Refrigeration insulation

[wb]

Was wondering if anyone has a recent experience adding foam insulation to the icebox -- it appears I can use some more R-factor and am trying to adapt past practice by using low-expansion foam -- access will be at five points: forward from the stove well; forward from inside the box; inboard and outboard from inside the box; and finally from underneath using the drain access port. The spaces involved are substantial.

Suggestions will be appreciated.

Cheers,

Bill Baxter
Persistence

[Mark Powers]

My brother, Rob, just performed the feat on Respite, his 26C, this spring. I did the deed about 2 years ago on La Reina. Is Persistence an Ultra or a Classic? Access to the side of the icebox near the hull will vary. I don't know enough about the installation on the Ultra to give advice on the best method of access. On La Reina, I removed the stove and cut an access panel in the side of the bulkhead to get access to the back of the ice box. I was not able to remove all of the old foam but it made it easier to inject the spray insulation. I found that the plastic toilet water lines would slip over the plastic pipe on the spray foam cans. With a bit of duct tape they provide a solid extension that allowed me to get foam to the far side of the ice box and down each side.

Rob noticed that on the underside of the top there were about three panels. They had foam in side them that should be replaced, plus they do not cover the entire top so some areas have no insulation at all. Once you have removed the lid you will want to exam this to see what can be done to improve the insulation in that area. This area is important since the sun often hits the top of the icebox. A good lid seal is also vital. Slip a dollar bill, sorry five dollar bill along the edge and close the lid on it. If you can pull the bill out  with little resistance the seal is not good enough. You should feel enough resistance that you are afraid you will tear the bill. 

We both gained access around the box and removed the old insulation then replaced it with a combination of solid blue board and spray in low expansion insulation.  The insulation in Respite was not in bad shape in La Reina it turned to dust as I touched it. A good dust mask is recommended. Replacing the old insulation will allow you to get maximum benefit from the new insulation.

Mark Powers & Nesta Davies

La Reina 26C

Burrard Civic Marina

Vancouver B.C.

[wb]

Thanks Mark – and sorry, I should have mentioned that Persistence is a 30U – the after access is through the stove area, and can be done from the outside – underneath can be approached from an inspection port low in the same bulkhead – but access to the inboard side from outside the box is problematic because of the adjacent row of drawers under the sink area, and outboard and forward bulkhead access might also best be achieved by drilling holes thru the icebox itself. I will look at the feasibility of removing the bulkhead in the stove area or cutting an access panel along the outboard edge.  Of course, if I have the broadened access you describe, the old insulation might well come out as you suggest.

 

Thanks also for the tip on extending the reach of the spray cans and insulating the top side.

 

I expect to use a sewer inspection video camera next week to properly see what I cam getting into before I start cutting too much!

 

Could you please indicate the brand of foam that you used?

 

Cheers,

 

Bill Baxter

Persistence NS30U #507

Kingston ON

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[Lorie Simone]

Hi Bill,
we did this 18 years ago.

What you must do is brace the walls of the cooler to stop them from bulging
when the foam expands. Even on the side where the stove is, the sliding
cover over the stop now sticks a bit because the wall bulged out.

Pour the foam in slowly and let it expand up to the level of the hole you
are pouring it through.

Might be wise to drill a number holes so you can see when the foam reaches
that level, you cover the holes with a plug, better buy the plugs first so
you know what diameter to drill the holes at.

Lorie


Lorie S. Simone former owner of REVELATION NS30U #260
1203 Acadia Drive,
Kingston, Ont., K7M 8W1
613 634 7457 fax 613 634 2674

Suggestions will be appreciated and let it expand up to the level of the
hole you are pouring it through

Cheers,

Bill Baxter
Persistence

[Mark Powers]

Bill

Both Rob and I removed the sink and then took out the panel on the side of the ice box under the sink. This gave us access to both sides of the ice box. Don't know if that will help on the Ultra. We had to cut the panel in half to get it out from under the sink. Since it is not visible the cut did not matter. When the panel was back in I installed another 1/2 inch of solid insulation on the outside and then covered that with the aluminium covered bubble wrap insulation to create heat shield.

The access port beside the sink followed the curve of the hull. I used some teak trim around the cutout when I re-installed it. The teak was not necessary since you can't see when the stove was put back in place. It will look nice though if I pull the stove out to clean.

I used Dow "Great Stuff" door and window spray insulation that I purchased at home depot.

[Allen Ames]

You can also insulate fairly easily by cutting away the plywood divider under the "kitchen sink" and adding slabs of closed-cell foam. 

I did one boat with slabs and the other with poured-in foam. They both worked very well.

Allen Ames

[wb]

Allen,

Were these 30 Ultras?

Bill Baxter

Persistence NS30U #507

Kingston ON

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