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12-05-2020, 10:21 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Guntersville, Al
Vessel Name: StarLite
Vessel Model: Mainship 30 Pilot II - 2003
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 413
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Ice makers revisited
Just putting my wish list together for "Santa" - Our Little Pilot is short on refrige/freeezer space. Thinking about small, dedicated freezer and separate small ice maker. New 12 vdc compressor based systems seem to have come a long way since last time I looked.
Anybody got experience (good or bad) with smaller units??
(then I gotta find a place to put it)
Thanks!
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12-05-2020, 10:53 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island
Vessel Name: Capricorn
Vessel Model: Mariner 30 - Sedan Cruiser 1969
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 2,019
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Your post isn't clear if you have a fridge/freezer but if you do here is one suggestion. I have a fridge/freezer but the freezer compartment is really small, not to bad but small. I added a dedicated freezer to my 28 foot boat and in the summer of course all my frozen stuff goes in that freezer. Since all the frozen stuff is not in my fridge/freezer, I use that freezer to make ice cubes, and I can make a lot - not just one or two trays but 6 to 9 trays. Sometimes I'll make the ice cubes at home and bring them in a cooler and put them in the fridge/freezer so I have some ready to go while others are freezing in the freezer.
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12-06-2020, 12:58 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
City: Guntersville, Al
Vessel Name: StarLite
Vessel Model: Mainship 30 Pilot II - 2003
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 413
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Sorry I wasn't clear - I do have a combo fridge/freezer built in - but it is very small and not sure if it will actually make ice or hold frozen foods reliably. It will keep soft drinks cold and there is always a little frost on the walls -top of one end. Was thinking about adding counter top ice maker for cubes but I understand while they usually make good cubes, they will not hold them - must be moved quickly to a freezer or they just melt. If the built in will not keep the cubes from thawing, might want consider a standalone freezer to help hold them a little longer and freeze them harder.
Warm mint juleps are just miserable in the Alabama heat of summer!! Most of our guest on the boat are impromptu - so its convient to have small supply readily available aboard rather than drag a bag down the dock.
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12-06-2020, 06:25 AM
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#4
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,121
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Do not know about counter top units but would advise against installing a dedicated ice-maker such as the Raritan Icerette. Takes up too much space for the job and we found ours to be a PITA. Ended up using it for tool storage. What we did find very useful were the 2 dedicated freezers fitted in the lazerette. These were dual 12V/120V units that were actually smaller than the Icerette but enabled ice production (from trays) and frozen food (ice cream) storage.
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12-06-2020, 06:46 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
City: Chesapeake Bay
Vessel Name: Patty Ann
Vessel Model: Mainship 34 MK1 1980
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 410
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The counter top units work best in cool temps and cold water in reservoir for the best results. The ice needs to placed in freezer to keep it frozen rock hard solid for best results. Our unit produced "soft" ice then transferred to freezer to be usable. They are not "set it and forget it" ice makers.
__________________
David
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12-06-2020, 06:55 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Stuart FL
Vessel Name: Lucky Lucky
Vessel Model: Pacific Mariner 65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,760
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We added an Engle freezer which can also be set to be a fridge. It can’t be both at the same time. It can run on 12v or 110. It has only one moving part. Ours has been running as a freezer nonstop for ten years. It’s near silent. It keeps ice cream rock hard during the Florida summer heat. It’s kept in our lazarette. Purchased it online from a truckers supply company.
__________________
Howard
Lucky Lucky
Stuart, FL
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12-06-2020, 07:34 AM
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#7
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Guru
City: Here and there
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 541
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We’re on our third countertop ice maker. They seem to last about 2-3 years but my wife makes ice nearly every day. There are two sizes and we use the smaller one. No matter the brand or variation of controls, they all appear to be made by the same company. We paid $70-100 but have seen twice as much for the same thing.
As mentioned, it makes “grey” ice, not clear ice as from a freezer. It’s less dense, melts quicker and therefore you need to use more to cool your drink and it’ll water down faster than clear ice. If you leave it on, it’ll fill the basket then shut off. As it melts, it’ll restart and make more; in essence there can be a nearly full basket all the time, especially as the inside cools down.
My wife transfers ice to an insulated ice bucket, actually a yeti stainless steel jug, which will keep for a few days on the counter. You just need to ice pick the clumps a little. For limited space for freezer or dedicated ice maker it’s a decent solution.
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12-06-2020, 08:50 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Mississippi
Vessel Name: ADAGIO
Vessel Model: CHB Present 42 Sundeck
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 920
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Do you have a generator or inverter? We installed this inexpensive ($320 then)110v icemaker two yrs ago and it has worked great. It's a freezer so the cubes don't melt. We had a great built-in spot for it on our sundeck. No help if you need 12v. Good luck.
https://www.build.com/product/summar...52?uid=2804376
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12-06-2020, 10:28 AM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,185
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We just took our icemaker out and are using the cabinet for our new lithium batteries. We never used it. We do take a small chest freezer when we are cruising and it keeps ice cream rock hard. If we want ice we put a bag in the freezer and use it out of there.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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12-06-2020, 11:54 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: Shady Grove
Vessel Model: TMC Custom 41 Trawler & S-2 10.3 Sail
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 133
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+1 on the Engle Cooler.
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12-07-2020, 04:01 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
City: Lynden
Vessel Name: Joint Venture
Vessel Model: 1978 GlasPly 2800 mid cabin
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 191
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hmason
We added an Engle freezer which can also be set to be a fridge. It can’t be both at the same time. It can run on 12v or 110. It has only one moving part. Ours has been running as a freezer nonstop for ten years. It’s near silent. It keeps ice cream rock hard during the Florida summer heat. It’s kept in our lazarette. Purchased it online from a truckers supply company.
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I like scotch but I must have ice to make it cold. I did the same, bought an Engle cooler 3 years ago and never looked back. Keeps my ice trays (4) and ice cream rock solid. Mine is connected to 12V & 120AC and draws minimal loads. Very quiet and is kept under my V berth on a roll out tray for access.
__________________
"Joint Venture" 1978 midcabin 2800, twin 2017 Vortec roller cam "bullet proof" 383/6.3L full roller 350hp engines
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12-07-2020, 04:09 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Warwick RI
Vessel Name: Lollygag
Vessel Model: 34 Mainship Pilot Hardtop
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 872
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Large Engle cooler with the optional cushion. 25lb of block ice will last 4-5 days, plus you have an extra seat/foot rest/table.
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