Ice Box Insulation

[Tom and Karen Vanco]

We have a CD 28 we bought two years ago. We love this boat. I can't say enough about the way she sails. BUT.. it needs better insulation in the ice box.

Is there anyone out there who has increased the insulation in their ice box?

I REALLY don't want to tear it out and rebuild it. So is there a way that anyone has found to add insulation to the outside?

Help!

Tom & Karen
s/v Annie



ktvanco@juno.com

[Mike Everett]

These aren't amazing or original, but I have a couple of easy tricks to extend the usefulness of the ice.
One is to cover the top of the ice box with a square piece of ensolite. It's lightweight, easy to clean, and stores when not in use. Also useful as a dry seat pad.
The other idea is from Jim Engle. He suggests keeping a block of ice inside a collapsible foam-lined ice pack. (The kind that holds 12 or 18 cans.) This provides a reserve of ice that extends your time between resupplies. Hope this helps.





everett@megalink.net

[Chris]

Tom and Karen - I had a similar concern with the poor insulation on my CD330 icebox. I have recently added a refrigeration cold plate and was worried that the poor insulation would cause the refrigeration to run down my house batteries quickly. I was able to gain limited access to the outside of the icebox. I then utilized a length of clear plastic tubing supported by a straightened wire coat hanger to direct the spray from a can of LOW expansion foam and coat the outside of the box. The foam MUST BE LOW EXPANSION otherwise it might cause the box to implode as it expands in the smaller spaces surrounding the box. I think the product name was "Great Stuff" or "Super Stuff". I also lined the inside of the box top and cover with a piece of closed cell foam. I seldom use the refrigeration away from the dock as a single block of ice will now last me as long as 3 days provided I cool down the contents using the refrigeration prior to leaving the dock.

The only real trick was planning out how to utilize the tubing to provide adequate coverage of the foam product. Once I had a plan and sequence of access points established I then was able to apply the product in about 20 minutes. I used a total of 3 can of foam which included the excess spillage.

We have a CD 28 we bought two years ago. We love this boat. I can't say enough about the way she sails. BUT.. it needs better insulation in the ice box.

Is there anyone out there who has increased the insulation in their ice box?

I REALLY don't want to tear it out and rebuild it. So is there a way that anyone has found to add insulation to the outside?

Help!

Tom & Karen
s/v Annie

[Neil Gordon]

Can we better define the problem?

I heavily ice the box and its contents in advance of a trip, then top off the box as we leave. I'll drop in one 10 lb block, as much food, water, soda, etc., that the box can hold plus 30 lbs of ice on top of all that. The loose ice will last maybe three days; the block a lot longer. We just top off every chance we get.

If it's unually hot and we're running the motor a lot, we lose ice more quickly... but generally, with ice not being all that expensive, I've found the insulation adequate.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Larry DeMers]

Chris,
Could you tell me how long the same amount of ice lasted before the insulation and refrigeration modifications were made? the reason I ask is that our ice blocks last 3-4 days now without any mods or insulation, and I will be adding a Isotherm reefer next spring, and need to know if the difference is due to the heat and water temps you sail in vs. what we typically see, or if there was other factors involved. We sail on lake Superior, which is around 40-50 deg. max. water temp, although air temps do get up in the 90's occasionally.


Thanks,

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer

Tom and Karen - I had a similar concern with the poor insulation on my CD330 icebox. I have recently added a refrigeration cold plate and was worried that the poor insulation would cause the refrigeration to run down my house batteries quickly. I was able to gain limited access to the outside of the icebox. I then utilized a length of clear plastic tubing supported by a straightened wire coat hanger to direct the spray from a can of LOW expansion foam and coat the outside of the box. The foam MUST BE LOW EXPANSION otherwise it might cause the box to implode as it expands in the smaller spaces surrounding the box. I think the product name was "Great Stuff" or "Super Stuff". I also lined the inside of the box top and cover with a piece of closed cell foam. I seldom use the refrigeration away from the dock as a single block of ice will now last me as long as 3 days provided I cool down the contents using the refrigeration prior to leaving the dock.

The only real trick was planning out how to utilize the tubing to provide adequate coverage of the foam product. Once I had a plan and sequence of access points established I then was able to apply the product in about 20 minutes. I used a total of 3 can of foam which included the excess spillage.

We have a CD 28 we bought two years ago. We love this boat. I can't say enough about the way she sails. BUT.. it needs better insulation in the ice box.

Is there anyone out there who has increased the insulation in their ice box?

I REALLY don't want to tear it out and rebuild it. So is there a way that anyone has found to add insulation to the outside?

Help!

Tom & Karen
s/v Annie

demers@sgi.com

[M. R. Bober]

A few years ago we had the same problem with our CD27. The icebox wall on the engine side was a single ply of 1/4"-3/8" fiberglass. Ice melted quickly with engine use (as you may imagine). I formed an outer "shell" with aluminum screening and used insulating foam to surround the entire box (within the shell, forward, under and outboard). I spray painted the foam/screen with Rustoleum light blue (a very close match to the color of the bilge). I also kept a class V PFD (seat cushion) on top of the access lid.
Good luck.
M



thebobers@erols.com

[Tom]

We have a CD 28 we bought two years ago. We love this boat. I can't say enough about the way she sails. BUT.. it needs better insulation in the ice box.

Is there anyone out there who has increased the insulation in their ice box?

I REALLY don't want to tear it out and rebuild it. So is there a way that anyone has found to add insulation to the outside?

Help!

Tom & Karen
s/v Annie

This doesn't have to do with insulation, but I find it hard to get real block ice where I am. What they call "block" ice is really shaved ice molded to look like a block and it melts quickly. I've resorted to making my own "blocks" by saving those 2 Liter soft drink bottles. I fill them with water and put them in the freezer at home. When I'm ready to go I line the icebox on the boat with them. As they melt they don't have to drip anywhere. You have ice cold water to drink for about 3 days and after that spare water rations. I'd still insulate the box.



