ice. It gives off CO2 gas as it melts which can remain in your bilge and if enough builds up...well lets just say you may have a hard time waking up one morning. I have a H326 with a large ice box but NO refridgeration. I use blocks of ICE to keep things cool for 3-4 days. I make blocks of ice using a rectangular bucket. I make the blocks only about 2-4 inches deep. Takes less than a day to freeze. 2-4 blocks in the box lasts about a week. The great part about these rectangular blocks is they can be stacked and can be turned on their sides, so things can get right against the ice to keep cold like soda bottles etc. Ed Try it.
There are great articles about using dry ice in the archive. Most say DO NOT. Reason: there are some dangers to using dry ice. It gives off CO2 gas as it melts which can remain in your bilge and if enough builds up...well lets just say you may have a hard time waking up one morning. I have a H326 with a large ice box but NO refridgeration. I use blocks of ICE to keep things cool for 3-4 days. I make blocks of ice using a rectangular bucket. I make the blocks only about 2-4 inches deep. Takes less than a day to freeze. 2-4 blocks in the box lasts about a week. The great part about these rectangular blocks is they can be stacked and can be turned on their sides, so things can get right against the ice to keep cold like soda bottles etc. Ed Try it.
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Steve W.
Use with care
Tim - Here is an interesting link that will tell you a lot: Fair winds, Steve S/V Options
Tim - Here is an interesting link that will tell you a lot: Fair winds, Steve S/V Options
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David Foster
Frozen Food
First of all, your own freezer will produce ice that is much colder than what is commerically available. Second, blocks are much better than cubes. We make "blocks" in plastic containers when we start a trip. Third, freeze food when appropriate. We always make a batch of chili, and freeze it. Soup, meet, and other freezables for use later in the trip. With these tricks, our ice-box was still freezing the loose water in the bottom after two days of 10 day June cruise. One bag of cubes on the top was all that we needed for five days. By then only the large plastic containers had any ice left, and we were adding two bags of commercial cubes per day to keep proper refrigeration. As mentioned already, the CO2 released by the dry ice is heavier than air. It will pool bottom up in your cabin, and can be deadly. David Lady Lillie
First of all, your own freezer will produce ice that is much colder than what is commerically available. Second, blocks are much better than cubes. We make "blocks" in plastic containers when we start a trip. Third, freeze food when appropriate. We always make a batch of chili, and freeze it. Soup, meet, and other freezables for use later in the trip. With these tricks, our ice-box was still freezing the loose water in the bottom after two days of 10 day June cruise. One bag of cubes on the top was all that we needed for five days. By then only the large plastic containers had any ice left, and we were adding two bags of commercial cubes per day to keep proper refrigeration. As mentioned already, the CO2 released by the dry ice is heavier than air. It will pool bottom up in your cabin, and can be deadly. David Lady Lillie
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Scott Wilson
Freeze your canned beer, but start with
one can of your favorite, to make sure your brand stays in the can after being frozen. If it works, freeze the whole 12 pack in the box for easy transport to the dock. Then dispurse throughout the ice box. I also freeze water in plastic milk cartons and screw top juice plastic bottles, which keeps the thawed ice (water) in the bottle, rather than flowing to the bottom of the ice box. P.S. I know the question was dry ice, but I only know about "wet" ice.
one can of your favorite, to make sure your brand stays in the can after being frozen. If it works, freeze the whole 12 pack in the box for easy transport to the dock. Then dispurse throughout the ice box. I also freeze water in plastic milk cartons and screw top juice plastic bottles, which keeps the thawed ice (water) in the bottle, rather than flowing to the bottom of the ice box. P.S. I know the question was dry ice, but I only know about "wet" ice.
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alan
Freeze the water bottles like Scott.
I do the same, no mess, you can drink the melting bottles. Especially good in smaller boats where space is an issue. alan
I do the same, no mess, you can drink the melting bottles. Especially good in smaller boats where space is an issue. alan
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Tom
Caution
Be careful when using dry ice in confined spaces. It does displace air and if conditions are right it can cause oxygen deprivation or loss of consciousness. I guess it depends on how "tight" your ship is. Anyway it is worth mentioning. Take care. If you must use it maybe loading up a large ice chest outside the cabin might be safer.
Be careful when using dry ice in confined spaces. It does displace air and if conditions are right it can cause oxygen deprivation or loss of consciousness. I guess it depends on how "tight" your ship is. Anyway it is worth mentioning. Take care. If you must use it maybe loading up a large ice chest outside the cabin might be safer.
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DonH99
Too Expensive
I tried dry ice on my last cruise to the Fl Keys. Found it to be very expensive compared to using block ice plus all the other probems i.e. purchasing it, handling it, breathing it, etc. Definitely recommend block ice or frozen water bottles.
I tried dry ice on my last cruise to the Fl Keys. Found it to be very expensive compared to using block ice plus all the other probems i.e. purchasing it, handling it, breathing it, etc. Definitely recommend block ice or frozen water bottles.
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Allen
I've tried dry ice, too, but.....
