No Ice Box Insulation? Help

[Richard Feffer]

Just purchased a CD30MKII. I would like to install refrigeration. After removing the inspection plate under the icebox, I was amazed to find there is absolutely NO insulation!!! Is it possible that they neglected to insulate the ice box???

I would appreciate any help on how best to insulate this box! Spray foam??? I've been told that you can implode the box if done inproperly!

Does anyone have an engine driven system?

Thanks in advance



RichFef@Prodigy.net

[Tom]

Just purchased a CD30MKII. I would like to install refrigeration. After removing the inspection plate under the icebox, I was amazed to find there is absolutely NO insulation!!! Is it possible that they neglected to insulate the ice box???

I would appreciate any help on how best to insulate this box! Spray foam??? I've been told that you can implode the box if done inproperly!

Does anyone have an engine driven system?

Thanks in advance

The only insulation is the thickness of the wall of the inner liner. In spite of that it works fairly well. Two blocks of ice will last about 3 days and I guess they figured this was a weekender type boat so that would work about right. If you want to cruise for longer periods you have to make some additions. When using spray foam you have to provide some relief ports because it's like steam it WILL expand and if it doesn't have a place to go with the excess it will collapse something. After it goes off the first time it continues to expand very slowly for another 24 hours or so, so don't cap it off too soon.

I put engine driven refrigeration in mine although I have a CD 31 so it may be a little easier. The 31 has the aft head so I put the compressor in the space under the sink in the head. Cut a slot for the belt through the bulkhead and onto the engine. The initial cool down takes about an hour and a half, after that I run it about half an hour each day to re-freeze the coolant box. This keeps it plenty cold but not enough for frozen food or ice cream or anything that has to be really frozen. You'd have to run it longer to do that. The catch is that you run the compressor at not more than 1000 rpm otherwise you freeze up your expansion valve and have to let it melt completely down before you can run it again. When R-12 was available this was a do it yourself project, but I understand from the magazines that with the new refrigerants you can't do it yourself and have to hire it done.

When you're tied to a dock your neighbors hate you for running your engine every day and blowing exhaust down on them. If I had it to do over again, I'd put two coils in the eutetic box one that ran on 12 volts and one that ran on engine take off.



TacCambria@thegrid.net

[Richard Feffer]

Tom,
Thanks for your reply. Great idea mounting the engine where you did! I assume it is not mounted on the engine. I thought that the compressor needed to be mounted on the engine becouse of the rubber mounts. Is your compressor mounted rigid off the engine? does it present any problems?
I am considering an engine driven system with shore power assist. That would keep peace with my neighbors. However, I am having difficulty locating a place for the compressor. Do you have any info on an off engine mount with 12 volt motor drive?
Also concerned about insulation. I feel it is necessary to insulate the box prior to any refridge installation.
Thanks, Richard

Just purchased a CD30MKII. I would like to install refrigeration. After removing the inspection plate under the icebox, I was amazed to find there is absolutely NO insulation!!! Is it possible that they neglected to insulate the ice box???

I would appreciate any help on how best to insulate this box! Spray foam??? I've been told that you can implode the box if done inproperly!

Does anyone have an engine driven system?

Thanks in advance

The only insulation is the thickness of the wall of the inner liner. In spite of that it works fairly well. Two blocks of ice will last about 3 days and I guess they figured this was a weekender type boat so that would work about right. If you want to cruise for longer periods you have to make some additions. When using spray foam you have to provide some relief ports because it's like steam it WILL expand and if it doesn't have a place to go with the excess it will collapse something. After it goes off the first time it continues to expand very slowly for another 24 hours or so, so don't cap it off too soon.

I put engine driven refrigeration in mine although I have a CD 31 so it may be a little easier. The 31 has the aft head so I put the compressor in the space under the sink in the head. Cut a slot for the belt through the bulkhead and onto the engine. The initial cool down takes about an hour and a half, after that I run it about half an hour each day to re-freeze the coolant box. This keeps it plenty cold but not enough for frozen food or ice cream or anything that has to be really frozen. You'd have to run it longer to do that. The catch is that you run the compressor at not more than 1000 rpm otherwise you freeze up your expansion valve and have to let it melt completely down before you can run it again. When R-12 was available this was a do it yourself project, but I understand from the magazines that with the new refrigerants you can't do it yourself and have to hire it done.

