Cooler advice

Brian82 · Sep 15, 2014

So being that there isn't a fish box on my 97' 2530 I'm going to need a cooler of some sort. I was thinking about storing it on my swim platform since I have an I/O and don't want to take up precious fishing space. Anybody have thoughts about mounting, size, or brand? I fish for fluke, bluefish, stripers, and would like to get into some tuna now that I have a bigger boat. Overnight trip at most and I'll keep my food in a separate smaller cooler. I bought a Coleman from Walmart this season and it sucks. Lid strap broke and hinges (twice). I would like the best bang for the buck.

As for mounting, if I was going to put it on the swim platform I was thinking about installing cooler corner mounts and strapping it too that. Is this too much weight on the platform?

Noahs_Ark · Sep 16, 2014

Yeti 75 is a great purchase. I have the 45 and the 75, a little bang in the price, but they are what they preach.

Megabyte · Sep 16, 2014

I have a 40 qt Icey-Tek for beverages and a 70 qt for fish, tho I believe Icey-Tek became Yeti a few years ago.
They hold ice for a long time and there is a size to fit every application.

http://yeticoolers.com/coolers/shop-by- ... e-coolers/

Brian82 · Sep 16, 2014

I was looking at the Yeti. I just came across the Brute Box. A little cheaper but maybe it's not worth skimping on.

B-Faithful · Sep 16, 2014

Yetis are very nice but big $$$. I have a Moeller Ice Station 125qt that I use on my charters. I had the 170qt but it was too big, ate too much ice and was unnecessary. The Moellers are very durable but not quite as nice as the Yeti.

If I were buying again today, I would likely go with a grizzly cooler: http://www.grizzlycoolers.com

Right now they seem to be about the best bang for the buck on the market.

HOTPURSUIT · Sep 16, 2014

This is just an idea but would an insulated fish bag be an option for you. Tackle direct has a few and some have a transom mount. maybe not the best option for an overnight trip, but its a space saving option. That would open up any available cooler space for additional ice.

Burtona · Sep 16, 2014

If you choose to mount a cooler on the swim platform make sure it will hold a cooler full of ice and fish. Years ago a friend had a big Igloo on a platform on his 24 Albemarle. Returning from a fishing trip in moderate seas, when he looked back after getting through the inlet the platform and cooler were gone. It broke off somewhere on the 50 mile trip home.