After weeks of internet research and asking those who should be in the know, I have concluded that if you have a smaller boat and need a cooler for your catch, especially large catches such as King Salmon and Sturgeon, you are screwed!
The problem is real estate. There is only so much room for lunch coolers and fishing gear and such, leaving NO room for a cooler that is at least 48” long and can handle a couple of fish over 30#!!
It amazes me that of all the bone headed things, the designers of smaller aluminum boats, wouldn’t incorporate a fish cooler somewhere! So, as I said earlier, I have come to the conclusion that a custom addition of a cooler is the only avenue. Anyone who has tried to keep fish in garbage bags, with ice, wile sloshing around on the deck can be aggravating and down-right dangerous (course, not everyone drinks and fishes, perhaps this is why it is illegal;)
( Fun Fact: Did you know, that if you are pulled over in a boat and have a blood alcohol level of equal to or more 1.08, you are given a B.U.I?? he, appropriate anyway!)
As you can see in the picture, the rear seat takes up the right amount of space for a cooler, and is easily convertible to a cooler! This bench has no side supports, so you can simply remove the rivets and then the foam inside. So far, I have had to add some solid wood, clear fir, to the rear of the seat to give something for the piano hinge to seat into. This hinge is used for its strength and space saving quality. Of course, that being said, if you have any experience using these hinges, you understand they are an immense hassle! Just go slow and use longer, sheet metal screws and GO SLOW! All went well, then I realized I had screwed the piano hinge into the tab-end of the seat, so make sure, if you are going to attempt this project, to bend the tabs-in, located on your seat cover! Once this done you can add insulation, preferably one that insulates well and provides some kind of moisture barrier. I am using a ½” closed cell insulation that is covered with tinfoil on one side and craft paper on the other. After you have glued the insulation in with a water-proof liquid nails construction adhesive, you need to sheet the inside with some kind of product that is tough and abrasion resistant and easy to clean. Living here on the Oregon Coast, you have to use what is available. With this, I am using ¼” acx Plywood, to which I intend to fiberglass the shit out of!
The one thing I haven’t figured out is some kind of drain. I suppose I will simply drill a hole into the bottom/back side of the cooler and add a drain hole with some kind of plug.
Anyway, I have written this in the hope that someone like me will stumble upon this and perhaps use it to add an all-important cooler to their small boat! I will add pics and more advice on what not to do;)
More later…
Oh ya, I should write something funny…Here we go…What do you get when you cross a donkey with an Onion? Answer…A piece of ass that brings a tear to your eye!
Keep it tuned
M
