Thoughts on ice???

[Dean1]

Ozbee that does help mate thanks alot for that. Im on the hunt for a chest freezer and these 10kg moulds now. What sort of reels are you using there in the pic?? Cheers..

[block]

I went to a second hand shop and got a 400L freezer for $200. In this I set 20L blocks using a square container/bucket. Some I leave whole and some I break up with a hammer and screw driver and bag long before a trip. So there is a mix of block and crushed. I like to add a little bit of crushed ice out of the bag as the fish go in and one or two big blocks to a 200L box. If the 20L blocks are old (over 6 weeks) there is no problems getting 5 days. All old bait goes in this freezer and gets chopped up for the next trip. Have had the freezer for 10 years now so all my ice in that time has come to $200 and a bit of my time. That would even make a new freezer cheep compared to what you can spend on ice over that time.
Regards
Dwane

[Alchemy]

I've got a couple of tupperware type containers that I use for making blocks. Eight litres of water goes into each, with two heaped table spoons of salt. I dissolve the salt in a cup of boiling water before mixing thoroughly with the rest of the water. Before I dissolved the salt this way I would often have a residue in the base of the container.

These blocks fit the width of my 200l Icekool perfectly, and I can fit five of these in the bottom. I then put about 20kg of party ice over the top, which freezes to the blocks forming a solid mass. I also take another 20kg bag of party ice, plus another 20kg of party ice in the boats freezer.

Once we start catching fish I pump sea water into the esky to make a slurry, then start to spread more party ice over them to ensure they stay cold. Last time we did this we were away for two nights, and I had stacks of ice remaining once home. The slurry was cold enough to freeze a bottle of drinking water I left in it.

I'd be wary of buying your own ice maker, unless you can or have a mate who is familiar with maintaining and repairing them as they can be a real P.I.T.A.

Regards,
Dave.

[FNQCairns]

Another thought, ice bought or made at -6deg will melt fast, ice made or bought? at -16 or -19deg will last for ages, long enough that only half the volume is needed.

Recently 40L of ice made in bottles then placed in a 110L Tropicool esky lasted 8 days well, the last 4 with almost home style 240V on tap opening and closing treatment.

cheers fnq

[-spiro-]

Dean make your own. I make 20litre blocks and also some 2 litre ones so the ice dosén't move round in the esky. Last time 3 days wasn't a problem. I only have a 270l freezer and it works a treat.