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Ice Machine or Drink Cooler?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by DOCKMASTER, Jul 20, 2021.

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  1. DOCKMASTER, Jul 20, 2021
    #1
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    I have an ice machine in my salon as many boats do. However, we literally never use the ice. It makes a full bin of ice then it just sits there all season. We are not cocktail drinkers and at most there are a few beers consumed from a can or bottle right out of the fridge. Water and soft drinks are also consumed in similar fashion. You have to keep in mind, a 70 degree day where I am is unusual and a heat wave. So drinks are consumed before they get warm.
    I currently use half of my galley refer for drinks and the other half for food items. On longer trips we are pressed for refer space for food and it gets very full and then difficult to find items. I'm thinking to remove the ice machine in the salon and install a 120 can drink cooler in its place. This will free up tons of refer space for food. I already have a drink fridge on the bridge and it works well but, of course, would be terribly inconvenient as the only place for drinks. To get a decent size drink cooler where my ice machine is I need to omit the drawer above the ice machine but that's no big loss.
    I'm 95+% sure I want to go this route but wondering if there is something I'm missing ? Anything I'm not thinking about that may cause me future regrets? I will save the ice machine in case I ever decide to put it back or if a future owner wants to go back to ice. What say you all? Here's the existing ice machine and the drink cooler I'm contemplating that fits in the space well:

    Ice Machine.jpg


    https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Beve...oai+120+can+mini+fridge&qid=1626814627&sr=8-3
  2. Capt Ralph, Jul 20, 2021
    #2
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Pull the ice-maker out and turn the thermostat up.
    Think shelfs are still available or easy to make.
    Then it's a fridge.

    If you do toss it, I think that door will fit mine.
  3. Pascal, Jul 20, 2021
    #3
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Do whatever works for YOU. Here on SoFl and Bahamas we can never have too much ice!! On the boat i run we have 5 ice makers :). On our personal 53 we only have one so when going out fir a couple of days I fill a big yeti with ice from the “office”.

    in our case ice doesn’t just go in drinks but in buckets to keep champagne, white or rosé cold.

    again it depends on how YOU use YOUR boat.

    mid that ice maker is old it may not even be worth storing.
  4. RER, Jul 20, 2021
    #4
    RER

    RER Senior Member

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    If you don’t use it you don’t need it. Anyway it looks like it’s just a basic U-Line model and you could probably find another spot for it if you ever decided you wanted one someday which I doubt.
    Dj239 likes this.
  5. Capt J, Jul 20, 2021
    #5
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    You could pull the mold assembly out of it and use it as a freezer, or use it as a freezer as is. They're great for ice cream! If that doesn't work for you, put a refrigerator in.
    tbaxl likes this.
  6. DOCKMASTER, Jul 20, 2021
    #6
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Thanks all. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. And I forgot to mention, I have plenty of freezer space so easy enough to keep a bag or two of ice if needed. Or I could always put a clean bucket under the chute in the fish box for ice from there but some might view that as offensive I guess.
  7. Soulstice, Jul 20, 2021
    #7
    Soulstice

    Soulstice Member

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    That’s exactly what I do. If it’s good enough for the Tuna, it’s good enough for everyone else :D
    Capt Ralph likes this.
  8. cleanslate, Jul 20, 2021
    #8
    cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    I think the drink cooler is a good idea. But I'm not so sure on the glass front. You have to keep it packed with drinks to keep them from rolling around when rocking and the glass lets everyone see what's inside the icebox, so you always need to keep it full neat and clean like in the ad photo, plus you may want to store food in it at times. Also I would be nervous the a can or bottle would break the glass.
    I would want a solid door front in white or black or S/S... you can get creative and veneer a sheet of your own stainless steel or maybe wood to match the wood around the unit just like the ice machine.

    I have both in my salon , an ice machine and a solid white door refrigerator, which I use mostly for cold beer and wine . Both get used often :). Galley frig holds the soda ,water and food .
  9. Danvilletim, Jul 21, 2021
    #9
    Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

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    That drink cooler on Amazon is way too cheap. Odds of lasting long isn’t good. On the other hand new ice makers are back logged til Sept. You might be able to sell your old one.
  10. DOCKMASTER, Jul 21, 2021
    #10
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    This was one of the only ones we could find with dimensions to fit our available space. We are limited in width and depth.
  11. Danvilletim, Jul 21, 2021
    #11
    Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

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    As long as it gets cold you can replace every season at that price. I just paid $600 to fix the ice maker.
  12. BigChief, Jul 21, 2021
    #12
    BigChief

    BigChief Member

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    I have one similar that I also bought on Amazon, works great, glass door so you can see inside and a blue led light which you can turn on or off


    https://photos.app.goo.gl/QR3mexdo5HPUXZtY8
    [​IMG]
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2021
  13. Donzi 54, Jul 21, 2021
    #13
    Donzi 54

    Donzi 54 Member

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    I'm for keeping the ice maker.
  14. classic, Jul 21, 2021
    #14
    classic

    classic Member

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    You can still use it for the ice cream bars ..
    ;)
  15. DOCKMASTER, Jul 21, 2021
    #15
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    This is great to hear. Thanks for sharing.