We went to the boat a couple of weeks ago. It was just me and the kids until my husband came down later. I got two bags of ice and put them in the ice box (we're a little primitive; no fridge). The ice lasted all weekend, but I need a better system than what I used. I put the ice (cubes) still in their bags into the ice box, opened up the side of the bag and put what I needed to be coldest right in the ice. I am not sure if/where I can get block ice (I'm sure that will be one of the suggestions since it does stay in the form of ice the longest). What can I do to maintain a cool temperature? We have a two-year-old milk addict so we have to have the cow juice aboard! Thanks in advance for suggestions!
Help me with ice
- Thread starter gr8nurs1271
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blocks work
Block ice will work better, try this. take a milk bottle and freeze it at home then put it in the ice box. take a space blanket an fold it to the size of the box then once loaded put the blanket on top. it will work to concider adding more insulation to the box. you can buy foam sheets at builders supply stores. and cut them to fit the insides of the box. glue them in place. the lid is usually a bad leak source of leaks. so make sure it seals. them put you hand on the top of the icebox. if its cool you can lay insuating material on the top of the box to reduce heat loss. Look in the phone book for block ice. you can find it if you look arround. good luck
Block ice will work better, try this. take a milk bottle and freeze it at home then put it in the ice box. take a space blanket an fold it to the size of the box then once loaded put the blanket on top. it will work to concider adding more insulation to the box. you can buy foam sheets at builders supply stores. and cut them to fit the insides of the box. glue them in place. the lid is usually a bad leak source of leaks. so make sure it seals. them put you hand on the top of the icebox. if its cool you can lay insuating material on the top of the box to reduce heat loss. Look in the phone book for block ice. you can find it if you look arround. good luck
Small addl. cooler
Because I have not addressed the insulation or no insulation problem around my ice box we have been using a small to mid size igloo cooler and it works real well with blue ice packs for the milk,butter,cheese and any thing else you don't what swimming with the soda and water in the ice box. Check to see if you can add more insulation around your ice box and then you'll get at least 4 days with a block of ice,I also leave a damp towel on top by the door and that helps cause the top is a way for the cool to escape and heat to get in.
Because I have not addressed the insulation or no insulation problem around my ice box we have been using a small to mid size igloo cooler and it works real well with blue ice packs for the milk,butter,cheese and any thing else you don't what swimming with the soda and water in the ice box. Check to see if you can add more insulation around your ice box and then you'll get at least 4 days with a block of ice,I also leave a damp towel on top by the door and that helps cause the top is a way for the cool to escape and heat to get in.
Ice
I used to use dry ice...for 15 years it sereved me well...lasted a long time in the ice chest, and without any safety issues.
I used to use dry ice...for 15 years it sereved me well...lasted a long time in the ice chest, and without any safety issues.
I used to make my own block ice
I used a plastic dishpan and made a couple of 20# rectangular blocks in my upright freezer where I had extra room. They fit well in my coolers for food transportation and also fit well in the icebox. Cheaper than buying ice at $3 for a 10# block too....
I used a plastic dishpan and made a couple of 20# rectangular blocks in my upright freezer where I had extra room. They fit well in my coolers for food transportation and also fit well in the icebox. Cheaper than buying ice at $3 for a 10# block too....
I also carry an Igloo cooler that I stock in the
morning with most of the cold stuff needed for the day. Helps maintain cold temps in the icebox if you can avoid opening it anymore than necessary.
morning with most of the cold stuff needed for the day. Helps maintain cold temps in the icebox if you can avoid opening it anymore than necessary.
Do-it-yourself is best
Advice below will help tremendously - the 'old plastic container-in-the-freezer-at-home routine. Easy and free. Ice cubes that you buy in stores are made with ice machines and contain air bubbles that homemade ice does not - that is why the store bought variety melts like ice cream. Pick a container with the best shape for your needs and go for it.
Advice below will help tremendously - the 'old plastic container-in-the-freezer-at-home routine. Easy and free. Ice cubes that you buy in stores are made with ice machines and contain air bubbles that homemade ice does not - that is why the store bought variety melts like ice cream. Pick a container with the best shape for your needs and go for it.
Cooler
Increase the insulation in your boat cooler. Also, the new "five day in 90* heat" coolers really work and will keep your ice for that long.
Increase the insulation in your boat cooler. Also, the new "five day in 90* heat" coolers really work and will keep your ice for that long.
Nancy and I have always made ice in
gallon jugs and 20 ounce coke bottles. This way when the ice melts we have cold fresh water. Our ice box insulation is four inches thick and forty pounds of ice in jugs will keep cold for a summertime week.
gallon jugs and 20 ounce coke bottles. This way when the ice melts we have cold fresh water. Our ice box insulation is four inches thick and forty pounds of ice in jugs will keep cold for a summertime week.
