Marine Icemakers

[LuckyLady]

I am working on a custom build and I am looking for "the best" marine icemaker to integrate in to the boat.

Looking for any thoughts, comments and experience you my have on both cube and shaved ice makers.

I am looking for a shaved ice unit that withhold to high speeds and rough water.

Appreciate any thoughts, and Thanks in advance!

[JonnyD]

Mary in my opinion, I would just use the Eskimo. We have had them on the last three boats we've built Very little on the design has changed in the past ten years, and they are dependable. Dometic actually builds and sells them now, so you can find them on their website. The important thing once you buy an Icemaker is placement. They all say they will push the ice uphill and over 30 feet, but it is very hard on the auger and usually causes it to fail prematurely. Actually i just remembered that they now make a split unit where you mount the compressor and control unit seperate from the auger. PLace the unit as close as possible to the ice bin. The other thing you hear about is people say they dont make as much ice as they claim, but the placement of the "full bin" sensor as well as size and shape of the bin are important. Just make sure that there is plenty of room for the ice to slide down and back away from the sensor. Anyhow, in my opinion its the machine to go with, good luck with the build. jon

[LuckyLady]

Mary in my opinion, I would just use the Eskimo. We have had them on the last three boats we've built Very little on the design has changed in the past ten years, and they are dependable. Dometic actually builds and sells them now, so you can find them on their website. The important thing once you buy an Icemaker is placement. They all say they will push the ice uphill and over 30 feet, but it is very hard on the auger and usually causes it to fail prematurely. Actually i just remembered that they now make a split unit where you mount the compressor and control unit seperate from the auger. PLace the unit as close as possible to the ice bin. The other thing you hear about is people say they dont make as much ice as they claim, but the placement of the "full bin" sensor as well as size and shape of the bin are important. Just make sure that there is plenty of room for the ice to slide down and back away from the sensor. Anyhow, in my opinion its the machine to go with, good luck with the build. jon

Exactly what I wanted to hear! Thank you sooooo much!

I have dealt with ice makers in the past on production boats such as wellcrafts maxums etc but they were junk across the board.

We have all the room in the world to mount and install it, just a matter of what will hold up over time.

We were considering putting one in a quad 37 center, but the gears have switched to an quad express.

The only concern is if in fact the unit would hold up on a boat that would turn up over 80mph. The express will be up there in speed as well but not at the 80 mark. I know it can be done but all of us dont want to put something in that will break after the 1st couple of runs. So many little intrgrate parts inside those ice makers I think it could make or break it

[Prime Time]

Mary,
You may want to check out IceSea (C-Bea Stainless) they make a system that can produce either salt or fresh water ice. The salt water ice brine is great for fishing and will not use up your fresh water supply when offshore and the system can be switched over to fresh water when needed for cocktails...it only takes a few minutes for the system to purge itself of salt water. The contact/owner is Bruce Antognoti at 800-829-7096/386-754-1123 or bruce@icesea.us website is www.icesea.us

[LuckyLady]

Mary,
You may want to check out IceSea (C-Bea Stainless) they make a system that can produce either salt or fresh water ice. The salt water ice brine is great for fishing and will not use up your fresh water supply when offshore and the system can be switched over to fresh water when needed for cocktails...it only takes a few minutes for the system to purge itself of salt water. The contact/owner is Bruce Antognoti at 800-829-7096/386-754-1123 or bruce@icesea.us website is www.icesea.us

Again perfect !

I was leaning towards a saltwater one, not that freshwater would be a problem on the express but the center has limited fresh water supply, that was the hang up on doing it on the center as well holding up and freshwater.

We have chill plates going in as it stands. I personally would like to plumb the output direct in to the fishboxes, if it can work that way. We have plenty of room under the decks etc. I just have to have exact install specs as well to make sure it works properly just as Jon outline above. I know placement is detrimental to it all being perfect.

If I can't do it right I wont do it at all. So at this point is is a research project before the build gets started

Thanks again guys, this is super helpful and I appreciate it very much

Keep it coming!!! Ears are all open

[darbikrash]

Why not just use the chill plates? I guess if you're out for a few days on a big convertible, I can see the need for an icemaker, but on a dayboat like a big CC or express, how much ice will be made on the run offshore?

I would just size the chill plates correctly and put them right in the fishboxes. Maybe add some insulation on the sides if need be.

You can still have ice, just fill up some heavy gauge plastic bags with sea water, and lay them in the bottom of the fishbox. They'll get plenty cold, maybe freeze. Lay the fish on top and close the box lid.

No moving parts, nothing to maintain, nothing to break.

[pitch bait]

make sure you have a good clean run with no big crazy tight turns and make sure you put the unit somwhere the pressure switches are easy to get to. Ilike Eskimo very good customer service and easy to get spare parts.

[perfectscore]

Exactly what I wanted to hear! Thank you sooooo much!

I have dealt with ice makers in the past on production boats such as wellcrafts maxums etc but they were junk across the board.

We have all the room in the world to mount and install it, just a matter of what will hold up over time.

We were considering putting one in a quad 37 center, but the gears have switched to an quad express.

The only concern is if in fact the unit would hold up on a boat that would turn up over 80mph. The express will be up there in speed as well but not at the 80 mark. I know it can be done but all of us dont want to put something in that will break after the 1st couple of runs. So many little intrgrate parts inside those ice makers I think it could make or break it

you better nail a mezuzah on that thing. what wont break doin 80mph. it seems like an icemachine would always be broken.

[LuckyLady]

Why not just use the chill plates? I guess if you're out for a few days on a big convertible, I can see the need for an icemaker, but on a dayboat like a big CC or express, how much ice will be made on the run offshore?

I would just size the chill plates correctly and put them right in the fishboxes. Maybe add some insulation on the sides if need be.

You can still have ice, just fill up some heavy gauge plastic bags with sea water, and lay them in the bottom of the fishbox. They'll get plenty cold, maybe freeze. Lay the fish on top and close the box lid.

No moving parts, nothing to maintain, nothing to break.

Me personally Chill plates don't work as well as they should in "any" boat yea it keeps one side of the fish cold but lay a 150lb "hot" tuna in the box. I personally feel its impossible to chill the entire fish. Boxes are pretty well seal, if they were air tight they would not semi slam when closed. I think chill plates and ice is the best to keep catch fresh as it can be.


When I said the chill plates they are in different boxes that we have other plans for, we have multiple holds on the boat with different plans for bait flats drinks etc. This is what the "customer" wants and I am entertaining the thought, and seeing if I can make it happen and not have problems down the road.

I not totally sure that it will be plumbed directly in to the fish box it either. Just thinking out loud
as I work thru this majorly customized build

I need to pick a unit, research it, check size and install requirements and then see where I can put it and if I will have access to service it.

Just doing research for all of the above at this point

Thanks for the thoughts some things I didn't think of and that is why this thread is here.

[Fortunate One]

I'm with darbikrash on this one:

I too have done some research in this department and have elected to go the route of using freezer plates only. Less money up front and virturaly bullet proof. We're installing ours on the sides of the box so it's easier to clean the slurry out at the end of the trip and we have a huge fish box.

I would tend to think that a gofast CC would tend to be much harder on an ice machine.