I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID

[zengirl]

I don't know what made me do it. I took an ice pick to the top of my frigoboat freezer just to get a little piece of ice off. You guessed it! Put a hole right in it. The coolant or whatever gas is in it came pouring out. Now I'm posting to see if anyone knows of someone in the Norfolk, Va area that works on this kind of refrigeration. Thanks.

[model 10]

If it 's any consolation, the refer guy down here says it's a common problem.

[JPA Cate]

Zengirl, the fix is a new evaporator, and don't scritch at the ice with anything tougher than a fingernail.

Sorry this happened, it's a drag, and won't be cheap.

Ann

[Pete7]

I a curious why you carry an ice pick on board a yacht in Florida. Is this to break up the ice for the G&Ts, or are you planning sailing somewhere very cold

[Sojourner]

Don't feel bad, it took me 2 land freezers to understand you simply cannot be gentle chipping ice! Now living on a boat, we just took a sheet of ice off one of our fridges. Unloaded it into another fridge, hot bowl of water inside for a bit, hairdryer, and a wooden spatula... Took all day but I can't afford to break a damn frigoboat....

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Pete7

I a curious why you carry an ice pick on board a yacht in Florida. Is this to break up the ice for the G&Ts, or are you planning sailing somewhere very cold

Ice pick - essential implement for any well stocked bar.
Ice ax - essential implement for very high latitude sailing.

Maybe some need both but the pick would be best in Florida

Sorry that zeng. had to learn such expensive lesson

[Fore and Aft]

My mum once put a birthday cake with lit candles in the fridge......melted a big hole on the inside of the fridge.

Your mistakes only stupid if you do it twice.

Cheers

[zengirl]

Originally Posted by Sojourner

Don't feel bad, it took me 2 land freezers to understand you simply cannot be gentle chipping ice! Now living on a boat, we just took a sheet of ice off one of our fridges. Unloaded it into another fridge, hot bowl of water inside for a bit, hairdryer, and a wooden spatula... Took all day but I can't afford to break a damn frigoboat....

I defrost it all the time and use a hair dryer, that's why this was such a stupid move! I've been on the planet a long time and have known my whole life that this is a no no. It only takes me a half hour to defrost!

[zengirl]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

My mum once put a birthday cake with lit candles in the fridge......melted a big hole on the inside of the fridge.

Your mistakes only stupid if you do it twice.

Cheers

hahahahaha Oh, that's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time! Thanks.

[Coolerking]

Rollbond dry evap plates are tough, but not that tough...

Defrost with a hair drier set to cool, do not poke/scrape/bash/ with ANYTHING.

I make a living replacing these things, you would not believe how many I've done.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by zengirl

I don't know what made me do it. I took an ice pick to the top of my frigoboat freezer just to get a little piece of ice off. You guessed it! Put a hole right in it.

A shrink would you secretly wanted to kill it!

[sailorbobdeb]

This doesn't help you now, but for the future, we spray the insides of our freezers where ice accumulates with Pam or some other cooking spray. To defrost it only takes a few minutes with the hair dryer and the ice literally comes off in sheets onto a cookie sheet that gets dumped into the sink. Very quick and easy that way.

Sorry you have to replace your coil, it is not easy or cheap.

[a64pilot]

I guess I’m the only one that defrosts with water from a hose?

[Moontide]

Where in Norfolk?


Don't necessarily need someone knowledgable with your exact system. Will need to pull the plate in the reefer and either replace it (common part) or have it repaired. Then just a normal replacement of the gas, which pretty much any car (or even house) refrigeration guy should be able to do. All the same engineering concepts.


Also might try a West Marine manager and some of the local marinas for sources. The people at the Hampton City/Public marina have been good knowledge sources in the past. Also anonther big marina in Hampton but I don't remember the name.



Lots of boats jump off from this area points east and south so should be some skilled repair people around.



I'm in Norfolk now, but don't have an contacts here.


Bill

[er9]

can you just JB Weld over the hole and re-charge it?