Keeping your cool!

[jeffmacdonald]

I have the stock ice chest in my C30, teak lid and so on. It seems by the time I leave the marina down here in Tampa I need to figure out where to get more ice. Does anyone have any ideas where to start on keeping ice in there. I have seen such items on the inter net as "lid insulators", is that the ticket. Is the lid the source of me loosing my cool? Is there a way to better insulate the box itself? Is there such thing as a fridge/ice box conversion? Thanks for the help, Jeff

 

[Stu Jackson]

1. Does anyone have any ideas where to start on keeping ice in there.

2. I have seen such items on the inter net as "lid insulators", is that the ticket.

3. Is the lid the source of me loosing my cool?

4. Is there a way to better insulate the box itself?

5. Is there such thing as a fridge/ice box conversion?

Jeff,

1. Start with BLOCK ice. Cubes have way too much surface area and melt almost immediately.

2. Insulation is the key, but the lid is only the start because it's the smallest in area of all the sides of the box, usually = to the bottom.

3. It's the start, because air can get in the edges of the top.

4. Yes, and there are many sources of insulating material. Hi tech is expensive, Home Depot isn't so expensive. You need to gain access to the sides and bottom of the box and insulate it. Some use spray in foam, but you need to be careful because it expands.

5. Yes, but if you're having trouble with ice, then you'll need to do two things if you want to add refrigeration to your boat: insulate and increase your house battery bank because electrical refrigeration takes a whopping 60 AH a day, more without insulation in your neck of the woods. You MUST exhibit a very good understanding of boat electrical systems if you're going to contemplate refrigeration.

I suggest wandering around www.BoatUS.com and www.catalina30.com

A West Marine catalog has a lot of different refrigeration machines, and you can review them on line. One of the more popular ones used by Catalina is the WAECO Adler Barbour "Cold Machines." Everyone with a boat should have a WM catalog - two: one at home, one on the boat.

 

[jeffmacdonald]

Stu, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. You have done a great job in breaking down exactly what I need to do. I sure wish you were in my marina. Thanks again, I have a lot of work to do next weekend.

 

[Stephen K]

Jeff,

You can also find lots of discussion regarding this and insulation solutions if you go the the Catalina 30 web site...click on the Yahoo e-mail forum, then click on the "messages" tab on the left, then in the search box, type "ice box insulation".

 

[Cruisin30MKIII]

Jeff,

My fridge broke last year and I have discovered the joy of Dry Ice. I put a block on bottom of fridge, cover w/ a 10 lb block, then put my plastic try in and place food on the try. ***A note of Caution*** Dry ice is CO2, and unless you kept your boat venitlated, can cause a loss of O2, which can be dangerous. I used it for our 12 day trip to Annapolis from jersey. The ice held up and I replaced the Dry ice every couple days. Works great in a Cooler for beer etc... Dry ice in bottom, cubed to cover, then beverages and more ice. It lasted days.

Hal

 

[jeffmacdonald]

Thanks guys I really appreciate all the great advice. I am concerned with the dry ice for the sake of where to find it, handeling it and finally the cost. I will definatley try it, it will be on the list for the trip down to Fantasy Fest in Key West. That will be a 3 day trip and I worry about the availability of it on the way down there. What the heck, what use would a fridg be at sea.

 

[Inter20sailor]

Has anyone simply tried a mini-bar type fridge? Just plug it in while on shore-power.

 

[Bob S]

My fridge broke last year and I have discovered the joy of Dry Ice.

Hal,
I remember reading in the sailboat owners forum a few years ago about the dangers of dry ice. I don't remember specifics but I do remember there were safety issues. Maybe from gasses let off as it dissipates. You may want to look into it.

 

[gwp]

Jeff....just to make sure.....you do have the big insulating foam containers screwed to the underside of your teak lid.....right? No one mentioned this so I thought I'd ask.

 

[ProjMan]

I am new to sailing and have joined the CAT 30 group. My 1980 CAT has refrigeration but needs some attention or replacement. I can hear the unit running, so I know it is getting power. I am researching how to insulate better as well. Just seems to melt ice very quickly. Anyway, is it worth trying to fix a Adler Barbour brand unit or should I start looking for a full replacement?

ProjMan

 

[jerryf609]

120volt/12volt Refrigerator

On my Catalina 30, the previous owner, my brother, removed the alcohol stove/oven and installed a rather large refridgerator in its place. I runs off of shore power when available and switches to 12 volt automatically when not available. It uses an integrated inverter on 12 volt.

This system uses a tremendous amount of amps when on 12 volt. I don't cruise long distances typically, so I turn the fridge off when disconnecting from shore power and it stays cool for several hours.

Personally, for my use, it would have sufficed to have a mini-bar type refridgerator with no 12 volt for a lot less money. But I do have the option to run on house batteries if I choose.

Regarding dry-ice, frozen CO2... all that carbondioxide will sublimate (turn from solid to gaseous state without going to liquid state). Where does the CO2 gas go? It is heavier than air and will drop to the lowest contained space until displaced. So if there is a drain in your cooler and it is open, it will run down the drain and into your bilge if that is where it is drained to. It will sit on the bottom of your boat until it is displaced...if it is displaced. USE WITH CAUTION is all I got to say. Ocassional use might be ok but how do you get a layer of heavy gas out of the bottom of your boat?

If I wanted to use dry ice I might put it in a cooler and lash it on the deck somewhere.