Advice needed. Brittany Portsmouth - Bilbao crossing; will our freezer make it? (1 Viewer)

[goneoff]

Has anyone managed to keep frozen food frozen on the Brittany Portsmouth - Bilbao crossing which is Brittany quote a sailing time of anywhere between 24 hrs - 32 hrs? Our Dometic freezer has a separate compartment to the fridge which helps I guess. We won’t bother stocking up the freezer if by the end of the crossing everything is thawed.
This is assuming I can't get an electric hook-up and my gas is turned off.

 

[abforfun]

We're on Portsmouth to Santander as we speak, will let you know how our frozen stuff faired tomorrow

 

[Tis Me]

I have a normal domestic fridge/freezer in the van...it runs for three full days through an inverter from two 110 ah batteries...hope that helps.

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[Jenben]

We have. We did load the freezer up a couple of days before we went with already frozen items ( if that makes sense).

Don't keep checking fridge/freezer by opening it up.

We also froze some bottles of water and loaded those into the fridge door on the day we set off. This seemed to work for us. Others may be along with better/different ideas.

 

[goneoff]

I have a normal domestic fridge/freezer in the van...it runs for three full days through an inverter from two 110 ah batteries...hope that helps.

It would have helped if I had an inverter!
Thanks anyway

 

[goneoff]

We're on Portsmouth to Santander as we speak, will let you know how our frozen stuff faired tomorrow

I look forward to hearing from you. Hope you have a calm crossing.

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[Steve N Tracy]

Freeze some cartons of your favorite fruit juice, they will stay frozen enough in the fridge to keep it cold enough for 3 days and about 4 days in the freezer, once thawed you can drink them.

 

[goneoff]

Freeze some cartons of your favorite fruit juice, they will stay frozen enough in the fridge to keep it cold enough for 3 days and about 4 days in the freezer, once thawed you can drink them.

Not worried about the fridge we can put frozen water bottles in there, it's the separate freezer which we want to stock up with frozen food. I need to know will it last the crossing without it thawing.

 

[PeteH]

Depends how tightly you pack it, the less "Air Space" the better. We had no trouble with a Dometic Frig in the R-V on that crossing, May time. The Ships Cargo/Car decks are pretty cold anyway. You could also be cheeky and ask if you can plug in to one of the outlets for the Lorry Frig; units, Some are (where in my day) 220V (60hz though, as are all Maritime Alternators).

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[zac]

I have just come back on the Santander to Portsmouth route and i forgot to turn the gas off on ours so it was on for the whole trip, we never got asked either to turn it off which is what usually prompts me. Come to think of it i dont recall turning it off on the way out either so again not asked. Of course it is not good to leave it on when on a boat.

 

[Duck Truck]

Before putting anything in the freezer
The stuff you are putting into the van freezer, freeze it at home down to the lowest temperature you can for a few days in your domestic freezer. At the same time run your van freezer on ehu to bring the temp down.
When ready to load it stack the stuff you want to stay frozen the most in the centre of the freezer and pack all the other stuff tightly around it.
Close the door and don't open it again. NO PEEKING

 

[Vanman]

You could also put stuff towards the outside that can be cooked and re-frozen if it does thaw a little. Or have a bean feast on arrival if it's all thawed .

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[goneoff]

I have just come back on the Santander to Portsmouth route and i forgot to turn the gas off on ours so it was on for the whole trip, we never got asked either to turn it off which is what usually prompts me. Come to think of it i dont recall turning it off on the way out either so again not asked. Of course it is not good to leave it on when on a boat.

What a naughty answer!

 

[JohnH]

We have done the journey quite a few times. Pack the freezer as tightly as possible with stuff straight out of the home freezer and put frozen drinks in the fridge compartment. As long as you don't open the door it will stay frozen for 24 hours.

 

[Four of us]

Agree with Kev1 and JohnH. We have done this and had no problem on the 24 hour crossing.

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[Neil S]

Our full size Dometic fridge with separate freezer compartment defrosted on the 24 hour crossing , we kept it on gas right up until we boarded and the internal freezer temp was -20 but it still defrosted and that was during the winter time . I asked if I could plug in to electric points on the car deck but was declined

 

[Theonlysue]

I've had hook up on this journey.

 

[busby]

I have just come back on the Santander to Portsmouth route and i forgot to turn the gas off on ours so it was on for the whole trip, we never got asked either to turn it off which is what usually prompts me. Come to think of it i dont recall turning it off on the way out either so again not asked. Of course it is not good to leave it on when on a boat.

Dangerous,,BUSBY,,

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[busby]

Shop every day in Spain so never buy frozen food when there. BUSBY,,

 

[Neil S]

I've had hook up on this journey.

which boat were you on ? did you just plug in or did you ask first

 

[Theonlysue]

I asked ehen i checked into port, as they put me on the side against the hull for the electric point. Think it was a French 2 pin fitting. They must do it for lorries carrying food.

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[PeteH]

Our full size Dometic fridge with separate freezer compartment defrosted on the 24 hour crossing , we kept it on gas right up until we boarded and the internal freezer temp was -20 but it still defrosted and that was during the winter time . I asked if I could plug in to electric points on the car deck but was declined

Ah! But you`r not an Retired Ex Chief Engineer!.

 

[PeteH]

They must do it for lorries carrying food.

They Are and (in my day) varied some where 440Volts (Big Red Plugs) some where 220Volts (Blue "Campsite" style). They are supposed NOT to be be live unless needed for refrigerator Trucks, But you could find most are!

We had one regular driver, who went to Finland, And every trip with us he would come and ask if someone could put him his Plug back on his cable. Never did find what he did that needed it removing!. I suspect he went places in Northern Europe where you just push the bare wires into a socket!. Any way he was usually good for a Box of Frozen Chickens!!

 

[Al-Di]

like @Theonlysue we asked and got plugged in, the guy behind followed suit on the boat
you need the continental adapter (2pin),

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[Littlewheels]

They don't ask for it to be turned off and no where on the website does it say turn it off, just saying.

 

[busby]

They don't ask for it to be turned off and no where on the website does it say turn it off, just saying.

Think there are no naked flame signs,,,,,It doesn't mention it for garage forecourts but it is highly risky to have a naked flame near petrol,,BUSBY

 

[PeteH]

Think there are no naked flame signs,,,,,It doesn't mention it for garage forecourts but it is highly risky to have a naked flame near petrol,,BUSBY

It`s one of those things easily overlooked, with modern Fridges automatically changing to the fuel choice dependant on conditions, so if it was on EHU when you left it would change to Gas, then 12V when the engine started back to Gas when you stop for Fuel. The ONLY (sure) way is to switch the frig OFF and run with doors closed and hope for the Best!. Most people take the "easier option" and leave it running (I suspect). "Guilty" M`Lud, I plead (age related) memory loss in mitigation.

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[jdk62]

Personally I wouldn't bother. We buy what ever we need when we get over there

 

[abforfun]

I look forward to hearing from you. Hope you have a calm crossing.

Our freezer was only half full and it had thawed a little but I'm sure it will be ok, think like others have said it would be better to fill the freezer

 

[Littlewheels]

Think there are no naked flame signs,,,,,It doesn't mention it for garage forecourts but it is highly risky to have a naked flame near petrol,,BUSBY

In reference to BF, sorry but there are no signs.

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