Fridge

Hi, we are going on the ferry next week to bilboa 24hr crossing.  Will the fridge keep cool enough for that length of time.  Any tips would be appreciated. Paul.

Hi Paul

Get it as cold as you can immediately before you have to switch the gas off - that's fairly obvious. 

Fill it to capacity - with anything solid if you don't want to completely fill it with food. Water is good, in bottles or thick plastic bags to leave as little free air space as possible.

Don't open the door any more than you have to.

It will last. 

You could freeze those bottles of water and that will keep the contents cold while travelling.

Yes indeed Paul. I also suggested plastic bags so they can be gently pushed into place while still liquid, making it possible to fill any irregular shaped spaces.

I should have said (thanks for the heads up  ) get the fridge as cold as possible on 240 volt before you set out. 12 volts will keep it cold en route to the port, and if there's a long wait then gas can be used for the last hour or so before boarding.

It's all about filling it as full as possible with substances which have a high thermal capacity. Water does - air doesn't. 

This is a quote from a recent post by IanH......

"We tried an experiment last trip to Spain, 25 hr ferry, no poss power to fridge. We froze a 2 lts bottle of water at home and left it in the freezer compartment, night stop pre ferry, no EHU, 25 hrs on ferry, bottle about half frozen on arrival in Spain. Drove circa 100miles to first N/S, bottle totally frozen on arrival!!
AND it stayed that way for 18 days in Spain and was only half frozen after the return 25hr ferry then the drive back to here!!"

We don’t usually bother on either the 24 or 36 hour crossing. We don’t usually have much beyond the odd bits and pieces left over at home before turning off the domestic fridge and some milk but I often take our first night meal, frozen, with us. It is usually still frozen when I get it out shortly after arrival in Spain. We usually do a pre-ferry overnight at either Port Solent or the ferry terminal when the fridge is on gas and find it is colder then than on 240V.

Thankyou for all your advice regarding the fridge,  it's been very helpful.  Thanks Paul.

Frozen milk stays cold  .

Maybe I’m wrong but are you not able to plug in on the ferry have seen quite a few doing it

Sunbeam wrote:Maybe I’m wrong but are you not able to plug in on the ferry have seen quite a few doing it

We’ve travelled on all of the BF ships to either Spain and France and have never been offered a hook up or seen people hooked up. I imagine if you had medical supplies in the fridge you could request parking near a hook up point but for ordinary passengers you have to take your chance where you are parked on the ferry.

Greek ferries yes, we have always had a hook up. Very useful when taking the camping on deck option as the hook ups are 16 amp and you can cook and boil kettles.

buy fresh stuff in Spain?