Off The Grid Freezer 12 Volt Sundanzer DCF 225

I’m more than happy to tell folks about a product that I purchased when it worked as advertised! In this case, it worked better than advertized which is VERY unusual! While refitting the R/V Cathy G we wanted to make the boat as energy efficient as possible. Installing 12 Volt battery banks to run appliances cuts down on generator time. Eventually we will recharge the battery banks with wind generators which will further cut down on diesel usage. A freezer is a must have for the type of marine services we offer, whether it is research support or boaters base camp or hunting base camp, we need a freezer. First we looked at propane freezers but having a full time propane appliance running on the boat even when we are off the boat makes me worry about a fire. Our other choice was 12 Volt. My first thought was it would be wimpy and take forever to freeze anything. The other concern was how much power it would use. So I did a web search and first looked at Norcold since my Norcold fridge/freezer has been very dependable for the last 6 years. They didn’t have a chest type freezer. Next was Sundanzer. Their model  DCF 225 chest freezer would fit the location I wanted to put it. The price for these 12 Volt freezers were of course much higher than an equivalent size 110V freezer so I wanted to check one out before forking out the money.  Since I have learned in the past not to go by on-line reviews only, I went to the nearest Sundanzer dealer which was Alaska Battery on East Potter Drive in Anchorage. I met with the owner and he named several outfits that were using them without any complaints. The freezer looked well built and was thick with insulation and I noticed the Electrolux logo on the lid handle. I did a little more research and found that Electrolux in Sweden make the cabinet. Electrolux has been manufacturing quality products as long as I can remember so I ordered the Sundanzer. It end up, with shipping, costing $1420 and took about a week to get to Anchorage. We got it on the boat, wired it in, turned it on and: nothing. I heard nothing. Opened the lid the light came on then I noticed frost forming but it didn’t make any noise. I’ve never had such a quiet freezer. Next came the big test: we loaded it up with a load of food and it took less time to freeze it than my 110V freezer of the same size! Now after a full season of use it still freezes faster than the old 110V freezer and is still quiet (I still regularly lift the lid to check if it is running!) As for the power consumption, we wired it to 6 X 6 Volt batteries. It runs for over a week without charging so there was no problem there. There are also lights on that circuit as well as the main fresh water supply pump. If I lived in a house I would run one these so I would not have worry about my food spoiling during a power outage, not to mention the power saving especially at Alaska’s electricity rates. Alaska Battery http://www.absak.com has been my choice for off grid supplies, the owner is very helpful and their prices are in line with what you find on the web. Their number is 1-907-562-4949

Matt

The best off grid water heater 1.15.13

Every once and while you run across a product worth talking about. For over 8 years we have lived on our research vessel the Cathy G. We are constantly improving the boat to be more energy efficient with less generator time. Last year we decided to switch to an on-demand hot water supply. First we looked at the more commonly purchased on-demand water heaters sold in Anchorage. Most of them required 110V power for ignition. There was one model that generated the power to ignite the burner with a small generator that ran off the water flow. These units were very expensive and had lots of bad reviews, mostly complaining about break downs and the costly repairs. Then I looked up an Italian model I used in the bush years ago. The company had changed hands and the new manufacturer was very proud of their water heater. It would have taken several years to recoup the costs. One thing that was common with all of these water heaters was that the parts were hard to get and they don’t honor the warranty unless a certified installer installed it - so you could not work on it yourself. Well that’s a problem if you live in the bush or on a boat. You need to be able to install and maintain it yourself or have a spare so you can have hot water while you ship out your heater to get repaired. The next water heater I checked out was an Eccotemp. They had one that used a couple of D batteries for the ignition and was supposed to operate with low water pressure. The other thing that attracted me to this water heater was that all the parts were cheap and listed on line. We purchased it through Amazon.com. This heater was a BIG disaster. The Eccotemp hot water heater would not stay lit longer than a few seconds. The company told me to over ride the high temp safety sensor to get it to stay on and it would still not stay lit. Next they said to increase the water flow and pressure. We went from 5.7 gallons per minute to 11 gallons per minute. The water pressure went from 60 psi to 80 psi (more pressure than in most homes in Alaska!) The Eccotemp was still 100% unreliable. It would shut down just after you started your shower and to get the burner started you had to turn on and shut off the water 10 times before it may start again. When it did run you could not turn on the cold water or the burner would shut off. After all was said and done, all the water supply modifications and extra pumps cost many times more than the Eccotemp and we still had no reliable hot water system. We were very disappointed with the company claiming their product is good for ‘off the grid’ use. Obviously they are just using the term ‘off the grid’ as a sales gimmick and of course they wouldn’t take it back. I continued my search for an affordable and reliable on demand water heater that didn’t need electricity and this is when I ran into an advert on Craigslist:

