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19-07-2019, 21:23
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Hampton, Va
Boat: Freedom 32'
Posts: 531
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I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
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.
__________________
Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage.
Anais Nin
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19-07-2019, 21:33
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Oregon
Boat: Seafarer36c
Posts: 5,563
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
If it 's any consolation, the refer guy down here says it's a common problem.
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20-07-2019, 00:53
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, in Tasmania, Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 29,968
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
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
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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20-07-2019, 01:11
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#4
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Moderator

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,714
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
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
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20-07-2019, 01:14
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: On the boat!
Boat: SY Wake: 53' Amel Super Maramu
Posts: 885
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
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....
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20-07-2019, 02:09
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#6
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 21,515
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
Quote:
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 
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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
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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20-07-2019, 02:40
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Gympie
Boat: Volkscruiser
Posts: 2,947
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
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
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20-07-2019, 08:28
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Hampton, Va
Boat: Freedom 32'
Posts: 531
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
Quote:
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....
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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!
__________________
Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage.
Anais Nin
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20-07-2019, 08:29
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Hampton, Va
Boat: Freedom 32'
Posts: 531
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
Quote:
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
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hahahahaha Oh, that's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time! Thanks.
__________________
Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage.
Anais Nin
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20-07-2019, 08:31
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#10
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Southern California
Posts: 317
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
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.
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20-07-2019, 09:10
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#11
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,823
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
Quote:
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.
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A shrink would you secretly wanted to kill it! 
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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20-07-2019, 09:52
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Gulf Coast, USA
Boat: Beneteau 43
Posts: 68
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
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.
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20-07-2019, 10:05
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,348
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
I guess I’m the only one that defrosts with water from a hose?
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20-07-2019, 10:05
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Eastern Caribbean for the 2020 season then east coast or Panama
Boat: Lagoon 470 cat
Posts: 701
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
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
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20-07-2019, 10:12
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#15
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cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2014
Boat: 1980 (Canning) Mariner36
Posts: 834
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Re: I DID SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY, STUPID
can you just JB Weld over the hole and re-charge it?
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