Here is what we did with the cooler on...
our H28. 1. Layer two bags of ice cubes in bottom of cooler. 2. Position one 20/30 pound block of dry ice in the center of the ice cube bed. 3. Pour two more bags of ice cubes over and around dry ice to insulate dry ice. This lasted us two weeks. We still had some, but not much, ice cubes upon our return. Assuming that the cooler is in the main cabin, keep it well ventilated. Terry
our H28. 1. Layer two bags of ice cubes in bottom of cooler. 2. Position one 20/30 pound block of dry ice in the center of the ice cube bed. 3. Pour two more bags of ice cubes over and around dry ice to insulate dry ice. This lasted us two weeks. We still had some, but not much, ice cubes upon our return. Assuming that the cooler is in the main cabin, keep it well ventilated. Terry
Wine Bladder Bags
We are very picky about our wine, it must come in a pretty box. Upon disassembly of one of these, my wife suggested we could use the inner bladder as a way to make ice for the boat. Have not tried it yet but they lay flat when full and would provide fresh water when they melt.
We are very picky about our wine, it must come in a pretty box. Upon disassembly of one of these, my wife suggested we could use the inner bladder as a way to make ice for the boat. Have not tried it yet but they lay flat when full and would provide fresh water when they melt.
freeze your food
hi . i freeze any thing that can be frozen ,juice milk, water (not the beer)and any meat . they will all add to you cooling capacity .you have to plan ahead with the meat items so that they thaw in time to use . non carbinated drinks take care of themselves . i agree, make block ice at home in any suitable container. the 5/6day coolers work well much better than my 20 year old igloo. happy sailing Mike
hi . i freeze any thing that can be frozen ,juice milk, water (not the beer)and any meat . they will all add to you cooling capacity .you have to plan ahead with the meat items so that they thaw in time to use . non carbinated drinks take care of themselves . i agree, make block ice at home in any suitable container. the 5/6day coolers work well much better than my 20 year old igloo. happy sailing Mike
I agree with freeze everything
I use that routine all the time, drinking and cooking water in milk jugs or collapsable water jugs, keeps everything else cold and doesn't make a mess in the bottom, if you freeze everything you can before putting it in the cooler, you don't need ice so you have more room for food. certain drinks don't freeze well, tea and koolaid seperate when frozen, so you have extremely strong tea then very watery when it starts to thaw. I generally keep a couple small bottles of water frozen in my lunch box to keep everything cool, normally by lunch the water is thawed enough to drink some, and stays cold all day at work (non-insulated lunch box) my girlfriend bought some of those blue ice packs for my lunch, but I;ve never used them, my way I have drink and cold all in one, what I carry is useable, very little unneeded weight or wasted space. always one of my requirements, can't stand hauling 'useless' things. If you need 20 lbs of ice, and 20 lbs of water, why not carry both in one package? that gives you 20lbs of capacity you can use for something else. the only drawback to that is that you do need an 'outside' means of freezing things, for weekending or short trips it's no problem, but for long trips it can be a pain. Unless you have containers that will accept block or bagged ice and keep it clean and seperate.(but commercial ice tastes funny) If you get to be buddies with the attendant where you buy ice, maybe you can talk them into letting you throw a few things in the freezer... ken.
I use that routine all the time, drinking and cooking water in milk jugs or collapsable water jugs, keeps everything else cold and doesn't make a mess in the bottom, if you freeze everything you can before putting it in the cooler, you don't need ice so you have more room for food. certain drinks don't freeze well, tea and koolaid seperate when frozen, so you have extremely strong tea then very watery when it starts to thaw. I generally keep a couple small bottles of water frozen in my lunch box to keep everything cool, normally by lunch the water is thawed enough to drink some, and stays cold all day at work (non-insulated lunch box) my girlfriend bought some of those blue ice packs for my lunch, but I;ve never used them, my way I have drink and cold all in one, what I carry is useable, very little unneeded weight or wasted space. always one of my requirements, can't stand hauling 'useless' things. If you need 20 lbs of ice, and 20 lbs of water, why not carry both in one package? that gives you 20lbs of capacity you can use for something else. the only drawback to that is that you do need an 'outside' means of freezing things, for weekending or short trips it's no problem, but for long trips it can be a pain. Unless you have containers that will accept block or bagged ice and keep it clean and seperate.(but commercial ice tastes funny) If you get to be buddies with the attendant where you buy ice, maybe you can talk them into letting you throw a few things in the freezer... ken.
