A friend of mine says that instead of letting the ice box water dribble into the bilge as the block of ice melts, it would be much more effecient (keep things colder longer) if I used a rubber stopper in the drain to catch the water that is created by the melting ice. After the trip, he suggests pulling the plug and letting all the water out at once. How does everyone else use their ice box for trips (several days to a week)? Do you put the ice on the bottom or on a shelf? I freeze the food that will be eaten later in the week so it acts like additional ice.
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You will need some Tuper-type containers
We have a butterfly type valve on the end of the drain hose. In the closed position, it acts like a stopper. We have found the cold water from the ice chills better than the ice for soda, milk, beer,etc. It also holds the teperature for the meats and fruit. We have found the water getting into the plastic bags and zip lock bags some we use plastic container with snap lids. At the end of the weekend, open the valve (pull the stopper) and flush your bilge with clean fresh water. Note: a friend plumbed his boat to have the raw water sink pump draw this water to wash dishes in his sink.
We have a butterfly type valve on the end of the drain hose. In the closed position, it acts like a stopper. We have found the cold water from the ice chills better than the ice for soda, milk, beer,etc. It also holds the teperature for the meats and fruit. We have found the water getting into the plastic bags and zip lock bags some we use plastic container with snap lids. At the end of the weekend, open the valve (pull the stopper) and flush your bilge with clean fresh water. Note: a friend plumbed his boat to have the raw water sink pump draw this water to wash dishes in his sink.
Also keeps box colder
If you plug the drain with a rubber stopper, you keep the cold air in the box. Cold air is heavy and will flow out an open drain into your bilge - drawing warm air into the top of the box.
If you plug the drain with a rubber stopper, you keep the cold air in the box. Cold air is heavy and will flow out an open drain into your bilge - drawing warm air into the top of the box.
make a trap
Make a trap out of various fittings like the sinks in your house. The water in the trap will hold the cold air in the icebox but not allow the water to creep up. I read this is a sail magazie a few years back. It really works.
Make a trap out of various fittings like the sinks in your house. The water in the trap will hold the cold air in the icebox but not allow the water to creep up. I read this is a sail magazie a few years back. It really works.
I found part of the article from practical sailer
http://www.practical-sailor.com/newspics/charts/874icebox.pdf
http://www.practical-sailor.com/newspics/charts/874icebox.pdf
Just use the drain hose to make a U
I guess you could just take the the of the plastic drain hose and make a U trap out of it, as long as there isn't a kink to plug it up. At the begining of a trip, the 1st few bit of melted ice, or a few drop or 2 from a cup, should plug up the trap nicely, and at the end of the trip, it will dry out and will air out.
I guess you could just take the the of the plastic drain hose and make a U trap out of it, as long as there isn't a kink to plug it up. At the begining of a trip, the 1st few bit of melted ice, or a few drop or 2 from a cup, should plug up the trap nicely, and at the end of the trip, it will dry out and will air out.
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