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Nikki Wynn snorkeling off the back of a sailboat in moorea

Our Fridge Died But The Water Is Cool

We arrived in beautiful and exotic Moorea just in time for our fridge to die.  And, according to Jason, we’re going to die too if we eat the food inside.  Gasp!

Our built in fridge has been ill for months so we knew it would go eventually. And while a dead fridge is a bummer, we’re too excited to be bummed.

We’re surrounded by dramatic volcanic landscapes and floating on a kaleidoscope of blue. It’s a suburb of coral and our neighbors are Mr. Ray, Lady Poisson and Monsieur Shark.

It’s a classic example of #BoatLife and everyone’s favorite sailing definition: Fixing things in exotic locations.

And…a perfect example of why it’s all worth it.

Not that we haven’t had a mountain of incredible experiences so far in French Polynesia, we have. But this view and this underwater world has me in my happy place!

striking drone shot of moorea french polynesia

sailboat crashing through the waves outside of the barrier reef in moorea french polynesia

sailing vessel curiosity at anchor in moorea french polynesia

artsy shot of fins in the water on the back of sailboat

nikki and jason wynn loving the snorkeling in moorea french polynesia

sting ray and rays of light in french polynesia

jason wynn snorkeling through rays of light in french polynesia

Nikki Wynn snorkeling coral garden in moorea french Polynesia

We haven’t been in an area with clear waters, vibrant sea life and healthy coral since Panama.

Ecuador was stunning, but they don’t have much reef outside of the Galapagos (which we had to skip). The Marquesas have jaw dropping landscapes but the waters are known to be murky and don’t have fringing reef.  Unfavorable weather and a nasty allergic reaction had us sail past the Tuamotu’s, which are said to have some of the best underwater life in the world.

So, to say we’re excited to be surrounded by barrier reef, coral heads and marine life would be an understatement. And that kind of happy makes dealing with issues like a broken fridge seem microscopic. (Having a spare doesn’t hurt either).

Which brings me to one of the many life lessons sailing has taught me:

No problem is insurmountable if you are in the right frame of mind.

All the more reason to find your happy.

 

jason wynn showing temp gun and broken sailboat fridge

Why Did The Fridge Die?

As Jason mentioned in the video, we’ve had trouble with the fridge since the day we bought the boat.  It frosts over like crazy and doesn’t like to hold a steady temperature.  We had a sailboat fridge professional service it in Ft. Lauderdale, we added additional seals, fans and insulation, yet nothing seems to make a difference.  Now we’re assuming we have a refrigerant leak, or possibly worse.  We’ve emailed Sea Frost (the mfr.) pics and a full description to get their advice.  We’ll share what we learn next week.

Until then, we’re super happy we have redundancy with our portable fridge/freezers!

Snomaster: gonewiththewynns.com/product/best-portable-fridge-or-freezer

(Snomaster is offering a 7% discount for all GWTW fans!  Just use discount code: WYNNS at checkout.)

Dometic: https://amzn.to/2so8YMj

 

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?  WANT TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT?

A virtual escape can be just what you need some days.  But ultimately, we want you to create a life you don’t feel the need to escape from.  We share in hopes of helping you find the information or inspiration you need to live your adventure.

If you like what you see, there are lots of FREE ways you can show your support.  Thank you for being a part of the journey.

 

RESOURCES & GEAR IN THIS VIDEO

Temperature Gun (super handy for a variety of projects):  https://amzn.to/2VRfAAn

Vanilla Black Teahttps://amzn.to/2D80mzp

Best Deck Chairs: gonewiththewynns.com/product/best-portable-chair

Camera Gear

Freediving / Snorkeling Gear

Nikki

Jason

AWESOME tunes for vids: http://bit.ly/artlist-gwtw

  • Artists Used In This Video: Giants and Pilgrims, Oliver Michael, Rex Banner, Josh Leake

SAILING REPORT

To see our full map with interactive pins, click here: gonewiththewynns.com/map

adventures sailing around moorea map

  • Dates: July 22 – 25, 2018
  • Anchorage: Outside of Te’avaro, Moorea, French Polynesia

Hello there! I honestly don’t know what to say, so I am going to tell you a bunch of random facts instead. I'm a fish eating vegetarian who hates spiders and loves snakes. I almost never took vacations growing up. I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking (still do). I misspell about every other word I write and still struggle with grammar. I love splurging on a good high tea (which is really hard to find these days). And whatever you do, don’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I'll HAVE to do it!

