Cooler...

[Snyds]

I tried to search but I couldn't find what I was looking for... I am sure some one can help without hesitation!

I need to know what size cooler to buy for my 99 x. I bought the boat without the factory one however it still has the tub that is placed below the seat (should I just toss that and put a cooler in atop the support?) I have no interest in a powered one or fancy but one that fits nicely is key... I thought I saw that there is a perfect fit at kmart or target but I cant find the post. The tub does destroy A LOT of storage, I think that I need more support though if it's removed...

Many thanks!
Steve

[irayone]

I always have the galley forward...I have removed the cushions aft of the galley... I keep 2 marine ice chests aft of the galley that fit nicely.. As I was tired of removing the dinette seat to get a drink....

[Chinook]

A number of X owners have replaced the stock ice chest, which is very minimally insulated, with one that has better insulation qualities. I bought a Coleman 6 day ice chest, I think it's called. It's slightly larger than the original, all around, and doesn't fit in the fiberglass tub. I had to trim the rim of the opening under the seat cushion a bit, to accomodate the cooler's handles. With the extra insulation it sits a little above the rim, and I put the seat cushion directly on the lid. To keep it sitting flat in the bilge, on top of the water ballast tank, I shaped blocks of styrofoam and placed them in the bilge, under the ice chest, so that it sat solidly and level. I removed the ice chest lid hinges, so that it was easier to access the contents of the cooler. It served us nicely until we switched over to an Engel refrigerator.

[Ivan Awfulitch]

We replaced our factory cooler with a Coleman 5 day 36 quart. Fits snugly in the liner, and does work keeping things cold a long time. Got it for about $30 at Dick's Sporting goods last summer. I have a bilge pump under the liner, and occasionally keep an extra water there as well. I'd keep the liner, makes it easy to keep clean and easy to reach inside. We did add a light to the cooler, makes it real easy to find things after dark.

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemanc ... oryid=8580
http://www.coghlans.com/newproducts/Cooler%20Light.php

[Love MACs]

That little light is a "bright" idea Wish I had thought of that



Allan

[irayone]

Just a thought ......Engle (or Engel) makes a solar/ac/dc powered refer that will make ice and only uses 3.3 amps/hr...Keep a block of ice inside and it will reduce amp usage to 1.5 amps/hr...unplug it at night...They make many different sizes..

[Pete]

Just a note on cooler use.

Do you keep the water in or let it drain out. I prefer to let it drain out and on the boat I was just going to let it drain into the bilge. After all, its not like there won’t be water down there anyways .

[irayone]

I let it drain over the transom as my builge is dry.

[Trouts Dream]

I place my ice in a dry bag, the kind used by kayakers, and since the bag is washed out at intervals, I use the cold water in my rum and coke instead of ice (I drink mine pressed).

Biggest benefit is that, other than condensation, no water in the cooler to cause problems.

[csm]

That's a neat idea Trouts Dream. Another good one is to buy a 5 litre box of wine and keep the bag when you're done. The spigot pops out of the wine bag pretty easily for convenient filling. Throw it in the freezer and you've got a 5l chunk of ice; you can also freeze the bag in a container if you want to "shape" it. Those bags are super durable; I blew one up with and stood on it and it didn't pop!!! I also used to freeze 2 of those 5 gallon collapsible water bags in a cooler for trips into the Boundry Water Canoe Area. Those 2 big chunks kept food and bait cold for 5-6 days and then you had nice cold water to mix your kool aid or gator aid powder.

[Trouts Dream]

Excellent and best of all you have to empty the wine bag first.

[csm]

Yes, emptying boxes of wine........we all need a purpose in life.........

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

I have the original cooler that came with the Mac, and somewhere I read an idea for great convenience, move the hinges to the end, instead leaving as original. Opening up the cooler from the end is much easier, instead of having to clear away everything in order to open the lid. It works much better with hinges on the end.

Another idea I picked up in an earlier thread, use block ice in containers instead of crushed ice -- it lasts longer. Also, when in containers, its easier to empty.

One of the great designs of the Mac X >> the convenient cooler compartment.

Happy Sailing...

[Pete]

I let it drain over the transom as my builge is dry.

Well my boat has developed a few leaks over the past 33 years. At the rate I am going I may have them all sealed in another 30 years. Untill then the builge pump I mounted last night will get lots of use.

[Halcyon]

I bought a four day cooler to fit the tub. Just fits and works well. Then I put two square plastic buckets in the cooler and filled them with ice/drinks etc. Cooler stays dry and I just empty the bucket over the side. Much easier than lifting a half full cooler out of the tub.
brian