General Category - Pearson Owners and Enthusiasts > New Member Introductions

Hi, I am new to the forum and would like to introduce myself.

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grzano:
My name is Greg and I just love the Pearson 323. I owned my last 323 for 14 years and she had a partial sinking and battery fire, it was time to let her go. I am on the second one that I purchased on September 15th. She's on the hard and I am loving her with some refit projects. It's my first Atomic 4 so there is a definite learning curve with that engine, but I am finding it is a solid performer and easy to work on. I am adding the following to this boat:

1) A new pressure water system.
2) New Hot Water Heater.
3) New Thruhulls, (Bronze).
4) Updating the instruments and chart plotter.
5) Adding a new Sea Strainer.

I am thinking of converting the icebox to a fridge unit, but am having trouble figuring out how many Cf it is. If anyone can help me and answer this question I'd be very grateful.

I'll post some photos when I can figure out how that works.

Bless you, all, and have a great day.

Greg

Dolce_Vita:
Greg, Welcome!

The volume of the 323's OEM icebox is huge, close to 6 cu. ft.!  And the insulation is terrible.
Not wanting to rip it all out and build a better box, about 4 years ago I built a "box within a box",
adding several inches of insulation and cutting the volume down to about 3 cu. ft.

The first two images are the original box with the shelf removed. Note the cold plate installed by previous owner.

Image 3 is the reduced/insulated box with 2 to 6 inches of new insulation, sealed w/ aluminum tape.

Image 4 is the new box, constructed from sheets of FRP and sealed with food-grade silicone.

grzano:
Hello Ed,

I really appreciate your reply and photos. I will let you know what I eventually do and how it works out. I was thinking of and looking at the ISO Therm units. They seem to be fairly good units.

All the best,

Regards,

Greg

grzano:
Hi Ed,

I took the plunge and bought an Isotherm 2501 from Defender Marine, with my membership it cost $912.00. It's good for 7cf.

I was looking at your photos and note that you put the FRP on top of metal insulation. Can you tell me what you brand of insulation you used, thickness is see is 2-3 inches and covered in aluminium tape, R-value and whether it is closed cell foam? It also looks like you came rather straight up and eliminated the recessed area, or is this a misconception?

I'll send photos when I am installing it later in the spring. Hoping the snow melts soon. lol.


Best regards,

Greg

Dolce_Vita:

--- Quote from: grzano on February 26, 2021, 03:56:18 PM ---I was looking at your photos and note that you put the FRP on top of metal insulation. Can you tell me what you brand of insulation you used, thickness is see is 2-3 inches and covered in aluminium tape, R-value and whether it is closed cell foam?

--- End quote ---

I used 1 1/2" sheets of foil faced polyisocyanurate foam, purchased at the local Lowes.  Polyisocyanurate has an R-value of about 5.6 per inch, so the 1 1/2" sheets are about R8 to R9.  Polyiso has a better R value than most foams, but it can absorb moisture over time, thus the need to use aluminum tape to seal all the cut edges.  I used differing amounts in different places, anywhere from one to four sheets thickness (that was on the bottom).


--- Quote from: grzano on February 26, 2021, 03:56:18 PM ---It also looks like you came rather straight up and eliminated the recessed area, or is this a misconception?

--- End quote ---

I removed the shelf, and filled in the small recessed areas on the side before covering the side with a single large sheet. (see attached).

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