“On-demand 88000btu tankless water heater - endless hot water $349.00”

I called the Ketchikan, Alaska number:  907-617-6286. The owner Mr. Walker Pryor answered and I proceeded to grill him on all the short comings that the Eccotemp had. He pointed out that his water heaters were built with high quality parts and were used by people who truly lived off the grid. Happy with the answers I got from Mr. Pryor, I ordered one. When the water heater arrived in a few days, I switched back to my old 5.7 gpm pump and installed the heater. In my research, I had heard of debris clogging the inlet screen on these types of water heaters so I installed a screen filter, the type used for pressure washers, they are clear and easy to clean. Right off the bat, this machine performed as advertised with no shut downs. You can turn on the cold water at the same time as the hot and the burner keeps going. It also has extra temperature settings for the seasons which I have never seen on any of the other water heaters plus it displays the output water temperature which is very handy. With the standard burner temperature control and water flow valve you can fine tune the water temperature. Since we installed this water heater we have had a large research group on board, numerous hunting groups and many groups of Alaskan boaters stay on board. We have had no problems with this water heater – it performed perfectly - some guests said the water was hotter than their shower at home. The only electricity it uses is 2 D cell batteries and we use a Shurflo 12 volt 5.7 gpm pump. I highly recommend Alaska Tankless Hot Water Heater LLC.

 
Oh and the Eccotemp water heater - I gave it away to a backpacking hostel! I hope you International backpackers enjoy the invigorating and refreshing showers supplied with endless glacier water - but before showering, please familiarize yourself with the treatment for hypothermia.

Matt

Prince William Sound Shrimping Spring 2013 1.2.2013

Getting to the last of the seasons shrimp in the freezer? Time now to plan next year’s shrimping adventure! I switched to the 37 inch diameter ladner stackable shrimp pots and noticed an increase in the amount of shrimp I harvested. The stackable pots were very handy when transporting as they didn’t take much room on the deck and were quick to empty and redeploy. I got a good deal on my pots, lines, buoys and bait at Donalson Company in Anchorage www.donalsoncompany.net Donalson Company also has lead line which I use to weight my pots so they will stay put and not drift off to the deep with the currents. For bait I prefer the pellets that Donalson Company carries. I’ve tried the canned cat food and fish carcasses but they attracted lots of fish, snails and crabs which either ate or ran off the shrimp. The only intruders I get now are the occasional octopus which we keep for dinner. If it eats good, then its good eating and they been eating my shrimp! For the 2013 shrimp season Aquetec LLC will have the Prince William Sound Lodging Boat R/V Cathy G based near the entrance of Culross Passage. We have 4 state rooms each with a double and a single bed. Rooms rent out for $150 per room per night. That’s $75 per person if you bring your own food and cook your own meals. We know many Alaskans love to cook and entertain their friends and family. Alternatively you can have meals provided at $65 a day per person that includes breakfast, box lunch to take with you on your boat and dinner. The galley on the Research Vessel Cathy G is full size and stocked with all the cookware needed and is equipped with a 30 inch wide gas range and a BBQ. The R/V Cathy G weighs nearly 100 tons and is very stable and comfortable with plenty of open deck and a 7 foot wide fish cleaning table for you to process your fish and shrimp on. There is a full sized bathroom with endless hot showers. After a night on our boat you’ll feel fully rested and refreshed, ready for a full day of fishing and shrimping. You can check out photos of the boat on our website: www.princewilliamsoundhunting.com

