I am looking at the Port Huron to Mac in 2012. Looking for Dry Ice suggestions and Stove usage suggestions. I would like to at least heat water for instant cofee. Has anyone fabricated rails for pot clamps for the stove? How do I protect the Ice Box from Dry ice damage?

I'm not voting for dry ice if you think the cabin is going to be closed in .. if weather gets rough. Ice out of a freezer can be zero. CO2 generated pushed into bilge?

Don,
my boat is the newer style and came with an Origo two burner canister style stove. It has two pot clamps that mount on a rail that runs along the front of the stove. they are held in place with a thumb screw.

I've done the Port/Huron to Mac three time - but never on my J/30. Did it once on a Hobie 33 - talk about an uncomfortable and wet ride. No hot meals, no hot coffee. Skipper even wanted us to drink lake water and not bring beer.

Here's my reccomendation. It gets cold at night on that race, if possibe try to serve at least one hot meal a day and have the ability to serve hot coffee.
The ice box is plenty big, I suggest two blocks and one bag of ice. for the blocks, fill gallon jugs with water and freeze it before. that way you'll have ice and water. That should get you through 3 days and 2 nights. Take another big cooler for beer, again use frozen gallon jugs of water for ice. If you put blocks or cubes in the cooler when the ice melts the water can spill out when the boat is heeled or pounding through waves.

I work in Novi and have customers over in Oxford. Maybe we can get together for lunch or a beer some time.

I agree frozen waters are best. I am very happy with how well ice lasts in this box
I need to fab some type of rail for the stove. There are holes 2 on each side where it could(was) mount. I have pot holders with thumb screws. Just need a rail
In my past 10 macs we had an oven and ate well. Lasagne and Pasties. I need to figure out a menu using this stovetop for hot food. Hot is very important.
Open to suggestions

Meeting would be great
248-701-5641 cell
248-693-0229 home
Try both

I've done deliveries at night with crew who helped when it was cold. It's amazing how hot Chef Boy RD pasta from the can tastes like a gourmet meal. Easy to cook on the grill top in a sauce pan. Italian bread buttered and warmed in the grill in aluminum foil make it a real treat.

I've also done beanie weanies from the can. Again, if it's hot, and the weather is cold, everyone loves the taste!

I have an 9 cup aluminum percolator I can put on the cook top to make real coffee. Buy the coffee in the filter bags and cleanup is a snap. Walmart has these coffee pots online.

I can attest that the J30 has a great ice box. Madcap has done 3 Macs (2 solo and one double-handed) and a Hook. I usually leave the dock with one big clear block of ice and a couple bags, and finish with ice to spare.

I agree warm meals are key. My alcohol stove has pot clamps that came with the boat.

No need for dry ice though I have used it many times in Macs on other boats. Just be careful what you put next to it. Ive seen hardboiled eggs turn into ping pong balls

I have a pressure cooker, not because I need to cook stuff from raw, but its a sealed container on the stove, in case its rough, which has saved me alot up and down the Carib, between islands its always like that. The sealed pot heats with less stove alcohol. It can be used as an "oven", can bake bread. I think mine is a Futura, aluminum, so light, and the right size to wedge on the Origo. Don't hesitate on the size, thinking its too big... as that makes it easier to secure.

I have heard that Tecni- Ice can be frozen down to dry ice temps. and can be reused.