MacGregorSailors.com

As the Zeno's Arrow thread is starting to run on a bit, I thought I would take it upon myself to start a new thread. Cheers, MM

Ahoy MM,
How far South did you actually get in the Waterways of the America's? Lost track of you at the Bahamas. As I said, the rumor had it a Hurricane got both you and Zeno's Arrow. Did you make it down to the tip of South America as planned?

C.K.

Managed to get into Southern Brazil, but did not tow across the Andies to Chile and the Inside Passage as origionally planned. Ran out of time/money (by then I was already 5 years behind my origional proposede schedule, seems I tend to spend more time en route than most folks; guess that's why I named the boat Zeno's Arrow). Also, I had already done the Chilian route to Punta Arenas in other boats so it didn't seem overly important. MM

Mike,
Forgive me if you have answered this before, a search of the thread didn't reveal it. What were your reasons or justifications for allocating the space and power to have an icemaker on board? Thanks in advance.

Night Sailor wrote:Mike,
Forgive me if you have answered this before, a search of the thread didn't reveal it. What were your reasons or justifications for allocating the space and power to have an icemaker on board? Thanks in advance.

I think its simple. What would a trip anywhere south of the equator be without margharitas?

OK,

Here's why the ice maker & you guys can tell me if my logic is from outer space or not. I have the ice maker and Engle 12 V. Freezer/Fridge (which can be used as one or the other at any given time but not both) + 2 standard type ice chests (one under a seat in the cabin & one in the cockpit). I use the ice from the ice maker (which I turn on when I charge the 2 x 4D AGM house batts.: remember I do not need a starting batt. as my engines are Elect/pull start). Thus, the ice maker in conjunction with the water-maker provides me unlimited ice while at sea when charging about one hr. a day, thereby reducing the contineous power drain that would be needed to run a normal fridge all the time. Additionally, while on the hook or heading out for a crossing, I often purchase bags of ice and put them into the ice maker (and coolers) along with a few beers or soft drinks, as the ice maker is well insulated. This ice usually melts after a few days (as does that in the coolers), but the water remains colder than ambient, so I simply turn on the Genset & ice maker and use less BTU's than normal to turn it back into ice.

When heading out on a crossing I use the Engle as a freezer and fill it with TV dinners which I use up in the microwave as I prefer not to spend time cooking and using an open flame while alone at sea. Once the freezer stuff is used up I turn up the temp. on the Engle and transfer stuff from the coolers into it. Now I have a Fridge and thereby reduce the time the ice maker is needed, which in turn reduces the time needed for charging the batts. ( to 1 hr. every other day) as the wind turbine and solar panels can then keep up with usual consumption.

Except for food (although I do fish and sometimes drag a net) this gives me unlimited water and ice (if nothing breaks down). Actually, if I'm careful and the wind blows and sun shines, I can also cook with the microwave and hot plate without consuming propane, so I can stay out on some little island for just about ever without having to sail somewhere inhabited to re-stock or get fuel (gotta row the tender though). With the Sat. phone, and internet access I can even communicate with the outside world, if I want.

Hope this answers the question. Cheers, MM

And he can keep his fish cold until he wants to make a delicious sushi drink in his blender.

Squid Bill!

Cold hand crank blended sushi drink is only done with squid. (see page 23 of the Miss Boat Blender book of proper MAC blending protocol, surprised you of all people didn't know that one) MM

Don't call me squid Bill.
I think one of the sheet winches could be used to make a blender.
Any engineers out there with ideas on this?

Sorry, my mistake;

Squid, (coma) Bill.

So the Bass-o-matic '76 has become the Squid-o-matic '06? The Squid-o-winch-o-matic?

Mike...you make "Mac survival on long trips" sound easy, and definately interesting. Experience is obviously important, and I would guess it takes a few years of "trial & error"

When I was stationed in Africa, in the early 60's, we would go to Massawa, on the Red Sea coast, to do some snorkeling, etc.
There was a nice little restaurant near the harbor where we would go for squid, bean soup, and papaya frappe's.
Just thinking of a squid frappe makes my mouth water.

Wow!

Massawa in the early 60's, that is way cool! Eritrea must have been something else in those days. Did you get a chance to visit the underground churchs or were the Ethiopeans not letting anybody up that way back then? Got a chance once to hang out in the old Menelik Palace in Massawa old town port for a day back in the early '80's before heading south to do a Sobek whitewater trip on the OMO river all the way to lake Rudolph (which has since renamed). Very cool Bill, did you happen to take any pictures of Massawa back then? MM

Thank you Madmike for explaining your use of the icemaker. Combined with a use as a fridge, the watermaker, and coolers it does make sense now. Frozen dinners do taste a lot beter than a steady diet of freeze dried.