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07-24-2014, 01:07 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: LI or Fla
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,148
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Ice Makers
After an extended trip and the continued purchasing of ice, wonder if anyone has a small ice maker that makes solid ice. We had one of those portables which has a limited life span and the ice not all the solid, wondering if anyone had a lead on a compact regular ice maker, or they only make the larger in cabinet types?
Thanks!
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07-24-2014, 01:20 PM
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#2
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,121
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We have a Raritan Icerette that we almost never use because it requires 110V, so is only practical if you are docked to shore power for an extended period. You can not just plug it in and make ice. It takes several hours to make any quantity.
We also have a frig/freezer (12v/110V) that makes ice in those old fashion plastic ice trays. Plenty of ice for drinks unless you really need a lot, or drink a lot!!
Third option is we also have a couple of 12V freezers. These are great!! Low power draw and the ability to easily store about 6.5cf of food, including ice cream and ice.
If I was starting over I would forget the Icerette and just use the 12V freezers. Much more useful and probably cost less!!
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07-24-2014, 02:41 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: LI or Fla
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,148
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Thanks Chrisjs, we too have the plastic trays which we do use, we can only hold two and if you have guests on-board it just doesn't cut it. I like the 12vdc freezer idea, appreciate the info.
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07-24-2014, 03:07 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,266
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We have an icemaker onboard and we never buy ice anymore.
The ice from our icemaker is used to keep our fish cold. We do not use it for drinks simply because we do not use the potable water system enough on our boat to keep the water tasting perfect.
For drinks we have a counter top ice maker, one of the ones that makes ice that is "soft"
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07-24-2014, 04:24 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: South FL
Vessel Name: Oliver
Vessel Model: Nordhavn 47 Hull# 12
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,607
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We use the ice maker in our Sub Zero, we though about getting a separate one but don't have the room.
__________________
Thanks, Oliver
M/V Oliver
Nordhavn 47 Hull #12
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07-24-2014, 04:41 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
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We're down South, so an icemaker is imperative. Nothing worse that having 3 hrs left on your cruise, and only 45 minutes of ice left in the cooler.
While the icemaker is a power hog, it would be difficult to get along without it. While underway or at anchor ours runs off an inverter. Plenty of ice is a good thing.
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07-24-2014, 05:37 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: North Carolina for now
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,348
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Love the $cot$man on the Hatt. Makes real clear bar quality ice, the process gets all the minerals out of the water. A wonderful, very indulgent luxury. Also an ice maker in the SubZero, which makes standard cloudy hard frozen ice, nice back up for big parties but not anywhere near as nice the ice. For the cooler to take on the dinghy to the beach, those blue frozen bricks work great.
__________________
George
"There's the Right Way, the Wrong Way, and what some guy says he's gotten away with"
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07-24-2014, 05:56 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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If cruising the US ICW....the most practical ice situation on a smaller boat to me is just buy the stuff and keep it in a freezer.
We have your typical smaller Norcold fridge and the 7-10 pound bag of ice takes up most of it except for random bags of frozen veggies and fruits and a few other things.
I also have a 5 cu ft freezer (standard big box store type) on the flybridge that 1/2 of it is a large Rubbermaid full of brine to keep it frozen for a day or two without electricity depending on temp.
I have a ice box in the galley that just sores warm soda, water and beer because it's handy to do that. But I plan on buying one of these to turn it into a 2.5-3.0 cu ft freezer instead of the one on the flybridge. Seems simple enough...cut a hole/plug it up. I can buy a boat load of ice for what a good icemaker costs and while many operate years without maintenance...other people I know are constantly fighting with them.
WAECO ADLER BARBOUR CoolMatic Cooling Conversion Kit | West Marine
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07-24-2014, 09:12 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Cruising East Coast US
Vessel Name: Grace
Vessel Model: DeFever 48
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,420
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We have an ancient ULine and it works great. Makes tons of ice and yes it uses as much power as the fridge. Make sure everything else in your AC system is up to the task.
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Cruiser
Esse Quam Videri
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07-24-2014, 09:13 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Santa Cruz, CA
Vessel Name: Concerto
Vessel Model: 1980 Cheoy Lee
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,531
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My wife is always asking for ice. I dont see any need for it. I'm surprised so many people need it. Maybe I'll cave and get her one of the home depot portables.
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07-24-2014, 10:33 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,329
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daddyo
We have an ancient ULine and it works great. Makes tons of ice and yes it uses as much power as the fridge
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Same here. Works better with the filter screen at the front kept clean.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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07-25-2014, 10:02 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: LI or Fla
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,148
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Thank you everyone for your input, looks like its either the portable soft ice which I've tried or full up unit. We do run invertor underway and we have a gen, but looks like maybe a mixture of portable freezer with store bought ice might do the trick. Our cooler properly loaded hold for a while, but you do need to keep on it.
Again thank you, no holy grail in the ice maker bizz yet, but all good.
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07-25-2014, 11:50 AM
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#13
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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I might try one of those countertop units. At the cost, failure is not a big deal. I like ice cold drinks in a little cooler and ice is always a PITA to manage. My inverter underway has enough capacity to run one as well as fridge and little stuff.
Any favorite brands? Home depot ones ok? Warranty would be easy there, just take it back, no shipping.
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07-25-2014, 03:14 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Poach
Vessel Model: Sabreline Trawler
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 234
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Dometic makes 2 models of small portable icemakers. The smaller of the two claims to make ice in 13 minutes and is smaller than a small microwave. It's pretty light so its easy to move and to store. They run on AC but I believe they have a small draw compared to the bigger U Line or Sub Zero types. Nothing wrong with U Line--I had 2 on my previous boat. I am thinking about the smaller Dometic though as Poach is quite compact. Meanwhile we make it the old fashioned way--in ice cube trays.
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07-25-2014, 05:08 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Long Beach, CA
Vessel Name: Heads Up
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 42 Classic
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 956
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07-25-2014, 08:50 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: North Carolina for now
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,348
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capthead
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That's just like my Scotsman, with a good description of how it differs from freezer ice. Since the bin is not refrigerated, it doesn't consume all that much power. We turned it off at night because it is on the aft deck right above the MSR, noisy.
__________________
George
"There's the Right Way, the Wrong Way, and what some guy says he's gotten away with"
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07-25-2014, 10:07 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,186
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We have two Ulines. One in the garage for a spare. When on the boat, the Uline will hold about 25 pounds of halibut filets. Some activities are too important to waste in making ice.
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07-25-2014, 11:02 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capthead
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I installed that exact unit on the last boat I was running. I lucked out and got a deal on a scratch and dent unit. It worked very well and made nice ice.
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07-26-2014, 10:53 AM
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#19
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Guru
City: Long Beach, CA
Vessel Name: Heads Up
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 42 Classic
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 956
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt.Bill11
I installed that exact unit on the last boat I was running. I lucked out and got a deal on a scratch and dent unit. It worked very well and made nice ice.
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It is on my wish list. Unfortunately, way down the list. I buy clear ice at Winco for .98 for a 10 pound bag. That's under 2 bucks for 20 pounds. I also have a portable ice maker that makes soft ice when I'm away from the dock. I take RO water for it and it is better ice than tap water ice.
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