Boat ice chest insulation

[Icky]

Sorry for the boating content

My friend has a new 2015 Essex with a built in ice chest in the floor. We're trying to come up with ways to insulate it better without it looking cheesy and having to replace shit that gets moldy after a few trips any ideas? He went through a shit load of ice last season.

I thought of contacting AO coolers and having a custom bag made to fit in it if they would even do it, but then it would need a drain for the water.

Thought about that metallic insulation that comes in rolls but figured it would last long.

Anyone do Kustom ice chest work ?

 

[Deja_Vu]

Pics?
We don't get much Essex love here :cool

I don't use mine. It's full of ropes, bumpers, and snorkeling gear. :eek

 

[Tooms22]

Sorry for the boating content

My friend has a new 2015 Essex with a built in ice chest in the floor. We're trying to come up with ways to insulate it better without it looking cheesy and having to replace shit that gets moldy after a few trips any ideas? He went through a shit load of ice last season.

I thought of contacting AO coolers and having a custom bag made to fit in it if they would even do it, but then it would need a drain for the water.

Thought about that metallic insulation that comes in rolls but figured it would last long.

Anyone do Kustom ice chest work ?

My Magic has a built in under the back seat. The ice was gone by the middle of the day. We figured out that the large AO Coolers fit in their perfect as long as you waited to fill them once they were already in the built in. The AO fills about half of the built in and the we would put the remaining beer, soda, Gatorade and water in the other half of the built in so we could easily replenish the cooler.

 

[Icky]

Pics?
We don't get much Essex love here :cool

I don't use mine. It's full of ropes, bumpers, and snorkeling gear. :eek

I'll have to have him get some of his ice chest, let me look for some of his boat

 

[28Eliminator]

Mine has one built in to the rear seat, and it works really well. It has what appears to be spray Foam insulation around it.

 

[Icky]

 

[Backlash]

Manufacturers sometimes try to sell folks on the built-in ice chest dealio which isn't always a built-in ice chest.

Plywood with fiberglass over it doesn't mean it will keep the ice or drinks cold. To do it properly you'd have to include insulating foam in the equation and then figure out how to prevent the heat from the drive train from melting all your ice. The SKA anglers are big on coolers and many have spent a ton of money custom building coolers that keep their trophy-winning catch cold.

Think it would be a lot easier to just pony up for a nice cooler that works, and drain it into the bilge. Then use the boat's "Ice chest" as a rope locker or a place to keep life jackets when not in use.

 

[Backlash]

I like the seats in this boat. ^^^ Looks trendy and makes it seem more spacious too.

 

[LHC Kirby]

I liked your idea of a custom built AO ... That sounds the best... Me... I just use the AO cooler, and store my "feet buckets" in the cooler that's built in... Buckets are Tupperware type containers that I fill with water and put on the beach to help prevent excessive sand into the boat.

 

[RodnJen]

I use the AO cooler and keep in the in floor "ice-chest" in my Essex. Trying to keep everything cold and dealing with the expense and discharge wasn't worth it. I use a 24-pack AO for a family of four and use a fraction of the ice I use to. I will probably use two of them as my kids get older/hungrier etc. Much better deal for us.

 

[TeamGreene]

Try and add a little bit of dry ice. It will save you a ton on regular ice.

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

Have Igloo design one to fit any built-in style.

My igloo cooler has been around 25 years now, and functions perfectly, keeping ice up to 36 hours in the cooler. I believe Igloo vacuum seals the lid and bottom side walls.

 

[Deja_Vu]

Thanks for postin' up some pics Icky :thumbsup Nice looking boat...and a Bravo I to boot.

I like the seats in this boat. ^^^ Looks trendy and makes it seem more spacious too.

I like those seat backs... :thumbsup

That carpet looks really plush too...

 

[VoodooMedMan]

Steel belted Coleman cooler.

 

[RiverDave]

Manufacturers sometimes try to sell folks on the built-in ice chest dealio which isn't always a built-in ice chest.

Plywood with fiberglass over it doesn't mean it will keep the ice or drinks cold. To do it properly you'd have to include insulating foam in the equation and then figure out how to prevent the heat from the drive train from melting all your ice. The SKA anglers are big on coolers and many have spent a ton of money custom building coolers that keep their trophy-winning catch cold.

Think it would be a lot easier to just pony up for a nice cooler that works, and drain it into the bilge. Then use the boat's "Ice chest" as a rope locker or a place to keep life jackets when not in use.

I think I'd just look online and find a softsided that fits the compartment decently..

