portable electric coolers or freezers

[jean1146]

When cruising our biggest problem is ice supply. A portable electric cooler and ice maker would be a big plus. What are my options? I am sure some of you have solved this problem,so I will appreciate any input.
JC.

[shipofools]

I have an engel 35. Love it, can not rave enough about the unit. Power draw is minimal for the return and totally reliable.

Cheers.
CB

[jean1146]

CB can you make ice with this unit?

[Finditsurfit]

ENGEL is the best thing on my boat and yes you can turn them into a fridge or freezer by turning the nob

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by jean1146

CB can you make ice with this unit?

Yes.
The Engel (Sawafuji Electric) 35 is a 34 qt. Refrigerator & Freezer (40°F to 0°F), and draws 2.7A @12VDC (also runs on 120VAC).

Inside Dimensions 15.4" x 10.8" x 12.4" (<1.2 Cu. Ft.)

[jean1146]

I have done a lot of research today and it seems that Engel is the answer.Mermaid has a similar product,has anyone tried them.Thank you all for your wise comments.
JC.

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by GordMay

Yes.
The Engel (Sawafuji Electric) 35 is a 34 qt. Refrigerator & Freezer (40°F to 0°F), and draws 2.7A @12VDC (also runs on 120VAC).

Inside Dimensions 15.4" x 10.8" x 12.4" (<1.2 Cu. Ft.)

Add another vote for the Engel. I have the model 27, and it works great. I will caution you not to believe the "700ma" current draw that some of the advertisments use. That number is based on the daily ah use on a 60degree day... something like 17ah. More realistic expections are around 2x that much. The 2.7a Gord cited is correct, but of course it cycles on and off. Based on my use over an 8month period, monitoring the draw on a link 10, I would say you would do well to budget at least 35ah a day.



Also, the Engle fridge has nothing to do with the car type cooler you see in discount stores. THey only cool to something like 40f below ambient temp and they use bunches of current. Not even much use for afternoon sailing IMHO.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

Add another vote for the Engel...

Nope, not another favourable vote - I don't particularly like them.

[smj]

We have an Engel 45 and love it. Norcold also has a chest ref./freezer they put out which is actually an Engel with the Norcold name on it.

[cantxsailor]

As someone else said it's the best thing on my boat. My solar panel and wind generator make small work out of its draw and I even took it to the keys with me on vacation. It has been turned on since I bought it several months ago. One mighty fine piece of equipment...........m

[Therapy]

Jean,

There was another thread where someone had a dedicated ice maker with a reservoir they filled with water and had ice pretty quickly. I thought it was 12V too. I can't find the thread though.

[Pelagic]

I have a couple of Isotherm Cooler/Freezer boxes that I have stacked on top of each other. (The bottom one pulls out like a drawer) They are very versatile and if ever I have a problem...easy to get at the works to repair

Isotherm