Counter top ice maker

Whitelighter

Whitelighter

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Can anyone recvomend a counter top ice maker.
Yes, I know a proper plumbed in £1500 will be better, but I don’t have the room or the budget. So accepting the limitations, does anyone have one which works well or know of one which works well.

Or should I just pick one from amazon that looks nice.
 
We bought the Polar counter top one from Amazon a few years back. Works really well & still going strong. In fact, we have it going right now. 3 size settings. Don't bother with anything other than the large setting. Takes it's time at first switch on but then churns them out at a nice steady pace. Don't expect typical cube shapes tho'...they're thimble shaped & don't last as long in the drink but long enough & they do the job perfectly well.
10kg output over 24 hours. £150
L
:)
 
I don't think it matters how you make it Jez, but you definitely need lots of ice.
To that end, I would get the ice maker that makes lots as quickly as it can.
Putting that in perspective, our marine supplied one makes its full tray/tub (aprox 15"x9"x6") in about 12 to 15 hours.
We then store the ice it makes in the freezer.
But ice is always used - lat year at anchor in Ibiza, we even went out to the shops for some.
I couldn't imagine managing without ice.
 
2 more warnings (discussed in previous threads)

make sure you have a TRUE SINE inverter, don't run them off a square inverter (especially if they have LCD screens and such)

keep them in a cool place, or with good ventilation, else production drops, quality drops.
Wanted to fit one at the hottest spot of the boat with poor ventilation, was convinced not to, so didn't buy one

cheers

V.
 
I think you may be disappointed with the counter top ones. I've had one at home for a few years and we don't bother with it anymore - in fact you would have been welcome to have it but unfortunately I'm not there until later in the summer.

Problem being, even on the largest setting the ice cubes are smallish and are of course hollow. In Spanish temperatures they last minutes at best. You'll get watery G&Ts or an ice bucket that needs replenishing constantly.
I didn't spec an ice maker for those reasons, we will store purchased ice in the freezer and also have the giant cube trays for drinks.

If you are stuck for freezer space you could just buy a plug in freezer box, similar size to an ice-maker.
 
NGM said:
I think you may be disappointed with the counter top ones. I've had one at home for a few years and we don't bother with it anymore - in fact you would have been welcome to have it but unfortunately I'm not there until later in the summer.

Problem being, even on the largest setting the ice cubes are smallish and are of course hollow. In Spanish temperatures they last minutes at best. You'll get watery G&Ts or an ice bucket that needs replenishing constantly.
I didn't spec an ice maker for those reasons, we will store purchased ice in the freezer and also have the giant cube trays for drinks.

If you are stuck for freezer space you could just buy a plug in freezer box, similar size to an ice-maker.
Click to expand...

I don't have any experience with the cheap desktop units but if the choice is a freezer or an ice maker, a freezer would be better IMO.
Our freezer is always full - don't forget the kids like ice creams/magnums etc.
In our freezer, there is usually a bottle of Spanish Caramel liquor - we call it Kneebob - really good served direct from the freezer in shot classes also straight from the freezer.
Finding space for a freezer would be a good suggestion.
I have just recently replaced our galley fridge with a domestic fridge and it runs it from an inverter or shore supply when we are away from the boat.
So you wouldn't need to spend the ridiculous marine prices for a freezer - as long as you could find space for it.
 
Been watching this thread .
We replaced an aged (2002 ) fridge with a newer Waeco unit in the cockpit a few years back .
Tend to eat fresh stuff or leave frozen on the self in the shop and buy that day .
So all we use the freezer compartments for is ice trays .
There’s one a bigger fridge in the galley too .
However the point is this the cockpit freezer box holds at least 4 trays and I kid you not 20 mins easily freezes a tray .
Lower box ( galley ) holds about 8 trays takes longer .
So because of this the necessity to get a dedicated ice maker has evaporated.

In other words when fixing a drink(s) emptying a whole tray the top one of 4 in the cockpit and refilling it with water -20 mins later it’s ready the top one you just put back in !
That’s with the Waeco set on the middle say 3 out of 6 setting too .
Infact the cubes are quite hard to pop out we have to rest the tray a min or two in the sun to soften the edges - such is the coldness .

New fridge I suspect uses less current it’s a combo 220v and 24 V switches between the two automatically.
Even with long periods at anchor still chills water to ice in 20 mins or less .
We pour cold water from a bottle in to the tray so the water temp is say 4/6 degrees to start .

@ anchor thinking about Dom bat knackering etc , do you want another appliance ?
What happens generally if the Volts drop below a set level - do ice makers turn off anyhow ? Or kill your Dom batts ?

Key to extended periods away from shorepower is bat management.
 
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Hurricane said:
So you wouldn't need to spend the ridiculous marine prices for ——-/——— it.
Click to expand...

Quick tip

Our boat sparky sent us to a motor home RV dealer nearby who has about 20 fridges / freezers etc on display and a “ arrive next day “ if ordered from the Waeco catalog.

Previously went to a well know electrical shop in Antibes to sus out prices .

The RV dealer was about 1/2 price not just in appliances but most stuff , eg the Marinco shore power plugs etc
There a bit of overlap between RV stuff and “ Marine “ without the added “marine “ tax :)
 
Whitelighter said:
Freezer is tiny and full of food
Click to expand...


Making ice is of limited value if you can't store it. The hollow ice from a tabletop machine on a hot day is wet, thin, and barely frozen, so it melts very quickly in drinks. It also melts again quickly in the ice maker tray, so you'll need to run it constantly throughout the day.

Solid ice cubes either bought from a shop or made in ice cube trays in the freezer have ten times the ability to cool drinks, rather than just watering them down.

I think you'll need to find some space in your freezer.
 
Totally agree a big freezer would be lovely, but as with all boats somewhere there is a compromise. Seralia has 3 double cabins (no bunks), two full sized heads, a huge saloon, separate dinette, internal stair, crew cabin all in 50ft

So the compromise is the galley. We have a new indel Webasto 160l drawer fridge going in as we speak which has a bigger freezer compartment but it’s still only 30l. The saloon drinks fridge has a very small compartment which we currently use to make ice.

I wondered how effective the counter top ice makers were. We simply don’t have the room for a separate freezer.

Perhaps the answer is a bigger boat....
 
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Whitelighter said:
Totally agree a big freezer would be lovely, but as with all boats somewhere there is a compromise. Seralia has 3 double cabins (no bunks), two full sized heads, a huge saloon, separate dinette, internal stair, crew cabin all in 50ft

So the compromise is the galley. We have a new indel Webasto 160l drawer fridge going in as we speak which has a bigger freezer compartment but it’s still only 30l. The saloon drinks fridge has a very small compartment which we currently use to make ice.

I wondered how effective the counter top ice makers were. We simply don’t have the room for a separate freezer.

Perhaps the answer is a bigger boat....
Click to expand...

I know that you have answered this but the freezer doesn't have to be in or near the galley.
It is still useful even if it tucked away - maybe in the crews quarters???
 
We have a top loading storage bin in the galley which I have an idea to convert, but it needs insulating etc abd isn’t a summer quick fix.

I think I’ll just get some no leak stacking ice cube trays and use the small freezer compartment at the top of the drinks fridge.
 
Had a Contessa on the previous boat. Worked perfectly for years. 15 minutes from switch on to first ice. Now bought a Hostess for the new boat but not fitted yet. Both of these were draw type so they could be installed in a locker. If you're not convinced get a second hand one from Ebay for £30 or so and give it a try. They are a fantastic piece of kit for little money.
 
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