Have Igloo design one to fit any built-in style.

My igloo cooler has been around 25 years now, and functions perfectly, keeping ice up to 36 hours in the cooler. I believe Igloo vacuum seals the lid and bottom side walls.

Not sure I understand what you are saying.. Are you saying Igloo will custom make a cooler?

RD

 

[Crazyhippy]

I think I'd just look online and find a softsided that fits the compartment decently..



Not sure I understand what you are saying.. Are you saying Igloo will custom make a cooler?

RD

I think it was Froggy's Ultra that had one of the seat bases replaced with a metal cooler and a padded lid. Super trick, and a lot more effective than the in floor style.

 

[VoodooMedMan]

I think it was Froggy's Ultra that had one of the seat bases replaced with a metal cooler and a padded lid. Super trick, and a lot more effective than the in floor style.

I've seen a couple like that. My cooler is exactly like that but it's in place of a cuddy seat. I've lasts no problem but being in the cuddy it is out of the sun so probably better results than replacing an open air seat but probably still a great option.

 

[pwerwagn]

My carrera has a built in ice chest under the middle back seat, with a plug in the bottom to drain it into the bilge.

BUT...someone put perko switch's in it, no clue why. Ive been looking at either building one for one of the other back seats, or going with the 24 capacity AO cooler.

The other thing I have used is the full styrofoam coolers they ship medications in to vet/doctors. Most vet offices get a ton of those, and will give them to you. They are light, free and keep ice really well.

 

[Icky]

I like the seats in this boat. ^^^ Looks trendy and makes it seem more spacious too.

It's pretty nice and well layed out, he was pretty picky about everything when it came down to ordering it

I use the AO cooler and keep in the in floor "ice-chest" in my Essex. Trying to keep everything cold and dealing with the expense and discharge wasn't worth it. I use a 24-pack AO for a family of four and use a fraction of the ice I use to. I will probably use two of them as my kids get older/hungrier etc. Much better deal for us.

This might be the route he has to go, we'll have to see what fits, maybe a 48 :drink

Thanks for postin' up some pics Icky :thumbsup Nice looking boat...and a Bravo I to boot.



I like those seat backs... :thumbsup

That carpet looks really plush too...

Yeah I'm a little jealous, he got to buy one brand new, but I really wanted a Daytona and mamma wasn't going for the price on a brand new one when we got ours. Mines still a foot bigger :finger ( that was for him when he reads this thread)

 

[Rajobigguy]

I've got to ask. What is the fascination with built in coolers? I've found that there kind of a PITA. Most don't work as well as a decent Igloo or Coleman and if its built in then you have to load it in the boat. Its much easier to load the cooler in the kitchen (or where ever else you load your cooler) then put the whole thing in the boat.

 

[Icky]

My carrera has a built in ice chest under the middle back seat, with a plug in the bottom to drain it into the bilge.

BUT...someone put perko switch's in it, no clue why. Ive been looking at either building one for one of the other back seats, or going with the 24 capacity AO cooler.

The other thing I have used is the full styrofoam coolers they ship medications in to vet/doctors. Most vet offices get a ton of those, and will give them to you. They are light, free and keep ice really well.

We're gonna look at it when he pulls it out of his garage. I'm thinking of making some fiberglass panels with insulation that will fit in there. Cheaper to make then have made

 

[Icky]

I've got to ask. What is the fascination with built in coolers? I've found that there kind of a PITA. Most don't work as well as a decent Igloo or Coleman and if its built in then you have to load it in the boat. Its much easier to load the cooler in the kitchen (or where ever else you load your cooler) then put the whole thing in the boat.

We stay at the Bluewater in Parker a lot, we always just bring everything down the the slip and reload there every day. Better than hauling an ice chest to your room everyday, I do the same and have regular ice chest. We have those little folding carts that stay in the boat to bring ice over

 

[SHOCKtheMONKEY]

Yep, we have one also. No insulation and the drain plug is about two inches above the bottom. Worthless POS...:thumbsdown
We just use it as dry storage now. :thumbsup

 

[wet hull]

The problem is putting your hot beer/drinks into the ice. It melts way faster then if the beer is already cold going in. We bought the big rolling ice chest from costco. We keep all our drinks in there on ice and then transfer them to to boat ice chest in the morning. Ice in the boat last all day now.:thumbsup

 

[havasu5150]

The problem is putting your hot beer/drinks into the ice. It melts way faster then if the beer is already cold going in. We bought the big rolling ice chest from costco. We keep all our drinks in there on ice and then transfer them to to boat ice chest in the morning. Ice in the boat last all day now.:thumbsup

This is key. The built in ice chest in my Conquest in front of the passenger helm will have ice in it still...the next morning.