Don’t have your own boat? No problem, we operate Whittier Water Taxi with the Bayhawk which is a 31 foot Bay Weld boat designed to land on shore with heated cabin. It is Alaskan built for Alaskan waters. Aquetec LLC will be offering overnight shrimping tours for those of you who don’t have a boat. Our overnight shrimping glacier viewing tours are based off the R/V Cathy G and include lodging. During the day we deploy the shrimp pots then visit some of the local glaciers. We often see whales, Dall’s porpoise, northern sea otters and a large variety of sea birds on these tours. In the evenings, enjoy the comforts of the R/V Cathy G with home cooked Alaskan dinners - shrimp will be on the menu of course! This is a great tour for you and your out of State guests. We have many local Alaskans who return every year with their friends and relatives. This tour fills up quickly - unlike most boat tours in Alaska, ours is a personal tour with only your group aboard and we tailor the tour to what you want to see. More info on the shrimping glacier tour will be posted on our next web site update on www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com  or call Heidi for more details (907) 362 1290.

Matt

Prince William Sound Oysters 11.15.12

Alaskan oysters are the best and Perry Island has got them for sale. We called up ‘Royal Wave One’ on the VHF last week and picked up a few dozen oysters to make my favorite oyster stew. Growing up on the Oregon coast our Dad would take us to the historic Oyster Bar in the old part of Portland. I would always order the oyster stew. Having acquired a taste for oysters at a young age, I enjoy sampling oysters everywhere I travel. The next best oysters to the Alaskan oysters, that I’ve tasted, are the Knysna oyster in South Africa. In Knysna we rented an oyster boat and sampled 6 different types of oysters grown in that area, while driving around the oyster farms in the Knysna lagoon. There we found an oyster very much like the Alaskan oysters except with the warm waters of the Indian ocean they would go into spawning cycle later in the summer. Just like oysters from the lower 48, when they go into the spawn, their flesh turns white and fluffy and tastes like an old dish rag. Anyone trying oysters for the first time slurps down one of these spawning oysters, they will swear off oysters for ever – yuck! Unfortunately most the upscale restaurants in Alaska serve lower 48 oysters, even when they’re spawning. When I order oysters, I always ask if they are Alaskan. Most will tell you if they are. But beware, I have been told they were Alaskan and was then served spawning oysters in Anchorage and Seward. Alaskan oysters don’t spawn as a result of the cold water, so if you get spawned oysters, send them back. Restaurants should tell you where their seafood comes from, especially shellfish. Of all the restaurants that I have sampled oysters at, only one did the waiter tell us that it wasn’t a good time to order the oysters because they were spawning. That was at a restaurant on the Victoria Waterfront in Cape Town Harbor, South Africa called Quay Four. I was shocked and impressed, never had a waiter ever warned me of the quality of their oysters. However, you don’t have to travel around the world to get the best oysters - just to Perry Island in Prince William Sound. Give them a call on Channel 16 on the VHF. There call sign is ‘Royal Wave One’ and they will meet you at the oyster barge. The couple working the farm this year has brought the quality of the oysters up - we noticed the oysters are much cleaner than before. Remember to bring cash. Enjoy!
Matt

Alaskan Boaters Base Camp 9.8.12

We have moved to Shotgun cove for a few days so we can catch up on e-mails. We are transporting hunters this weekend with the water taxi and next week we will return to Culross cove. We still have rooms available for this weekend. Often boaters waiting to launch in Whittier see our notices posted in the window of the Aquetec suburban parked next to the launch waiting zone. We try to keep our current location posted there. You can contact us on the VHF: the base camp boat is the Cathy G and the water taxi boat is Bayhawk or call us on the cell 3621290 and 3621291. A Labor Day weekend storm really put the dampers on everyone’s holiday weekend: many boats holed up most of the weekend dragging anchor all night. We had a couple of boats tied up to the Cathy G at the last minute so they could get a rest from having to tend their boats all night. We met some new friends - it is great hearing everyone’s experiences boating around the sound. There are so many boaters who have been playing in the sound for over twenty years and now their kids have boats and are visiting the same places they went while growing up. Alaska is really a small place when it comes to Alaskans - when we meet folks, after a while you realize they know someone you have known for years. The folks we met last weekend started out exploring jackpot bay when their kids were little and their only boat was a raft. Now Mom and Dad have their own boat kitted out for them and their dog and the kids have their own skiff to explore the sound. We also got to spend time with a couple who had a Tolman boat that they built themselves. They also have spent many years boating in Prince William Sound. The Tolman was their third one they built and the great craftsmanship really showed.

