Well, the prototype got good reviews, especially from the truck driver who has to drag the loaded coolers in and out of the truck every trip. The only complaint had to do with how good the seal was–after opening and closing the cooler, the warm air that entered the cooler would chill off enough to contract and hold the lid shut. I decided that was more of an asset than a flaw. Anyhow, AzRA ordered four more this year, so last Thursday we fired up the Snotworks.
A couple days ago Janek noticed that on our prototype ChillyBin the fiberglass directly beneath the Boatman’s Bony Butt (BBB) has begun to delaminate from the foam from repeated flexing. We’re hoping to prevent that in the future by laminating in a sheet of plywood to better deflect the Butt Bone Impact (BBI).
Day five and the basic boxes are nearly complete, with the lids close to done. And Owen and I are itching to be done with the project. With luck these will be done in a couple more days and we can get back to boat work. AzRA is also buying four new Yeti coolers which will be evaluated alongside the ChillyBins. We are secretly hoping the Yetis win. Then we won’t have to engage in this wretched snottery again.
Meanwhile, our pathetic and fitful winter is giving way to spring. I have been worried that all our flower bulbs may have died–or at least had to go into counseling–due to our warm, arid winter punctuated with dumps of snow. The daffodils have tried four or five times to celebrate springtime only to be thumped into the earth by a snowfall and deep freeze. But the green swords are rising once again. The first stubborn crocus is about to bloom.
Sometimes the seal is caused by differential pressure, which occurs when crossing a mountain pass or descending a river. The air inside gets pulled out through the seal as you ascend, but it can't get pushed back in because lower pressure inside holds the seal ever tighter as you descend. I know of at least one rotomolded cooler manufacturer that uses a check valve for this reason. The simplest solution is to crack the drain valve before opening.
This comment has been removed by the author.