Cost of a Freezer - Forums Archive

Abundance

2012-04-18 16:04:03

I kind of like those hatch mounted blast freezers. I've worked around their kind before, and a guy can take some things apart and rearrange the parts to better fit your hold. And they can get mighty cold. I was wanting to get a new system, rather than repurposing an old one. I have seen the amount of problems some people have with trying to keep their old freezer working on a regular basis. The hold that I have to work with is much smaller than normal, so the system wouldn't have to be too powerful. I basically would just be freezing shrimp, coming to town and offloading every few days. I know some boats that use a big deck mounted freezer for this, but I don't like what that would do to my stability. A boat capsized off of Grindall a few years back because of one. I actually have access to an old blast freezer unit, maybe I should experiment with that before I get into something brand new. I know of one guy who was thinking about taking the innards out of a high quality chest freezer, so I know that there is some innovation going on.

islands50

2012-04-19 13:46:53

It appears your have done your home work, around here on th shrimp boats they are useing a combiation system of brine and freezer, but that is on the gulf boats, I think I would try that blast system you hae located, if it works then you got it if not then you have not spent a lot of money. You may want to check out WWW.truckpaper.com, or the trailer trader, my little salesman, and a few other pubs, good luck and let me know how it worked out for you.

AKFISHER

2012-04-19 15:57:28

Since were talking Shrimp how would I freeze them with a Plate freezer system? Put them in boxes first I cant imagine setting the directly on plates? I am considering buying a Pot Prawn Permit.

islands50

2012-04-19 20:26:38

here on the gulf coast The use a brine system to do the intnal chilling/ freezing then into the hold. but I would think that the blast would do the same thing, I did see that hatch mounted unit that was talked about in an earler posting dosent look too difcault to put together depending on the vessel

AKFISHER

2012-04-19 23:16:03

Abundance, were you thinking of freezing yoir salmon also? Hiw much more money per pound on Cohos for example do you make on freezer vs slush or ice?

Abundance

2012-04-19 23:55:22

It makes me nervous to think about putting a box of shrimp on a plate freezer also, but the Canadians do huge amounts of shrimp like that in the heat of the summer, so it must work just fine. Brine freezing works well for fish, but it won't work for the way we box and freeze our shrimp. I don't really plan on freezing salmon, as the profit seems to be not worth the hassle when you factor in the extra fuel and need for more deckhands, but it would be good to have the option if the value of frozen cohos picks up again. My uncle freezes cohos, but at the end of the season we have been coming out the same, income wise. One point of having a freezer would be the freedom to explore some niche fisheries. I was once told by a buyer that he would pay me a very good price for frozen black rockfish, for example. And I knew an Asian buyer that wanted to buy frozen cod, also at a fair price. With the product frozen, they would have the ability to shop it around and find good markets without the fear of the fish spoiling if it isn't sold right now. It would definitely be something to do when other fisheries are slow. Another question, off topic, whats it like down on the Gulf Coast, islands50? How did a trolling man end up there? I've always wanted to go fishing down that way.

islands50

2012-04-20 09:21:48

I ended up down here about 04, and actually was not even thinking about fishing but more to be able to afford costal proptery, and get away from the high taxes in Calif. among other reasons. Then a few years ago I got the bug to go fishing full time, and started doing my homework, this was left over from when I was stationed at Ft Ord, in Monterey and lived in Moss Landing. How can one not get the fishing bug when you live in the middle of a bunch of fishermen??

I have been looking into the Tuna side of trolling, seems from what I can find, no one is targeting Yellow fin in the gulf other then the sports side of the spectrum. Yet having said that, talking to the fish mongers, along the gulf states, they are more then willing to buy at a premium price, which makes me excited of course.

The biggest problem I have in this area is locating a suitable vessel, either they are of too shallow design and or just too damned big, yet one has to remember the main fishery along the gulf is Shrimp, so the mid sized vessels 40-60 ft, are all way over powered, and eat fuel like there is no tomorrow.

So in the mean time I have been doing oversize load escort, and get into all of the ports along the Gulf coast, thank goodness for a TWIC card that i can also, when waiting on a load, slip into the yards and look around. That also has one other advantage, My connections in the trucking side of distribution opens up, the ability to off load in Texas, with lower taxes, and fuel costs, then move the product to market.

