Keeping Refrigerator Cold

[musicoceandrive]

I am heading to sail the BVI next week with my dad. I have never done a long trip before. He mentioned that he has had trouble in the past keeping the refrigerator cold.

I understand it works off the battery which is charged when the engine is running. But does anyone have any tips for keeping it cold? I am trying to plan some ideas for meals (eating breakfast and lunches on the boat) and want to know what to expect for keeping food.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[quidam]

Take a good cooler and when you get there buy a block of ice.

[Pblais]

Fridges use a lot of power on most boats. For us it is the number one item. They do need good insulation and a tight door seal. How they ar installed matters as much as how you operate them. How cold is cold? Keeping ice cream is a luxury!

[TOM]

Here are a few non tecnical tips on keeping your fridge cool from an Aussie {it gets hot down here!}When opening your fridge make sure you know what you are looking for and where it is, the longer your fridge is open the more power you will use keeping it cold. Block of the water drain at the bottom of the fridge believe me this is the difference between a cold stubbie or a warm beer{cold stubbie is Australian for a cold medium sized beer in a chilled brown bottle nothing better}.Pack the fridge to the max it will act as a big ice block, and lastly enjoy the quality time you are having with your Dad.

[Sandero]

A good idea is to bring some frozen bottles of water to fill up your refer. They act like blocks of ice, eventually melt and you can drink some cool water.

Same with pre cooked frozen meals. Let them naturally defrost in the refer and then cook and eat. Up till that time they are cooling the contents.

[Minggat]

Open as seldom as possible (ditto to above), especially if it's front opening.

Try to get food already chilled down so the work the boats fridge has to do is reduced.

If you can, freeze gallon jugs of water to take onboard (blocks of ice that you can drink as they melt and less messy).

If it's a chest type and has a drain hole in the bottom, make sure the hole is plugged. Cold air drains out just like water does.