Check out our Base Camp Boat details on:

http://www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com/boaters-base-camp.html

Alaska Boaters Base Camp 8.12.12

We are back in Louis Bay, Knight Island with flat seas and blue skies. What a great time we had at Glacier Island with the Alaska SeaLife Center sea lion capture crew. The Alaska SeaLife Center was capturing Steller sea lions to collect data on the health of the Prince William Sound sea lion population. They also attached satellite tracking devises that will give vital information to researchers. On this research cruise we had Jeff Corwin of Ocean Mysteries with his film crew documenting the sea Lion research. Jeff and his crew were also great fun to work with. The R/V Cathy G proved to be an excellent base camp for the research team to work off of. There are lots of boaters cruising the sound right now chasing salmon, ling cod and halibut. Deer season is open and we are hearing several boaters on the radio reporting deer sightings on the beaches. A few days ago a commercial fishing boat reported seeing a group of deer swimming between the islands. The good weather has hung around for a week now and it looks like the next few days will be nice too. We still have rooms available for this week. The last group  did very well on the lingcod and rockfish as well as halibut and they found our 7 foot fish cleaning table very handy. Check out  www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com  for more info on the Alaskan Boaters Base Camp or call (907) 362 1291.

Alaska Vacation Planning 3.27.12

Alaska 2012 – Are you planning a trip of a life time but you don’t want to do any of those industrial touristy tours? You know, where everyone is herded around like cattle and you have to elbow your way to the front to get a view; standing in line to go to the bathroom or waiting for stragglers to get on the bus? Then there is a crowd holding up everything you do. All the services are over whelmed such as restaurants that are maxed out with stressed out servers. You end up waiting until you are starved then pay top price and get served a meal that rates along with your old high school cafeteria. When you get home you show off your photos and everyone guesses where each photo was taken because millions have taken the same cattle tours with the same photos. Unfortunately this is the case for most that come to Alaska. They read all those big dollar ads and are fooled into believing that’s the best way to see Alaska. They couldn’t be further from the truth. First of all those who take the industrial tour route find themselves  spending their time waiting for others , riding buses for hours, and riding trains for most of a day in each direction . You end up spending a lot of your valuable vacation time commuting. I would think most would have had enough of commuting back at home. Paying top price for a marginal experience mostly seen through a bus window or from a train doesn’t seem like a good vacation. My recommendations: first choose what you want see and experience while here. Remember Alaska covers a vast area, so unless you plan to spend a month or more here, you won’t have enough time to see everything you want. I have lived here for over 26 years and still haven’t seen everything. Next, what kind of experience do you want? Some seek a true wilderness experience where you leave the crowds and the road system behind. Others have a check list of major attractions that are must sees. You can make your once in life time Alaska vacation a truly great experience with a little research. For those who don’t have the time or patience to do the research there are small local Alaskan businesses that can plan and book your trip using other small local Alaska businesses. Going small and local means you are dealing with Alaskans that are not supportive of industrial tourism, as opposed to large out of state corporations, run by people that seldom set foot in Alaska. These small businesses know who offers good service and who has the best deal. They are also much better at matching up the customers desires with the best local Alaska business.  If this sounds like what you are looking for, check out www.sewardalaskaadventuretours.com . If an Alaska coastal adventure is what you are looking for check out www.princewilliamsoundlodging.com. We will custom tailor your Alaskan adventure to you! No waiting in line, no crowds, far from civilization, close to the wildlife.  We are a local small business and proud of it.