Saying all of that there are disadvantages also, The weather plays into it with hurricane season, and a few other things yet when I place all of the factors together I feel good about it.

charger

2012-04-20 19:28:30

I just installed an IMS blast freezer rated at 3500 lbs a day, decide how much product and how quickly you need it frozen. I was told you cant freeze it too fast, quicker makes ice crystals smaller and a better product. As for unit size everyone said overkill is good, the worst thing that could happen is your unit will sickle off sooner. Now you need to have your hold inspected for enough isolation, it was recommended to have at least 6 inches, including hatches, shaft access they can freeze and sink you. Insure the space is air tight and existing insulation is not water logged again freezing causes expansion cracking boards, fiberglass separation. Next figure out what your existing power source is rated at, more is better, three phase is smother on load changes and more reliable, equipment lasts longer. In my case I had to upgrade generator electrical end to 3 phase and larger KW rating, the larger unit was recommended because the larger rotor give unit more centrifugal force due to its mass, again making generator load changes almost unnoticed, no lights dimming. I was able to reuse prime mover saving money and installation expense. Next measure usable hold space, make good drawlings of existing layout, bins, access to voids, wire and hose runs. Then make drawling of what you invision, fan unit location, freezer shelving, storage bins, where to glaze. I recommend making a flow chart from start to finish from catching, cleaning, transfer to hold, placing on plate, glazing, to storage. You will need this for your processors permit anyways. The less handling and moving of your product makes less work and task completion easer. Then look at already completed boats, all skippers enjoy showing off their girls, pick their minds prows/cons of their operation. They have already made the mistakes you are about to. I went with Inirgrated Marine (IMS) due to all the recommendations I received from fellow skippers. They help you size, designee, fabricate, and supply instillation. One stop shopping. Only order your equipment in Sept,or October they will need time to build and ship, during the spring and summer forget it they are overloaded. Otherwise great company. It cost me $36,000.00 for 3500# unit condensing/fan units. It was recommended not to use hatch mount unit on my application, hatch mounts don't hold up well in Alaskan weather, they are meant for indoor storing in ther winter. (cont)

charger

2012-04-20 19:58:24

I also installed IMS extruded aluminum freezer plates as my freezer shelving, the idea is to pull more btu's directly from product contacting them.

Added 4 inches of insulation to hold, and hatch $12,000.00

EQUIPMENT EXPENSE 3500# unit, water pump, plumbing, copper tubing, refrigerant, hull penetrations, hangers, extruded freezing plates, all added up to about $40,000.00. shipping $1000.00 to Sitka. We completed installation of condensing unit, fan unit, shelving at welder cost of $5000.00. IMS field mechanic was $160.00 an hour included travel, rental car, hotel, peridium. he completed all electrical, refrigeration piping, evacuation, charging, testing in five days total $10,000.00

Im sorry I rambled on so, I thing my process might help your project go smother for you. I did have a couple problems, I had shelving built by IMS to save on local labor and materials, they didn't fit and paid twice as much to have them rebuilt in place. If I had to do it again I would take the boat to Seattle to complete insulation, and equipment installation, I would have saved a load of money and time. Good luck

Abundance

2012-04-21 04:51:39

Dang! I guess that is the information that I needed to know. A guy had better make some serious profit to make getting a freezer installed a good idea. I guess that I could get a state loan, go down south for a while to get things put together. I have been looking at the freezers systems that different people are using, but maybe I should be looking at all of the work that they put into it. Thanks for all the good info, I will save this page for future reference. And island50, I think that you have one of the more exiting ideas that I have heard for a while. I have looked at boats in the gulf before, since they are comparatively dirt cheap to buy, and I couldn't find one that didn't require a massive refit to make a troller out of. I think that some people have shipped trollers across the nation before, and I know of a few east coast lobster boats on this side, so a guy can get move boats around on land somehow. I don't know how hard it would be to take a boat around through Panama, but I that people do it. You would definitely stand out in the local fleet, that's for sure.

islands50

2012-04-21 11:32:41

Yes finding the suitable hull is the most important part in my idea, and the project still needs refinement, as in any bussness venture, The offshore Lobster boats are really too big, for this, the inshore boats would take as you have stated, a great deal of modifactions, the same with the shrimp boats. not to mention a large portion of them are bay boats and not suitable for offshore fishing. The largest catch 22 I am finding though, is now Alantic tuna permits are once again available, but you have to have a vessel to get one. the HMS permit is no problem at all. then there is the gear, I am still waiting on feedback on that, some how Trolling is not on the list of fishing gear they know about, yet remember I am looking at something the officals are not familur with either.

I do love this forum, the information passed all is priceless.

Islands