Camping?
In many people’s eyes, cruising without refrigeration is akin to camping. If that is so, Rebecca and I have recently pitched our tent. Due to a run in with a butter knife during a need-to-defrost-this-thing-right-now situation, our evaporator plate has acquired a small hole(s) in it. Or at least that is what we assume is the issue due to the fact that both the compressor and the thermostat appear to be functioning well.
It has been a little over a week since this occurred and we’re anxious to get it fixed. The folks here in Luperon run a radio net similar to the Georgetown one that I have mentioned on occasion. I made a query on the radio shortly after arriving here and later that day, received the assistance of a lady who had recently gone through a very similar fridge issue. Wish us luck in getting this resolved… warm beer sucks.
On the bright side, without the power drain of the refrigerator running,
our batteries are almost always near 100%!
PS: All comments on the topic of “you shouldn’t try to defrost a fridge with a knife or other hard implement” aren’t really needed. 🙂
PPS: Thanks for all of your help, Lynne! We really appreciate it.
iNavx makes great software for the iPad as well. Charts are downloaded to the iPad and if you have the 3G version, your boat shows up as on your Garmin. Charts are very cheap. Entire Carribean and S. America is less than $50. All of USA and N Bahamas also less than $50. I recently bought one as a backup for the Garmin. Although iPad isn’t cheap, if you look at it as a marine backup, price seems more reasonable. Just have to make sure you get a 3G version, as that is the only one with a GPS chip. Also make sure you download all the charts you want when you have accesss to broadband as files are huge.
We were just playing with, and drooling over, our friends iPad yesterday. I want!
How your refrigeration issue works out will depend on how you have secured it so far and the competence of the person who repairs it. What you needed to do is immediately remove all moisture from the evaporator area. One drop inside the system is the kiss of death. Next make sure the person repairing it is not a hack (plenty out there). You should be looking to make sure he installs a new dryer and uses a vacuum pump in good condition for at least an hour. Lots more depending on how much moisture has entered the system. Hoses and gauges must also be in good condition and seal properly. The main thing is a dry clean system, much is made of adjusting the charge properly but if you don’t get the first part right you will never get the final charging part right. So choose your repair guy carefully for this project.
Hmmmm. Why can’t it be easy?
Some things in life you do only once. I did that to a freezer 25 years ago in Italy and it cost us our berth on a boat we were working and living on. Good luck getting it repaired. Sometimes the poorest countries give the cheapest repairs.
A friend of ours just said the same thing (re repairs).
Mike and Rebecca–As always, you keep us in stitches aboard Happy Times. Stay safe and see you on the south side.
🙂
How is PR? Update your blog!!!
PS, the Manta “Evensong” is RIGHT behind us.
FYI, when I replaced ours we went with the larger evaporator. Less fridge, more freezer.
The same compressor can handle that? I know nothing about this stuff.
You must be getting low with the fishing gear now ? let us know what the prices are on gear there cheers & we have made an offer on a 2005 PDQ 🙂 Hope it comes back “OK SOLD”
I haven’t purchased any new gear (yet) so I can’t really comment on prices as I haven’t been looking. That may change soon though as yes, we are getting low. Good luck on the PDQ!!!
Same thing happened on this boat (4 Apr – yesterday!!)t:
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/calou/
They have a little bit on how they’re handling it.
Sounds like they had a lot more food to deal with than we did.
OK I’ll fess up too…I did that once – fortunately to a very old fridge. The previous commenter was right – you never do it twice.
Deb
S/V Nomad
http://www.theretirementproject.blogspot.com
That I believe.
If it makes you feel better, our beer is cold OUTSIDE OF THE FRIDGE!
(yes, I know – go South…)
🙂
No comment except this: In many people’s eyes cruising WITH refrigeration is akin to camping! Good luck getting this one sorted out quickly.
Mike
hehe… I bet you’re right. Thanks Mike.
Good luck with the refrigeration repairs! Easiest way to defrost is to turn off the fridge and open the door. At your latitude, it shouldn’t take long! Can speed it up by putting a pan of hot water in freezer. I remember the first refrigerator I had that had an automatic defrost. Hmmm. Probably giving away my age! roughly the same as the dinosaurs! 🙂
Yeah, defrosting will no longer involve sharp implements.