Category: Outfitting

Where were we? Ah yes, installing the insulation.

I have two layers of one inch thick R-5 XPS insulation covered in a watertight radiant barrier. This will give me R-10 for the box (hopefully the original foam will add something too since it’s still there.) The last piece to go in is the top of the icebox with resin covered plywood blocks stacked up to provide a solid mounting point for the holding plate.

With all the insulation in place next I add the FRP liner.

I put a PVC pipe through the hole for the coolant tubes and used Marine-Tex as a sealant around the seams.

Finally uncoil the tubes and slide the holding plate into place. I make it sound easy, it was anything but. After stripping heads of multiple screws and snapping off a drill bit inside the counter top I finally got the holding plate secured to the roof of the box.

Next I installed the compressor in the cockpit locker and put the control panel in the bulkhead above the icebox.

Finally to test it out!

Now what to do about the pitted and ugly fiberglass frame around the lid? Well I’ll keep going with the Marine-Tex.

I replaced the insulation in the lids and painted them too.

I’ve been running it for a couple days now and the results are good but not great. The system is very efficient. During the day the solar panel provides all the power it needs to run in freeze mode where the holding plate is charged up (or should I say down) to seven degrees Fahrenheit. At night the unit runs in economy mode where the holding plate is maintained between twenty and thirty degrees. However the temperature in the box doesn’t drop as low as I’d like it. It fluctuates between forty-three and forty-eight degrees.

I’ll have to run some more tests and see if I can get the temperature closer to freezing. The Isotherm unit has an automatic mode which is what I’ve been using to maintain the greatest efficiency. It also has a manual mode which I’ll try to use to see if I can lower the temperature of the box.

What have I been up to lately? Well, let’s see what it looks like…

I’m pretty excited about getting this icebox upgraded to a refrigerator!

Sailors Exchange was on the map for us six weeks ago when our kindred A30 sailing friends Santa Mojo said it was a must-see! That being said, our unexpected week-long stay in Jacksonville had us chomping at the bit to continue South. What to do? What to do? As we debated whether or not to pull in to the lovely St. Augustine port, the allure of what treasure was awaiting us could not be silenced. We must have a look for ourselves. Maybe we will get lucky? And lucky we were!

We purchased 150 feet of Maggi 5/16″ Grade 43 galvanized chain. This chain will replace the 20 feet of 3/8″ Grade 30 galvanized chain we currently have that is attached to the 310 feet of 3-strand nylon rode.

THE WHY: Using chain over nylon rode will allow us to:

1. Anchor in smaller anchorages by reducing our swing while simultaneously increasing our load capacity. The Maggi 5/6″ is rated to 3,900 working load. This is more than enough (!) for the 10,000 lbs. displacement of our vessel.
2. Prevent chafe from rocks and coral.
3. Save time. 30-60 mins to set and unset a Bahamian moor is time and time restrictions can impact the safety of our vessel.

It has been a steep learning curve migrating from the cushy mud and wide open spaces of the Chesapeake Bay. We have encountered strong currents, deep and narrow anchorages and small anchorages with limited space. As we continue on the ICW and prepare for the Bahamas and other tropical locations, we thought this was a prudent investment.

Now that I’ve explained all that, just how do to get that goodness to our boat?! We were fortunate that one of the owners of the Sailor’s Exchange gave us a lift to the marina.   Super helpful because I am not sure we would have been able to carry it the mile back and we did not want to have to snag an Uber. So, kind businessman+ Justin’s brute strength + rib inflatable dinghy and we have success! 180LBs of it!

We are so thankful for the success of this mission. We were able to find top-rate chain at a fair-market price. We were able to keep the local good-guys in business which is always a win-win. And! because we were already on a mooring, we could install it, sans problem. Two days well spent!

Next, we test it!