TacCambria@thegrid.net

[Chris]

Larry - Prior to adding the refrigeration or additional box insulation I used one block of ice during a one day motor up the Intercoastal. The excessive ice usage was caused by the warm engine and HOT ambient air temperatures in South Carolina. Had I had the refrigeration on that day the battery drain would not have been an issue since the motor was running the entire trip. I am sure my consumption would have been considerably less had I been under sail on the outside however, 60mph gusts and 15ft seas kept us in "the ditch". Prior to adding the insulation I found a block would last about 48 hours. It would be gone considerable faster if the crew kept adding warm sodas.

A great trick for extending the use of your refrigeration while away from shore power is the use of those reusable blue freezer packs. By lining the refrigeration coldplate with them you can make your own blocks of ice in a couple of hours. What I do is crank up the refrigeration and run it off battery power for a hour or two until the house battery packs requires recharging. I then run the motor to recharge the house batteries (about 30 minutes). By the time I shut down the motor and refrigeration I have an adequate supply of frozen blue packs to last another 24-36 hours. If you have access to shore power during the evenings then the refrigeration will provide sufficient freezer packs to last the entire next day.

One note: I did add a second deep cycle battery to my house battery circuit to support the refrigeration. I have not tried to just leave the refrigeration at a moderate setting while sailing for the day so I can not comment on battery consumption over an extended period.

Chris,
Could you tell me how long the same amount of ice lasted before the insulation and refrigeration modifications were made? the reason I ask is that our ice blocks last 3-4 days now without any mods or insulation, and I will be adding a Isotherm reefer next spring, and need to know if the difference is due to the heat and water temps you sail in vs. what we typically see, or if there was other factors involved. We sail on lake Superior, which is around 40-50 deg. max. water temp, although air temps do get up in the 90's occasionally.


Thanks,

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer

Tom and Karen - I had a similar concern with the poor insulation on my CD330 icebox. I have recently added a refrigeration cold plate and was worried that the poor insulation would cause the refrigeration to run down my house batteries quickly. I was able to gain limited access to the outside of the icebox. I then utilized a length of clear plastic tubing supported by a straightened wire coat hanger to direct the spray from a can of LOW expansion foam and coat the outside of the box. The foam MUST BE LOW EXPANSION otherwise it might cause the box to implode as it expands in the smaller spaces surrounding the box. I think the product name was "Great Stuff" or "Super Stuff". I also lined the inside of the box top and cover with a piece of closed cell foam. I seldom use the refrigeration away from the dock as a single block of ice will now last me as long as 3 days provided I cool down the contents using the refrigeration prior to leaving the dock.

The only real trick was planning out how to utilize the tubing to provide adequate coverage of the foam product. Once I had a plan and sequence of access points established I then was able to apply the product in about 20 minutes. I used a total of 3 can of foam which included the excess spillage.

We have a CD 28 we bought two years ago. We love this boat. I can't say enough about the way she sails. BUT.. it needs better insulation in the ice box.

Is there anyone out there who has increased the insulation in their ice box?

I REALLY don't want to tear it out and rebuild it. So is there a way that anyone has found to add insulation to the outside?

Help!

Tom & Karen
s/v Annie

[Marv Birdt]

Chris,
Could you tell me how long the same amount of ice lasted before the insulation and refrigeration modifications were made? the reason I ask is that our ice blocks last 3-4 days now without any mods or insulation, and I will be adding a Isotherm reefer next spring, and need to know if the difference is due to the heat and water temps you sail in vs. what we typically see, or if there was other factors involved. We sail on lake Superior, which is around 40-50 deg. max. water temp, although air temps do get up in the 90's occasionally.


Thanks,

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer

Larry:
We installed the Isotherm 4201 in our CD30B about five years ago.

We did not add any insulation to the box. And living in Florida with 90 plus heat in the summertime the Isotherm holds the box to under 50 degrees in summer when the ambient water temp is in the mid 80s. In winter thebox is in the low 40s and at times the 30s.

I believe you also have a 30 so you should not have any problems with the unit in your sailing area.

If you have any questions on installation let me know.

Good Luck....Marv Birdt CRYSTAL CD30B Hull # 358

Tom and Karen - I had a similar concern with the poor insulation on my CD330 icebox. I have recently added a refrigeration cold plate and was worried that the poor insulation would cause the refrigeration to run down my house batteries quickly. I was able to gain limited access to the outside of the icebox. I then utilized a length of clear plastic tubing supported by a straightened wire coat hanger to direct the spray from a can of LOW expansion foam and coat the outside of the box. The foam MUST BE LOW EXPANSION otherwise it might cause the box to implode as it expands in the smaller spaces surrounding the box. I think the product name was "Great Stuff" or "Super Stuff". I also lined the inside of the box top and cover with a piece of closed cell foam. I seldom use the refrigeration away from the dock as a single block of ice will now last me as long as 3 days provided I cool down the contents using the refrigeration prior to leaving the dock.

The only real trick was planning out how to utilize the tubing to provide adequate coverage of the foam product. Once I had a plan and sequence of access points established I then was able to apply the product in about 20 minutes. I used a total of 3 can of foam which included the excess spillage.

We have a CD 28 we bought two years ago. We love this boat. I can't say enough about the way she sails. BUT.. it needs better insulation in the ice box.

Is there anyone out there who has increased the insulation in their ice box?


I REALLY don't want to tear it out and rebuild it. So is there a way that anyone has found to add insulation to the outside?

Help!

Tom & Karen
s/v Annie

mbirdt@peganet.com