When you're tied to a dock your neighbors hate you for running your engine every day and blowing exhaust down on them. If I had it to do over again, I'd put two coils in the eutetic box one that ran on 12 volts and one that ran on engine take off.

RichFef@Prodigy.net

[Tom]

Tom,
Thanks for your reply. Great idea mounting the engine where you did! I assume it is not mounted on the engine. I thought that the compressor needed to be mounted on the engine becouse of the rubber mounts. Is your compressor mounted rigid off the engine? does it present any problems?
I am considering an engine driven system with shore power assist. That would keep peace with my neighbors. However, I am having difficulty locating a place for the compressor. Do you have any info on an off engine mount with 12 volt motor drive?
Also concerned about insulation. I feel it is necessary to insulate the box prior to any refridge installation.
Thanks, Richard

Richard
I mounted the compressor on the fore and aft bulkhead under the sink with no rubber cushions or anything just throughbolts. It's not mounted on the engine. The belts are rather long due to the distance and that helps take up some of the give and take, as when the engine torques it goes sort of up and down and just a little in and out. Remember also that when you're running the compressor you're maintaining a steady rpm and not shifting or running the engine up and down. Actually if you try to maneuver and shift gears when the compressor is runnning it will kill the engine when you throttle down to shift. You get the engine running nice and even at 1,000 rpm and then you click on the compressor. There is a little torque when it engages, but then it pretty much shoulders down and works. I've had it on the boat since 1991 and have never had a belt problem or even replaced a belt. Remember that you're only runnning the compressor half an hour a day when you're cruising so it's not like it gets a lot of use. So far it hasn't been a problem not having the compressor mounted on the engine, although that's the preferred way and if I could have done it I would have, but on my 31 just no room in the engine compartment. I don't know anything about a 12 volt system as that's not the way I went when I did mine.

Just purchased a CD30MKII. I would like to install refrigeration. After removing the inspection plate under the icebox, I was amazed to find there is absolutely NO insulation!!! Is it possible that they neglected to insulate the ice box???

I would appreciate any help on how best to insulate this box! Spray foam??? I've been told that you can implode the box if done inproperly!

Does anyone have an engine driven system?

Thanks in advance

The only insulation is the thickness of the wall of the inner liner. In spite of that it works fairly well. Two blocks of ice will last about 3 days and I guess they figured this was a weekender type boat so that would work about right. If you want to cruise for longer periods you have to make some additions. When using spray foam you have to provide some relief ports because it's like steam it WILL expand and if it doesn't have a place to go with the excess it will collapse something. After it goes off the first time it continues to expand very slowly for another 24 hours or so, so don't cap it off too soon.

I put engine driven refrigeration in mine although I have a CD 31 so it may be a little easier. The 31 has the aft head so I put the compressor in the space under the sink in the head. Cut a slot for the belt through the bulkhead and onto the engine. The initial cool down takes about an hour and a half, after that I run it about half an hour each day to re-freeze the coolant box. This keeps it plenty cold but not enough for frozen food or ice cream or anything that has to be really frozen. You'd have to run it longer to do that. The catch is that you run the compressor at not more than 1000 rpm otherwise you freeze up your expansion valve and have to let it melt completely down before you can run it again. When R-12 was available this was a do it yourself project, but I understand from the magazines that with the new refrigerants you can't do it yourself and have to hire it done.

When you're tied to a dock your neighbors hate you for running your engine every day and blowing exhaust down on them. If I had it to do over again, I'd put two coils in the eutetic box one that ran on 12 volts and one that ran on engine take off.

TacCambria@thegrid.net

[Richard Feffer]

Tom,
Thanks again for your suggestions. I intend to look into an off-engine mount. I have a compartment adjacent to the engine which would be a similar installation to what you did. I'll let you know how I make out.



RichFef@Prodigy.net