I've been spending a lot of time on the boat and schlepping a lot of
ice. A real refrigerator system isn't in the cards on my small and
simple sailboat (I know it can be done but I don't want to carry and
feed batteries of sufficient size).

I only have hot water at the dock when plugged into AC but it works
well. I heat it up just before leaving and it lasts well into the
first day, especially with some motoring. It occurred to me that a
similar AC set up would be a good compromise. I could leave food on
the boat for a few days and have things nice and cold when I put the
ice in.

I'd like recommendations or experience with a small, simple, AC only
set up that could be retrofitted into a typical sailboat ice box. If
it had storage cold plates, it would be even cooler, er, neater.

--

Roger Long

Roger Long wrote:
I've been spending a lot of time on the boat and schlepping a lot of
ice. A real refrigerator system isn't in the cards on my small and
simple sailboat (I know it can be done but I don't want to carry and
feed batteries of sufficient size).

I only have hot water at the dock when plugged into AC but it works
well. I heat it up just before leaving and it lasts well into the
first day, especially with some motoring. It occurred to me that a
similar AC set up would be a good compromise. I could leave food on
the boat for a few days and have things nice and cold when I put the
ice in.

I'd like recommendations or experience with a small, simple, AC only
set up that could be retrofitted into a typical sailboat ice box. If
it had storage cold plates, it would be even cooler, er, neater.

There are portable freezers. Some are 110/12/propane. One came with my
boat but was stolen from the boat when it was on display.

http://www.fridgefreeze.com/
http://www.survivalunlimited.com/refrigerator.htm

Freeze it down with some bottles of water. You have cold water when the
ice melts, cold beer, and a bit of cold storage.

If using propane doesn't bother you under way, you can have it all.

There are also Peltier effect coolers on the market. They will cool 20
degrees below ambient. If you load up cold and frozen stuff to start with
one of those can extend your keeping time. We had one on our firts boat
but we still used a ot of ice. A couple of inches more insulation would
also help.

Roger,

Why don't you look into an AC and engine run compressor with holding plates.
I put in a Technautics system a few years ago and I love it. I only put in
the 12 volts system but they have other configurations. Check it out:
http://www.technauticsinc.com

If you are in Rockland look me up and I can show you my system.

Ansley Sawyer
SV Pacem

Waeco & others make coolers with proper refrigeration compressors - You
could use this at the dock on AC and if you include some freezer packs or
even just frozen water bottles, you will get through a day without buying
ice.

If you have a small 110V generator, you could run the refrig unit every now
and then and even make some hot water on the go.

Gogarty wrote in
:

There are also Peltier effect coolers on the market. They will cool 20
degrees below ambient. If you load up cold and frozen stuff to start
with one of those can extend your keeping time. We had one on our
firts boat but we still used a ot of ice. A couple of inches more
insulation would also help.



Just gave my last one away. 4A of continuous drain, 24/7, to make hot Coke
just warm. Not even close....

If you put cold Cokes in them, they'll keep them nearly cold. If you put
warm Cokes in them, they might cool a six-pack in a month....(sigh)

Useless....

Btu is our FRIEND!

On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 19:37:01 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

I'd like recommendations or experience with a small, simple, AC only
set up that could be retrofitted into a typical sailboat ice box. If
it had storage cold plates, it would be even cooler, er, neater.

By far the simplest and cheapest refrigeration you can get is a small
"dorm" type fridge. Prices are typically in the $100+ range, and they
can also be run from a small inverter if you have a decent battery
bank.

After that, things get expensive very quickly. An apartment style
"under the counter" unit is typically in the $500 to $1000 range
depending on quality, same for the 12/110 volt Nevercold units.
Holding plate systems are generally $2000+.

I think that if I were in your situation I'd opt for the dorm type
unit with a few bricks of plastic "blue ice" in the freezer space to
act as inexpensive holding plates.

For extended cruising without a generator there is nothing like
holding plates with an engine mounted compressor. Second best is
holding plates with an external 12 volt compressor. Good box
insulation is critical for any of these systems.

I would have to agree with Wayne. Unless you are prepared to drop at least
a boat buck building in a box a little dorm or bar refrigerator like these:
http://www.compactappliance.com/xq/J...rigerators.htm
with the freezer section loaded with blue ice will be under $150.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I've been spending a lot of time on the boat and schlepping a lot of ice.
A real refrigerator system isn't in the cards on my small and simple
sailboat (I know it can be done but I don't want to carry and feed
batteries of sufficient size).

I only have hot water at the dock when plugged into AC but it works well.
I heat it up just before leaving and it lasts well into the first day,
especially with some motoring. It occurred to me that a similar AC set up
would be a good compromise. I could leave food on the boat for a few days
and have things nice and cold when I put the ice in.

I'd like recommendations or experience with a small, simple, AC only set
up that could be retrofitted into a typical sailboat ice box. If it had
storage cold plates, it would be even cooler, er, neater.

--

Roger Long

Dry Ice?

If one of these old R-12 units springs a leak is it toast or can it be
refilled (legally) with a currently available refrigerant?

My other question, closely related, is what you think about pulling
the working stuff out of one of these and installing it in the icebox.
Since I would have to break some lines somewhere, recharging would be
an issue.

--

Roger Long