... have two Sea Frost systems, Engine Drive and a 12V Freezer Bin, I'm pretty happy with the combination. No solar or wind, although I'd like solar, and as soon as they figure out how to make the panels half as big that produce twice as much power, I'm in. For a few reasons I'm not a fan of wind, but I do like the new D400 unit. This is a 1986 Tartan 40 with probably shitty frig box insulation, a modestly built production box and 25 year old insulation. I have 4 G27 batteries so we have about 370 Ah, that is kind of light, but we're conservative with our power. As soon as these batteries eat it, I'll add one or two more. My box is 7 CF, we use a fan and an ice saver insulated Frig Blanket inside the box (made by Jo at Standout Yacht Fittings). We also keep a yoga mat on top of the box. The Freezer Bin is about the size of a large shoebox and we keep it stuffed with meat & fish, and ICE. We also can freeze things and make ice around our Holding Plate for the ED system.

I don't like to motor, and we move around a lot, so our system works for us. By the time we warm the engine, haul the anchor, motor out of the mooring area, navigate through a Cut, whatever, the engine is on for 30 minutes. And we do the same drill later in the day coming into where ever we anchor, so the engine is on another 30 minutes. During these times the ED is also on, that's all we need, (2) 30 minute runs, sometimes we can get by with one/day. If we do this the Freeze stays frozen, the ice cubes stay hard and the 12V does not come on. I can also manually run my 12V on "HIGH" while the engine is running (for free) so sometimes we do this.

If we are staying put for a few days, the 12V takes over. What we have is a bit undersized but the Bin keeps the box in the mid 30's on it's own. We like hot water and a hot shower every day. So I have to run the engine anyway (no propane on-demand, yet) every other day for 30 minutes. When the engine runs, the ED cranks up and I will also run the Bin manually on HIGH then too.

We wind up averaging about 60Ah/day, total. That's w/a frig, a small freezer, and ... ICE. Yeah, somebody comes over for dinner, or the kids watch a movie, and we'll get to 100 Ah. One of these days I'll rebuild our box and perhaps we'll cut this in half.

If I had to do it all over again, i think I would look seriously at the water cooled Frigoboat unit, big ole hole in the boat, but I must say, whether we like it or not, the engine does run from time to time for one reason or another, and the ED system then is free and powerful. If we spent weeks in one place, I'd probably look into solar, or a generator, but I probably would own a Tartan 40 if we had that cruising lifestyle either. We have a 125 HO PowerMax alternator from Ham Ferris.

Unless it is super hot, we can get by on one 30 minute run to freeze the plate per day. I can skip a day of engine, and let the 12V take over. But after two days, we're either moving on or out of hot water.

I read Beth's story and I see lots of others posts sans frig. But I just cannot imagine being in the Bahamas or the Tropics without cold food and ice for my rum drink. Dark & Stormy's do get old after a while.

cheers, John