Will be headin south to the Bahamas this fall and will need a refrideration unit for my CD 30 MK II any suggestions?
mzenith@aol.com
refridgeration for cd 30 what's the best
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Ken Cave
Re: refridgeration for cd 30 what's the best
The former owner had an Adler Barbour Super Cold Machine installed in my 28 CD and have used the unit on three extensive trips this summer with wonderful results!
The frig unit is mounted on top of the fuel tank under the stove area with all lines running through the top of the engine compartment into the original ice box.
The food around the freezer unit keeps at 38 degrees. The beer and vegatable side-around 45-50 degrees. The freezer will make ice in about three hours. (easier to put a bag of ice in the freezer)
As it runs on 12 volt you will probably have to reconfigure your battery situation to accomodate the unit.
To make it run effeciently be sure to super insulate your box-especially where it makes contact with the engine compartment!
Hope this helps
Ken Cave
Dragon Tale #227
bcave@whidbey.net
The frig unit is mounted on top of the fuel tank under the stove area with all lines running through the top of the engine compartment into the original ice box.
The food around the freezer unit keeps at 38 degrees. The beer and vegatable side-around 45-50 degrees. The freezer will make ice in about three hours. (easier to put a bag of ice in the freezer)
As it runs on 12 volt you will probably have to reconfigure your battery situation to accomodate the unit.
To make it run effeciently be sure to super insulate your box-especially where it makes contact with the engine compartment!
Hope this helps
Ken Cave
Dragon Tale #227
bcave@whidbey.net
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John R.
Frig
As Ken states, insulation is everything!! We have an Adler Barbour in our 30 and it has performed very well over the years. We have the Standard Cold Machine not the Supercold Machine. I have made comparisons to the newer units and have noted they have improved on various design and construction elements on the units. Rusting of components is the biggest problem with the units. Seems they can't afford a quality primer coat under the topcoat, ridiculous. It seems that is the case with most brands. I disassembled my unit and blasted all the components and primed with zinc chromate and top coated with polyurethane,end of problem. It's better than new. I make that point because sooner or later you will be faced with the problem on any unit you buy.Ken Cave wrote: The former owner had an Adler Barbour Super Cold Machine installed in my 28 CD and have used the unit on three extensive trips this summer with wonderful results!
The frig unit is mounted on top of the fuel tank under the stove area with all lines running through the top of the engine compartment into the original ice box.
The food around the freezer unit keeps at 38 degrees. The beer and vegatable side-around 45-50 degrees. The freezer will make ice in about three hours. (easier to put a bag of ice in the freezer)
As it runs on 12 volt you will probably have to reconfigure your battery situation to accomodate the unit.
To make it run effeciently be sure to super insulate your box-especially where it makes contact with the engine compartment!
Hope this helps
Ken Cave
Dragon Tale #227
They have made major improvements to the electronic control modules. They used to fail easily but are more dependable now and are all plastic and won't corrode like the aluminum heat sink units of a few years back. The units must have free air flow. I believe the Super unit is water cooled and that will require another pump, hoses etc., to maintain.
The Adler Barbours have high quality compressors. The thermostat case is rather cheap and deteriorates/breaks given some time of use. The thermostat itself is trouble free.
Parts are easily obtained but rarely required. I suggest if you decide on an Adler Barbour that you install service kit fittings and gauges in the refrigerant lines. It alleviates much of the guess work when trying to monitor performance and makes servicing a breeze.
As Ken mentioned, being a 12volt system you must evaluate the potential demands on your present electrical system and make appropriate changes to it if necessary to withstand the frig loads. In my opinion it would be imperative that the vessel have a high output alternator system and accurate system monitoring meters.
I suggest you go to a boat show and check out all the different brands after you get opinions on this board. That will arm you with good info pior to inspecting the different units.
I like the electrical units such as the Adlers. You get a lot of bang for the $$. There are advocates for the cold plate systems as well and you need to hear their comments. I think the electrical units are far less troublesome for short term cruising.
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matt Cawthorne
Re: refridgeration for cd 30 what's the best
Mike,
It can not be said enough times. Insulation is everything. I posted recently about the re-insulation job on my 36. You can use the search feature under my name to find it. I changed over to a water cooled unit. My old A-B cold machine was working just fine when I removed it. It is a little rusty, but can be had for free. For what it is worth, I recommend going with a water cooled unit. Often a locker is not ventilated enough and gets hot. The efficiency of an air cooled unit drops dramatically when it is in a hot area. You might end up running your engine much more with an air cooled unit. You are not going to the islands to listen to your engine are you? FWIW here is a link to the manufacturer of the keel cooled unit that I purchased. The US importer is in Annapols and was very helpful when I called with questions.
mcawthor@bellatlantic.net
It can not be said enough times. Insulation is everything. I posted recently about the re-insulation job on my 36. You can use the search feature under my name to find it. I changed over to a water cooled unit. My old A-B cold machine was working just fine when I removed it. It is a little rusty, but can be had for free. For what it is worth, I recommend going with a water cooled unit. Often a locker is not ventilated enough and gets hot. The efficiency of an air cooled unit drops dramatically when it is in a hot area. You might end up running your engine much more with an air cooled unit. You are not going to the islands to listen to your engine are you? FWIW here is a link to the manufacturer of the keel cooled unit that I purchased. The US importer is in Annapols and was very helpful when I called with questions.
mcawthor@bellatlantic.net
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M. R. Bober
Matt "the Ice Man"
Matt,
I think you missed your calling. Have you considered a career in marine refrigeration? You certainly know the field.
Hope you are well and selling ice from the breeder cooler!
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330
thebobers@erols.com
I think you missed your calling. Have you considered a career in marine refrigeration? You certainly know the field.
Hope you are well and selling ice from the breeder cooler!
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330
thebobers@erols.com