This exercise actually started off as “Exercise Refrigerator.” It could also have been named “Exercise in Patience and Endurance,” “Exercise in Frustration,” “Exercise of Love and Devotion,” or even “Exercise in First Principles.” [How much quicker it would have been if we had done it all once before.] The project that is the topic of this vignette is not “check-off” ready. But we are much closer to the end than the beginning, so here is the blog.

When I was moving to the boat as a full time live aboard, now over two years ago, Harry asked me what would be the one thing I would like to have ready, and I replied that it would be nice to have a refrigerator. The boat had an area for this but it was not working; so as on previous occasions when we were visiting short term we made do with coolers. [As it turns out this was valuable practice.] Harry dutifully fulfilled the order and for two years the fridge unit has been mostly working – with a few hiccups along the way. Rumor has it that boat refrigerators are usually temperamental beasts. [Note that the sex with which one identifies a refrigerator has not been stated, but that probably depends on who is the designated assigner.]

 As time has gone on, the water for cooling the unit has run more and more often. This was a sure sign of inefficiency and that the original insulation installed in 1985 was failing. When we head south to Mexico, we will experience hotter conditions than we do here in San Diego, so there started “Exercise Refrigerator.” This quickly morphed into “Exercise Deep  Freeze” when Harry said if I were to get a small freezer this would be the one opportunity. This all in no time lead to another add-on, “Exercise Water Tank,” when a cavity holding nothing was discovered below the rotting floor under the refrigeration unit.

In order to get to the insulation, the teak surrounds were destroyed. All of the insulation had to be dug out. [We found it to have a lot of moisture, of which there should have been none.] The deconstruction/ demolition phase took 3 days of Harry’s labors. During the following week Harry took time deciding on a water tank. He measured, problem solved, and tested with a cardboard prototype; and then ordered one. None could be found ready-made, sitting on a shelf waiting for a home; therefore it was made to order.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

While we waited, the next three day weekend was spent at the stern of the boat in and out of the dinghy and weight lifting our Monitor wind vane[ AKA- “FLIP FLOP”] up and over the back rails many times in order to get the wind vane in the exact position to be most efficient when in use. FYI a WIND VANE is an instrument used to steer the boat … the vane “flips and flops” back and forth, as it is driven by the wind and is directly attached with a line (AKA – rope) system to the helm. It is essentially a wind driven auto-pilot. It is not a system that one sets in order to abandon watch to go below. At all times a crewmember needs to remain on lookout for obstacles that may be in the way. It does however allow the crewperson at the helm some rest time as they do not need to be continually physically attached to the helm. [AKA as steering wheel.]

• 

• 

• 

When the tank arrived the wind vane project was put on hold. It is presently attached to the stern with brackets and bolts. The pulley and block system connecting it to the helm still requires some attention. The water tank was installed, and a new floor attached.

• 

• 

The next job was to measure, calculate and cut the new teak case. Harry attempted to put Bondo on the curved side of the refrigeration box so that the flat vacuum-packed insulation could be attached for the addition of the freezer. This little exercise was abandoned because the desired flat surface was not achieved.

• 

• 

We were then ready to inject the new insulation. This was another 3 day event. I guess it should come as no surprise to take essentially the same amount of time to take out the insulation as it was to replace it.

• 

• 

• 

We went “Down Under” for some R and R.

• 

• 

• 

When Harry returned, he rebuilt the top of the cabinet, laid down new laminate and completed the teak trim. Some varnishing needed to be applied before returning the cold plate to the inside of the unit and turning everything back on.

• 

• 

I am not doing any ice shops at present; but the freezer compartment has not been sectioned off, and there is some varnishing and tidying up to complete. In usual tradition we have moved onto some other distractions and will someday bring this project to its true completion.

While all this was going on we continued to eat well keeping our food and drinks cool in coolers and spending about $5 a day on ice. We missed out on an opportunity to take shares in the San Diego Ice Company before starting the refrigeration project. My morning exercise ritual was to empty the melted ice from the coolers and to walk to buy more ice. At the beginning there was ice available at the boatyard, but we single handedly depleted that supply at which point the boatyard decided to discontinue the service; so the trek to buy ice gave me more steps each day. We did this for more than 2 months in all; however, during some of that time we were vacationing in Australia. At the conclusion I learnt how to make do with just one cooler and shopped more often.

I am not doing any ice shops at present; but the freezer compartment has not been sectioned off, and there is some varnishing and tidying up to complete. In usual tradition we have moved onto some other distractions and will someday bring this project to its true completion. Meanwhile I will only be able to pretend I have ice-cream on board.

AFTER THOUGHT: The idea of a vignette was for it to be short and sweet, and for me not to feel pressured to keep editing over and over for perfection. Sorry, it is not happening on this one. Maybe next time.