T&T: Converting ice boxes

[Bob Clinkenbeard]

My refrigerator/freezer aboard is an Igloo marine cooler, and I think it is 
the 94 quart model.  It has a split lid and it is recessed into the galley 
counter top.  The PO installed it and he insulated with multiple layers of 
foam insulation all around and under.  It has a Norold model # SCQT-6407 
(older model and may not be available now) Compressor/condenser unit with 
the evaporator unit in the box.  This is an air cooled unit and the heat 
dissipation into the cabin was very small and hardly noticeable holding your 
hand in front of it.  The compressor is located under the port side deck, 
inside the cabin.  You can see it here http://tinyurl.com/ytavml

Today I tested it out since I have never used it and here are my findings. 
Outside air temp was around 90 degrees and the interior of the boat was very 
hot...I started the ac unit (not marine) to cool the cabin down.  After 30 
minutes the interior temp was 45 in the center of the box...after 1 hour the 
interior temp was 33 in the center of the box.  I moved the thermostat to 
the end where the evaporator is mounted inside and after 10 minutes the temp 
read 22 degrees.  This is a 12v/120v unit and I was running it on 120 volts.
 The Po said he could keep frozen steaks in it and I was a little skeptical 
of that but I am now convinced that it will make ice and keep ice cream 
frozen.

For a unit installed in 1993, it works very well and the capacity is 
fantastic.

Bob Clinkenbeard
24' custom trailer trawler
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-aboardbobbinalong