 

[overtime]

Had one in our eliminator used to put dry ice in the bottom and ice would last all day.

 

[Shortdeck]

The problem is putting your hot beer/drinks into the ice. It melts way faster then if the beer is already cold going in. We bought the big rolling ice chest from costco. We keep all our drinks in there on ice and then transfer them to to boat ice chest in the morning. Ice in the boat last all day now.:thumbsup

That works. But don't forgot to freeze bottles of water also. Keeps everything cold and ice lasts longer also.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

You could always buy block ice too to add to the mix.

 

[drejustice]

Try and add a little bit of dry ice. It will save you a ton on regular ice.

+1 on this idea. Put a bit of dry ice on the bottom, and cover with a piece of cardboard. Fill with ice and beverages..Ice will last all weekend.

 

[VoodooMedMan]

Just be careful if you go the dry ice route. Displaces oxygen. Not an issue in an open boat but if someone puts a cooler down in a cabin or something...

 

[Ziggy]

Sorry for the boating content

My friend has a new 2015 Essex with a built in ice chest in the floor. We're trying to come up with ways to insulate it better without it looking cheesy and having to replace shit that gets moldy after a few trips any ideas? He went through a shit load of ice last season.

I thought of contacting AO coolers and having a custom bag made to fit in it if they would even do it, but then it would need a drain for the water.

Thought about that metallic insulation that comes in rolls but figured it would last long.

Anyone do Kustom ice chest work ?

The best method I used was to actually plug the drain so the ice water would stay in the cooler. This was in addition to putting a layer of Techn-Ice on the bottom before putting in our drinks. With these tricks our ice lasted all day.

 

[SoCalDave]

I have one of these Igloo 52qt ones under the hatch. As others stated some dry ice on the bottom and only add cold beverages of your choice and it will stay cold all weekend.
It will hold about 60+ cans and 30lbs of ice. We keep a smaller soft sided one in the boat that we refill from the larger one.

 

[Icky]

He contacted AO yesterday and they had him take some measurements we'll see what they say as far as pricing and what they can do.

Everytime I hear dry ice, I think about the times it almost got us in trouble dry ice is a good idea, but unless they start selling in on the water I doubt he's gonna go that route, he'd rather just buy more ice than drive to the store everyday for it.

Everything on his boat is put away at all times, he can't stand ice chest and bags and all that shit being out that's why he likes the on board one.

 

[Icky]

The best method I used was to actually plug the drain so the ice water would stay in the cooler. This was in addition to putting a layer of Techn-Ice on the bottom before putting in our drinks. With these tricks our ice lasted all day.

He leaves it plugged, to keep the cold water in. 4 20lbs bags of ice only last a day :yikes

 

[Ziggy]

He leaves it plugged, to keep the cold water in. 4 20lbs bags of ice only last a day :yikes

Are his drinks cold before he puts them in cooler? My wife would always freeze the kids juice drinks too.
If the cooler lid is exposed to sunlight we'd always leave a towel over it.
The reusable Techni-Ice stuff I put down in cooler was probably the biggest factor though.

 

[mesquito_creek]

Maybe its time for a manufacturer to integrate a Yedi into the floor plan....

 

[pwerwagn]

Maybe its time for a manufacturer to integrate a Yedi into the floor plan....

Im gonna try to figure out a way to integrate an rtic (yeti knockoff) into my boat somewhere...

 

[Flying_Lavey]

View attachment 469352

It almost looks like that's suppose to be a ski locker in this pic. Betcha it was designed and built as such and just called a built in cooler. The size (4 20# bags of ice plus drinks) is also probably an issue as well. A LOT more volume and surface area to keep cool. Have to fill it completely and keep it filled and cold.

 

[RodnJen]

It almost looks like that's suppose to be a ski locker in this pic. Betcha it was designed and built as such and just called a built in cooler. The size (4 20# bags of ice plus drinks) is also probably an issue as well. A LOT more volume and surface area to keep cool. Have to fill it completely and keep it filled and cold.

Essex boats typically have both. The front is a ski locker the back is an "ice chest" with a divider that runs side to side and four drain plugs.

 

[Icky]

Essex boats typically have both. The front is a ski locker the back is an "ice chest" with a divider that runs side to side and four drain plugs.

That how it's layed out