I really didn't think it was worth the cost or the effort. As has been suggested, freezing water in milk bottles is a good idea because then you have drinking water when it melts. The real key to keeping things cold is how you pack your icebox. Try to eliminate air spaces, even using crushed ice to fill any odd sized spaces. Ed's suggestion of making thin blocks is good, too, that may help fill in some of the spaces.
I really didn't think it was worth the cost or the effort. As has been suggested, freezing water in milk bottles is a good idea because then you have drinking water when it melts. The real key to keeping things cold is how you pack your icebox. Try to eliminate air spaces, even using crushed ice to fill any odd sized spaces. Ed's suggestion of making thin blocks is good, too, that may help fill in some of the spaces.
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bryan
weird science!
I found this article and a website to help others. It "CAN BE SAFE?" with alot of effort and preparation. Dry Ice Dry ice transforms from solid to gaseous carbon dioxide. Dry ice has the ability to displace oxygen in enclosed spaces. Dry ice is therefore considered a dangerous good for air transport, even when used as a refrigerant, and is subject to parts of the governmental regulations controlling dangerous goods. Among these regulatory controls are restrictions from placing packages containing dry ice in compartments with live animals, such as pets in the cargo compartment of the aircraft. A shipper who uses dry ice must comply with specific governmental regulations. These regulations specify that packages containing dry ice be designed to permit carbon dioxide gas to escape without rupturing the package. In addition, shippers using dry ice must supply specific information on the Air Waybill and mark the net quantity of dry ice on each package. The shipper must make advance arrangements with Hawaiian Airlines when the net quantity of dry ice exceeds five (5) pounds per package. Class 9 labels must be visible on each box. Federal regulations restrict the total amount of dry ice on aircraft. Hummmmmmmmmmmm!
I found this article and a website to help others. It "CAN BE SAFE?" with alot of effort and preparation. Dry Ice Dry ice transforms from solid to gaseous carbon dioxide. Dry ice has the ability to displace oxygen in enclosed spaces. Dry ice is therefore considered a dangerous good for air transport, even when used as a refrigerant, and is subject to parts of the governmental regulations controlling dangerous goods. Among these regulatory controls are restrictions from placing packages containing dry ice in compartments with live animals, such as pets in the cargo compartment of the aircraft. A shipper who uses dry ice must comply with specific governmental regulations. These regulations specify that packages containing dry ice be designed to permit carbon dioxide gas to escape without rupturing the package. In addition, shippers using dry ice must supply specific information on the Air Waybill and mark the net quantity of dry ice on each package. The shipper must make advance arrangements with Hawaiian Airlines when the net quantity of dry ice exceeds five (5) pounds per package. Class 9 labels must be visible on each box. Federal regulations restrict the total amount of dry ice on aircraft. Hummmmmmmmmmmm!
The problem with dry ice is...
My local dry-ice supplier is always so crowded with customers of dry ice that there's always a line waiting for the stuff! LOL I like the idea of custom-making your own block ice. Make a mould out of metal or plastic that fits half the bottom of your cooler, and line it with a trash bag before filling with water and freezing for about 4 days. There ya go!
My local dry-ice supplier is always so crowded with customers of dry ice that there's always a line waiting for the stuff! LOL I like the idea of custom-making your own block ice. Make a mould out of metal or plastic that fits half the bottom of your cooler, and line it with a trash bag before filling with water and freezing for about 4 days. There ya go!
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Dennis Thomas
There can be a use for dry ice
Several of you have already noted the danger of dry ice and even the restrictions on air travel with the stuff. The best way is to start with as much frozen goods in your cooler as possible. But dry ice is sooo cold. It must have some use. One alternative; use the dry ice at home to lower the temperature of your already frozen stuff. The lower the temperature of your goods, the longer it takes for them to warm. We have used this technique on charter trips to the Caribbean. We load the frozen steaks, etc into an ice chest with the dry ice and leave it for a day. Just before we leave for the airport, we move the food into a Styrofoam shipping box with 3-inch thick walls. What’s left of the dry ice is not included so there is no need for the air shipping restrictions. Our bags were lost on one crossing from Florida to the Abacos. It turns out that our bags were in a un-air conditioned warehouse for a day and a half. The frozen food was still colder than a regular freezer when we opened the boxes. S/V Anodyne 36' Catalina
Several of you have already noted the danger of dry ice and even the restrictions on air travel with the stuff. The best way is to start with as much frozen goods in your cooler as possible. But dry ice is sooo cold. It must have some use. One alternative; use the dry ice at home to lower the temperature of your already frozen stuff. The lower the temperature of your goods, the longer it takes for them to warm. We have used this technique on charter trips to the Caribbean. We load the frozen steaks, etc into an ice chest with the dry ice and leave it for a day. Just before we leave for the airport, we move the food into a Styrofoam shipping box with 3-inch thick walls. What’s left of the dry ice is not included so there is no need for the air shipping restrictions. Our bags were lost on one crossing from Florida to the Abacos. It turns out that our bags were in a un-air conditioned warehouse for a day and a half. The frozen food was still colder than a regular freezer when we opened the boxes. S/V Anodyne 36' Catalina
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