Thanks for the info
Well, back from a short weekend trip (with a lot of wind, I might add) and I am pleased to report that at the end of the weekend, I still had about 3/4 of one bag of cubes left! I used a different theory. The heat rises-cold falls theory. I put everything that I wanted to keep very cold (milk, beer, water; not necessarily in that order) UNDER the ice cubes (still in bags unopened). It worked pretty well for a cool May weekend. I will definitely put some of your suggestions into use when the 98 degree August gets here! Thanks again!
Well, back from a short weekend trip (with a lot of wind, I might add) and I am pleased to report that at the end of the weekend, I still had about 3/4 of one bag of cubes left! I used a different theory. The heat rises-cold falls theory. I put everything that I wanted to keep very cold (milk, beer, water; not necessarily in that order) UNDER the ice cubes (still in bags unopened). It worked pretty well for a cool May weekend. I will definitely put some of your suggestions into use when the 98 degree August gets here! Thanks again!
Good water/ice vessels
The OJ 'carafes" make excellent vessels to freeze water in-they're square and stack/pack well (easy to clean, drink/pour from too). Two liter Coke/Sprite bottles work well too. I also agree with the "freeze all first" method. I've found the biggest "ice eater" is the "hot box"; that is when you first get on the boat, it's 90 degrees outside and the boat has been closed up and is 110. Open the boat up and let it breath. The first two bags of ice will be gone by morning, but once the box is cool, it is easier to keep cool. (too bad it cost so much to refill a CO2 fire extinguisher or I would use that to for a quick cool down!)
The OJ 'carafes" make excellent vessels to freeze water in-they're square and stack/pack well (easy to clean, drink/pour from too). Two liter Coke/Sprite bottles work well too. I also agree with the "freeze all first" method. I've found the biggest "ice eater" is the "hot box"; that is when you first get on the boat, it's 90 degrees outside and the boat has been closed up and is 110. Open the boat up and let it breath. The first two bags of ice will be gone by morning, but once the box is cool, it is easier to keep cool. (too bad it cost so much to refill a CO2 fire extinguisher or I would use that to for a quick cool down!)
Double Freeze
This goes back to the kayak days... Double freeze items like meat, etc. First vacuum seal the item or wrap well in a ziploc bag and freeze solid. Place that item in another zip bag, fill with water and freeze again. We have kept meat fresh on the kayaks for 10 days and that was with a colapsable bag cooler. I do this now and actually have to defrost meat on a 10-15 day cruise. The items (long term ones) are stored in a cooler in the lazarrete.
This goes back to the kayak days... Double freeze items like meat, etc. First vacuum seal the item or wrap well in a ziploc bag and freeze solid. Place that item in another zip bag, fill with water and freeze again. We have kept meat fresh on the kayaks for 10 days and that was with a colapsable bag cooler. I do this now and actually have to defrost meat on a 10-15 day cruise. The items (long term ones) are stored in a cooler in the lazarrete.
adding insulation
I recently added foam insulation to my frig and it worked great...even found and plugged a leak in the frig (a crack). How to do: Drill two 3/8 holes near the top of the bulkhead around the box on one side. Use one or two cans (usually one is enough per side) to spray into one of the holes (the other hole is for air to escape). The foam will drop to the bottom and comes out very fast and strong so it will fill the intire side. When done spraying, plug the hole quickly with a 3/8 wooden plug or the foam will start pouring out it. Have lots of paper-towels ready. While spraying and you get foam coming out the other hole, it's definately time to stop. Do this for each side you can and you will notice the box staying cooler with less effort. I second Ross's idea of the water jugs. It works great. I put one gallon of ice in a cooler with 10 cokes. They were cold for 2 days with no mess and reduced my openning the frig so saving on battery charge. I also like the idea of frozen water bottles. Just take one out and put it in the sun and soon you have wonderfully cold water to drink. When not in use they keep everything else cold.
I recently added foam insulation to my frig and it worked great...even found and plugged a leak in the frig (a crack). How to do: Drill two 3/8 holes near the top of the bulkhead around the box on one side. Use one or two cans (usually one is enough per side) to spray into one of the holes (the other hole is for air to escape). The foam will drop to the bottom and comes out very fast and strong so it will fill the intire side. When done spraying, plug the hole quickly with a 3/8 wooden plug or the foam will start pouring out it. Have lots of paper-towels ready. While spraying and you get foam coming out the other hole, it's definately time to stop. Do this for each side you can and you will notice the box staying cooler with less effort. I second Ross's idea of the water jugs. It works great. I put one gallon of ice in a cooler with 10 cokes. They were cold for 2 days with no mess and reduced my openning the frig so saving on battery charge. I also like the idea of frozen water bottles. Just take one out and put it in the sun and soon you have wonderfully cold water to drink. When not in use they keep everything else cold.
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