Anybody used their in-floor storage as a giant cooler?

[Bennie]

Our ss has a big locker in the center of the boat but it's not a ski locker. Dunno what you would call it. We use for a cooler sometimes but agree that you really need some good insulation in there! We made a little box that fits in there of some of that metal sided attic insulation that I had leftover fron doing some under the hatch stuff.
It works well, and we just let it drain whenever it melts. My wife actually uses a bunch of those freezer packs with the blue gel. Even has some that are like 12" x 12" x 4" that really do well for a day trip.
I also want to use it for a fish well or ice to put fish on, but gotta get time to fish!

Now THAT'S a mod I'd like to see!! Making that center storage unit a live well - nice

 

[Speedling]

Have also used it for a 5 gallon gas can holder. Not that it's recommended but I did it.

 

[Bruce]

Where does one find a one of those? How much $$$? I want one!

I paid a little under $600 shipped. Here is a better deal on EBay for $533 shipped.

This is my install thread. The install was easy aside from cutting a ginormous hole in the boat while wondering how well it would work. I did a lot of research and some bench testing before the installation.

The fridge is definitely our favorite mod. We had our first outing on Sunday. I loaded the fridge with a variety of drinks including some adult beverages that would be sufficient for multiple outings. Then Rana came along with sandwiches, veggies and her own choice of drink. She was able to place her load on top of the drinks. Then she commented about how much it held.

 

[Pete Wright]

It was me that used the floor locker as a cooler in both my old LS2000's. I lined it with foil backed Styrofoam, then iced em and stocked em. I had considered using the floor in my AR but haven't tried it yet. You would have to leave the plug in the bottom of the locker IN. My 192 actually lets water into that space from the bilge when the plug is out, so I leave mine in to keep it dry. I never use it as a storage space because my boards are tower mounted. You could ice and stock it, then when its empty and melted pull the plug to drain. May give this a shot myself. My ls was pretty tough on ice the times I used it, but the area was much smaller and the lid was pretty flimsy. I remember it feeling VERY cold to the feet, so the cold was escaping through the lid. It worked though! Here's a pic of the old LS mod.

ls floor locker

• skrip345
• May 1, 2015
• 2

I put an great fit ice chest there and had custom floor corners made for a safe fit.

 

[zelone]

I did that on my old 212SS, but on the 242, I installed a large Igloo soft cooler in the designated cooler spot, made the seat hinge and added a cooler bilge pump. I also built a floor leveling deck so the cooler fits nicely under that seat. No more lifting to empty, just flick a switch.

 

[d_coyne1984]

I did that on my old 212SS, but on the 242, I installed a large Igloo soft cooler in the designated cooler spot, made the seat hinge and added a cooler bilge pump. I also built a floor leveling deck so the cooler fits nicely under that seat. No more lifting to empty, just flick a switch.

Any photos of that install. The bilge pump is a nice touch!

 

[Glen]

$300 FOR A COOLER!!!! OUCH!

With X's being storage challenged (ballast everywhere), we've been using the space to the left of the 'Admiral's' seat (passenger), to hold our cooler.
Fits perfect, requires no straps to hold it, and is always accessible (and mobile).
We've never needed more cold storage than this, including Bimini '16. It still just a bunch of day trips. Day trip across when only essentials (meats, dairy,...) need to be kept cold, then everything is loaded into condo fridge, and again, just a series of day trips. We refroze some of those reusable blocks nightly, and either made ice in the condo, or bought a bag every other day, so that we had a gallon ziplock (or 2) of ice with us daily, for our 'sun-downers' (or mid-dayers ;-)

This cooler we got at Walmart for $60, and it has never let us down.

I'd like to get the RTIC version, but frankly, if I look at the evidence, it is more out of vanity, then necessity. ($125) https://www.rticcoolers.com/shop/coolers/softpak/RTIC-SoftPak-30-Grey#

 

[Bill D]

We have the RTIC 40 and it is great. The trick with them is to catch it when they have a crazy sale. Having seen the Ozark version, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. They weren't out yet when I bought the RTIC.

 

[Redneck_4Play]

@Billtex2000 - I know...I was the same at first. But definitely worth every penny. VERY durable and AMAZING at holding in the cold.[/QUOT

Go with an RTIC. Same quality at half the price.

 

[d_coyne1984]

I would definitely check out the Ozark Trail brand stuff at Walmart. I know what you are thinking: Walmart = crap, but I bought my Ozark trail 32oz mug and it held ice longer than my wife's RTIC in our overnight test. The RTIC accessories all fit my Ozark Trail mug too. It kind of appears that Yetti, RTIC, and Ozark Trail buy there stuff from the same vendor and badge it. The difference is in the markup.

 

[Speedling]

I did that on my old 212SS, but on the 242, I installed a large Igloo soft cooler in the designated cooler spot, made the seat hinge and added a cooler bilge pump. I also built a floor leveling deck so the cooler fits nicely under that seat. No more lifting to empty, just flick a switch.

Really want to see this man!

 

[Speedling]

I looked at stuff like https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008...12v+fridge&dpPl=1&dpID=41IcW2VnI2L&ref=plSrch
After seeing @Bruce setup but they are always like 40 degrees cooler than temp which means on a 100 degree day its only 60 degrees!

 

[zelone]

I posted about building this hinge setup last summer. It still needs some refinement,but is fully functional.

 

[zelone]

Hinge!

 

[1rjclark]

My 2011 AR 210 has a ski locker w/ drain plug and a cooler w/ drain plug. Or at least that's what I've been using for since I bought the boat. When the temp is 100+ my cooler keeps things cold for 2 days. It's a pretty big "cooler". I get a Costco case of H20, 1/2 case of non alcohol drinks, 12 pack of beer, large Costco bottle of Vodka and cranberry juice, cut fruit, plus hella ice. Works great for me.

 

[MrMoose]

@Bruce, its a great spot to put the fish that are too big to fit in the cooler when we're in Bimini.