Greetings, I'm the proud new owner of an '84 Catalina 30. The previous owner has just used the galley ice box for dry good storage, but I would like to use it as an ice box. However, I just noticed that the insulation in the lid(s) has been removed. Does anyone know of a source for lid insulation that would fit? Thanks, Barry
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Ice Box Insulation
Any type of thin insulation pad will work You can buy it at KMart etc in the camping section. The insulation the factory provides on the bottom, forward and aft and inside sides is more than adequate. Where the problem comes in is the side closest to the hull. There is hardly any insulation there and that is where the cold is lost. You can put in some expandable foam but be careful because it expands rapidly. I think there is some non expandable stuff you can use. On my boat I removed the side drawer and installed an electric refridge and used the ice box as storage as the ice box was better at melting ice than keping the food cold. On trick you might try to conserve your ice is by putting the ice in paper shopping bags. Sounds silly but it actually works. Unless
Any type of thin insulation pad will work You can buy it at KMart etc in the camping section. The insulation the factory provides on the bottom, forward and aft and inside sides is more than adequate. Where the problem comes in is the side closest to the hull. There is hardly any insulation there and that is where the cold is lost. You can put in some expandable foam but be careful because it expands rapidly. I think there is some non expandable stuff you can use. On my boat I removed the side drawer and installed an electric refridge and used the ice box as storage as the ice box was better at melting ice than keping the food cold. On trick you might try to conserve your ice is by putting the ice in paper shopping bags. Sounds silly but it actually works. Unless
Lots of ways
There are a lot of ways to improve the holding power of your ice box. I have an old '77 C30 and can keep blocks (or parts of) for almost 2 weeks. Here's what I've done; 1. I glued 2" thick pink foam (high R) insulation all around the outside of the box including the bottom. I sealed around the form corners with silicone. 2. I shot expanding poly foam in the areas I couldn't get to. 3. I also glued the 2" foam insulation to the top (inside) of the box and to the covers. 4. I use one of those survival blankets folded over a couple of times and cut to the shape of the box to cover the ice and food. This reduces the area the ice needs to cool down and also insulates the ice when you open the box. After a two week cruise, adding a block or so every couple of days, when I get back to home port I still have about a 1/4 of the original block left down at the bottom of the box.
There are a lot of ways to improve the holding power of your ice box. I have an old '77 C30 and can keep blocks (or parts of) for almost 2 weeks. Here's what I've done; 1. I glued 2" thick pink foam (high R) insulation all around the outside of the box including the bottom. I sealed around the form corners with silicone. 2. I shot expanding poly foam in the areas I couldn't get to. 3. I also glued the 2" foam insulation to the top (inside) of the box and to the covers. 4. I use one of those survival blankets folded over a couple of times and cut to the shape of the box to cover the ice and food. This reduces the area the ice needs to cool down and also insulates the ice when you open the box. After a two week cruise, adding a block or so every couple of days, when I get back to home port I still have about a 1/4 of the original block left down at the bottom of the box.
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