Comments (46)

  • Jo Annie Bonneau

    😍😍 love your videos, you guys are great. We appreciate your videos and adventures. Can’t find the words!

    reply
  • Judy

    I am really enjoying watching your sailing adventures. You’re both so fun, so likable and a great pair who really know how to produce great videos. I always feel like you are talking just to us as though we are right on the boat. My husband and I have done a fair amount of sailing but are older now so this extends our adventures. Positive, smart, fun and you laugh a lot! “Keep on sailing, enjoying your youth and producing great videos! We’re hooked! We are amazed at how much you’ve learned and how hard you work.

    reply
  • Michael

    I also recommend the Danfoss compressors. I have been told that they are the latest thing because of the high efficiency and quiet operation. I would consider them as a basis for a rebuild of the built-in fridge. URL is at https://www.danfoss.com/en/products/compressors/dcs/compressors-for-refrigeration/mobile-dc-cooling-compressors/#tab-overview

    Good luck.

    reply
  • Joyce H Guthrie

    I love your videos and greatly appreciate the time it takes to make them and find enough band width to post them! I just have one small comment. Maybe it has been addressed, maybe not. All of us are following you to live vicariously through all the wonderful places you visit and we can SEE where you are but we can’t FEEL it…so would you consider saying, at least once per video, what the ambient temperature is of where you are visiting, please? I know in my mind it is sunny and tropical, but knowing temps can help a person better understand and appreciate the locale, I think. Thanks for all you do!

    reply
  • John Jones

    I am not a beer drinker, but everyone that visits me in Panama says that the national beer “no es bueno”. Might not wnt to drink that, even if it stayed cold!

    reply
  • Tom

    What is the brand/model of the stainless steel freezer you keep outside? Just exatcly what I am looking for

    reply
    • Curious Minion

      There is a link to the Snomaster in the text of the blog post.

      reply
  • tim kormos

    what made you fall out of love with the Engil?

    reply
    • Curious Minion

      They never had an Engel that I’m aware of. In this video there’s a Snomaster and a Dometic. They talk about what they do & don’t like about each in the video.

      reply
  • Mike

    Wow another awesome post from the Wynns! Quick question please. Where did you keep the boat in Ecuador? We are headed that way and are getting crazy high quotes for moorings and slips.

    reply
    • Laurence Phillips

      Hi Mike, at both locations they anchored, no docking except maybe a short bit for maintenance at Salinas

      reply
  • Scott Goorman

    Just wondering. What brand is the refrigerator that you had in your cockpit?

    reply
    • Curious Minion

      That is the Snomaster mentioned in the post. There’s a link with a discount code in the post too.

      reply
  • betsy ionta

    Beautiful colors! Great update! Always look forward to our Sunday videos..Safe travels.

    Who is curious minion ? 🙂

    reply
    • Curious Minion

      Curious Minion is the Wynns trusty assistant, because all supervillains need a Minion! I’ve been helping them for years but now that they’re in “challenging internet connectivity land” I’m more visible. I answer when I can to get you all the speediest responses possible.

      reply
      • betsy ionta

        Ahh! Well we are glad you are here! 🙂

        reply
        • Curious Minion

          Thanks Betsy! I love my job and Wynn fans.

          reply
  • Yvan

    Beautiful underwater images – really. Thanks a million for sharing (again).

    reply
  • Alan Solomon

    Great video. The drone footage captured me. Spectacular water from above and below. Great scenery.

    I am curious, in your boating travels do you come across a lot of healthy, colorful, vibrant coral in places like this? Or do you see more gray and drab color?

    Thanks,

    reply
  • Jonah

    Hi Nikki and Jason
    You should check out the Isotherm 12 volt fridge also.
    Hope to make it to your location sometime

    reply
  • Dan Foye

    Thank you for taking the time to shoot and edit this video. I really enjoyed it, especially the underwater clips. Beautiful! I appreciate the number of separate free dives and commensurate breath holding it took to get all those shots. I’ll be following along to find out how the fridge issue gets resolved. Thanks again!

    reply
  • Boyd Smith

    Impressive drone flying Nikki.

    reply
  • Norman Frenk

    another excellent video! Loved how you opened with “moldy cheese”!!

    reply
  • Mike

    Fun video as always. I noticed in the write-up, you linked to the Sony RX10. I know you’ve been using sony’s Interchangeable lenses cameras for a while and wondered having come over from that what you thought of there “all in one” format camera. I’m considering it as an all purpose travel friendly camera to add to my kit. Thanks in advance of your thoughts!

    reply
      • Mike

        Thanks for the feedback. I only hesitate due the the price tag on it, but I think it really is the 80-90% solution to most of my shooting. I’m not sure the extra 10 or so percent I can squeeze out of my interchangeable lens set up is worth the hassle sometimes while traveling (both in terms of weight and complexity of use). I look forward to your next updated photo/video gear review videos in the future to hear your and Jason’s thoughts (although I may have one of my own by then!). Enjoy your travels.

        reply
  • Marianne Edwards

    Always love your posts and admire your no-matter-what positivity. Just wanted to let you know the Snowmaster link is broken. Having RV fridge problem ourselves and wanted to use your link to look it up. Looking for snorkeling gear as well and I know you’ll have done the research and we can trust your choices. Good luck with the fridge.

    reply
    • Curious Minion

      Working on the link now!

      reply
  • Pam McClure

    That was brings tears of joy to my eyes beautiful.

    reply
  • mary vancompernolle

    Beautiful! It is pretty spectacular under the water as well as the anchorage! Thanks for sharing the beauty on this cold day in Dallas. Hugs to you both!

    reply
  • Lou Franks

    Snomaster portable link seems dead.
    Love your blog, have followed you since you started your RV adventures!

    reply
  • Roger B

    Again, I love the drone videos and photos. The water is so clear it reminds me of fresh water in Lake Tahoe and the vibrant color of salt water sea life is so vivid. Looking forward to how the non functioning fridge is solved. Thank you for the great video.

    reply
  • Art Mulder

    Did you both really complain about it being cold in this video?!? But… Tahiti!!!

    Thanks for sharing your adventures. It’s fun to check in once a week.

    reply
  • Bill

    Really enjoy your program, crammed full of great information. I am considering purchasing a drone. How was the experience learning about yours? Any and all information you could pass alone will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Bill

    reply
  • BC

    Your link to the Snowmaster returns a “not found” message.

    reply
  • Lynda

    Great way to start my day, snorkeling with Nikki & Jason! Beautiful footage, assume the Rays leave you alone if you leave them alone? Also, you state above you had to skip the Galapagos. Is anchorage not allowed/encouraged? – OjaiLynda

    reply
    • Curious Minion

      Hi Lynda. Rays are totally non-aggressive. Injuries to people only happen when contact is accidental (like you step on them or get too close and they feel threatened). As for the Galapagos, it is a very pristine environment because it’s so remote. To keep it pristine, they are very particular about making sure all boats coming in have thoroughly cleaned hulls. For the Wynns to go it would have meant hauling Curiosity out of the water to have the bottom cleaned and repainted (because anti-fouling hull paint wears out over time and Curiosity is due for repainting) and the logistics of a haul-out were just too much at the time.
      Curious Minion

      reply
  • Greg Illes

    Hey folks,
    You’ve likely already done a TON of research, but so have I, so I’ll share —
    The Vitrifrigo and Novakool lines of mobile refrigerators are well-designed and -reviewed. More importantly, they both use the Danfoss 12V compressor, time-proven and efficient. This style of fridge is much easier on your power budget, because with its 12V-direct operation, it doesn’t require the overhead of an inverter. Both vendors make a bunch of different sizes.

    Of course, you have to get to somewhere that a replacement could be shipped…

    Keep on having fun, I love your posts.

    reply
    • Alex Sudnikowicz

      Is the fridge they have run on inverter? They’d have to run new wiring most likely (and at minimum rewire the circuit to the 12v system) – much higher amps at lower voltages, require thicker cable, even if it is more efficient.

      reply
  • Mark

    Hello to the Wynn’s, have you considered an air to water conversion machine that produces fresh drinking water from the moisture outside? “ ecoloblue” an American company build these in a variety of sizes and prices are just a few hundred dollars for the smaller ones which produce many litres of drinking water for a small amount of electricity when switched on, they weigh less than a small refrigerator and take up less room than a supply of bottled water- the reverse osmosis filter system built in last months with no labor to operate the device- I think they are a fantastic idea for R.V and sailing folk- do some research and see for yourself “ecoloblue” have a website- it could prove a favourable investment when you calculate weight of the device cost and water productivity against the bottled water you don’t need to buy and of course the electric demand of the device- still could prove life saving, just a thought from a YouTube subscriber. Kind regards happy sailing. Mark.united kingdom 🇬🇧

    reply
    • Curious Minion

      Good to know, but Curiosity has a built-in watermaker that can produce 43 gallons/hour via RO.
      Curious Minion

      reply
  • James Dillon

    Wonderful way to start a Sunday morning! Thanks for the great footage of the sharks, fish and rays! Quite wondrous. Be safe and keep up the great work. Thanks for the entertainment. Jamie

    reply
  • Lucille

    It is exciting and invigorating for both of you but on the scary side too. Wishing you continued good luck and safe travels. Seems as if much of the scenery is redundant world wide, with different layout’s.

    reply
  • Dinah

    Beautiful footage, fun banter, and a beloved throwback: Jason with a look of Ugh on his face. Takes me back to his world famous How Not To video series. Thanks for the lesson about mindset; some of us (ok, me) can’t hear it often enough.

    reply

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