36 quart Igloo cooler

CliffA

CliffA

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2009
4,712
Lake Norman, NC
Boat Info
2001 Sea Ray 340DA
Name: 'Happy Place'
4.5kW West. Generator
Purchased Nov. 2014
Fresh Water Use
Engines
Twin Merc. 6.2L (MPI)
640 hp (Total)
Raw Water Cooled
V-Drive Transmissions
i have a 36 quart Igloo marine series cooler that fits in a floor holder behind the passenger front seat...it is only about 2 years old...this cooler has never kept ice very well...at most it will keep 'some' ice for 24 hrs which is really not sufficient for camping...in contrast i recently purchased a cheap 32 quart Coleman cooler from Wal-Mart...the Coleman cooler keeps ice twice as long as the Igloo marine series cooler....i don't think the Igloo cooler has any insulation in the walls or top...has anyone ever tried to drill holes in a hard sided cooler and add some sort of insulation?....if so, did it make a noticeable difference in how long the cooler keeps ice?....i am almost to the point of just using the Igloo cooler for storage and just buy another Coleman cooler, but the Igloo fits perfectly behind the seat so i would like to contiue using it.....
 
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I had the same setup on our 1999 215EC. The bottom of the cooler started wearing away after 10 years of use so I happened to see another Igloo marine cooler at Walmart, same size and bought it. I think it cost maybe $25.00. Anyway the new cooler seems to be much better at keeping ice from melting, maybe more insulation. I had to buy anther for the 240SD as it's was missing, back to Walmart for another one, and it seems to work quite well,too. One big problem with the coolers location on the 215EC is it's location, right out there in the sunshine. The 240SD hides it in a console in front of the helm out of the sunlight. Maybe make a simple cover that would help insulate it from direct rays.
 
That 36 quart Igloo cooler keeps ice about as good as a 5 gallon bucket with an open top. I've been looking for a decent replacement for mine too. I see the Coleman Xtreme 36 quart for about $40 around but haven't measured yet to know if it would be a fit. With my luck I'd drill holes in mine, add insulation and then watch it explode as it expands.

http://www.basspro.com/Coleman-36-Qt-Xtreme-reg-Cooler/product/52143/-1010242
 
good point about the location of the cooler being in the sun....maybe i can move the cooler inside the cabin during the day and bring it out on the deck at night....thanks for the input...
 
Trucky said:
That 36 quart Igloo cooler keeps ice about as good as a 5 gallon bucket with an open top. I've been looking for a decent replacement for mine too. I see the Coleman Xtreme 36 quart for about $40 around but haven't measured yet to know if it would be a fit. With my luck I'd drill holes in mine, add insulation and then watch it explode as it expands.


i have done a little research on coolers and it seems the best mid-grade coolers are the Igloo Maxcold and the Coleman Xtreme....unfortunatley none of these are the right size to fit into the holder on my boat, but i may look at possibly modifying the holder to make one fit...for my use and needs i can't justify the cost of a high end cooler like Yeti...
Click to expand...
 
CliffA said:
good point about the location of the cooler being in the sun....maybe i can move the cooler inside the cabin during the day and bring it out on the deck at night....thanks for the input...
Click to expand...

My 210SD has the under the helm cooler storage and it's still pretty much a 1 day only cooler being in the shade.
 
When I had a 215EC, I always kept the cooler under the starboard, rear seat. It slid right under like it was meant to be there. That might help you a little since it will be out of the sun.
 
Lazy Daze said:
When I had a 215EC, I always kept the cooler under the starboard, rear seat. It slid right under like it was meant to be there. That might help you a little since it will be out of the sun.
Click to expand...

thanks Dennis...right now i am storing the Coleman cooler under the starboard jump seat....i could try storing the Igloo cooler under the port jump seat....we usually take the port jump seat out while we are swimming or floating during the day but nothing says we can't change that and start leaving the seat in place...i usually don't like stepping on the seat when going to and from the swim platform, but we really don't go in and out of the boat that much...
 
ziekman@cox.net said:
Yeti Coolers are my choice - best I've tried. We bought the optional pad for the top, which allows us to use it as a bench. http://www.yeticoolers.com/categories/Tundra-Series/
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i am sure the Yeti coolers are indeed very nice...i did look at their web site but did not see one of their coolers that would fit in the holder on my boat....that is probably a good thing because i am sure if they would fit i would start trying to justify the high cost of a Yeti cooler in my mind and would eventually convince myself to buy one...
 
i decided i am going to buy another Coleman cooler since it appears to keep ice much better than the Igloo...i'll keep both Coleman coolers under the port and starboard jump seats which will keep them both out of the sun and they are a good fit in the space...we will continue to use the Igloo cooler for storage of snacks, clothes, life jackets, or what ever....storage space on a 215EC is precious especially dry storage space so the Igloo is not a total loss....
 
I have taken my Igloo and drilled a series of holes in the top and filled with Great Stuff expanding foam. I also put a weather striping gasket around the lid. It does help some but it is still pretty poor at keeping ice.

The Yeti's are good but by the time you get one that will fit it will only hold a six pack due to the thickness of the insulation. I have thought about getting a large Yeti and securing to the swim platform but I do not really like the looks. The fact that the cooler is in the way is also a problem since we do a lot of swimming and use the swim platform a lot. Although it might be a benefit by giving a bench type seat on the platform. I may reconsider sometime.

John
 
When outfitting my boat this spring, I looked at new coolers, but it turned out stuff I had worked great - fits under my sunpad by the engine, and under the helm on both sides. I've had it forever, a Rubbermaid brand, and it came with a pack that you leave in your freezer, and you install this frozen pack into the bottom of the lid with a built-in screw. I keep my beverages pre chilled in a laundry room fridge, and just dump the contents of my very average side-by-side ice maker into the cooler. I almost never buy ice, and it works great for us.

I was not impressed by the Igloo Marine at the box stores as they have those lid hinges that amount to a piece of plastic that bends back and forth. Eventually, they will break. I bought a Craftsman socket set case built like that, it lasted longer then expected, and it did eventually break - while carrying it over deep grass. You can envision that scene from there.

Outside of the words Igloo Marine, and a fish measuring scale on the lid, I couldn't see what made it more Marine friendly over anything else on the shelf.
 
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Any of you cooler experts.

I recently purchased a 2007 240 Sundeck (Awsome boat!). It did not come with a cooler. My question is: Is the 36qt Igloo cooler that Sea Ray sells for $64.00, the same 36qt Igloo cooler that you can purchase at Wal Mart, West Marine, etc? :huh:

I just want to make sure it fits on the rails.

Thanks!
 
Mustang Pilot said:
Any of you cooler experts.

I recently purchased a 2007 240 Sundeck (Awsome boat!). It did not come with a cooler. My question is: Is the 36qt Igloo cooler that Sea Ray sells for $64.00, the same 36qt Igloo cooler that you can purchase at Wal Mart, West Marine, etc? :huh:

I just want to make sure it fits on the rails.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Same thing. As long as you match up the "quart size", you're good to go. Most things aren't too bad when pricing them through Sea Ray, but every now and then there is something that is just exorbitant.
 
as the bulk of the comments in this thread indicate you should try a different cooler than the 36 qt igloo if you can find one that fits in the dedicated space...the performance of the igloo is pathetic....i bought a new igloo at West Marine when i got my boat 2 years ago as the original one was missing...the new cooler fit perfectly in the holder but from day 1 it has been a lousy cooler...
 
The trouble is finding one that fits the stock location that is any better than the igloo. By the time I find one that will fit it is so small it will only hold a six pack.


Someone needs to get a custom made one to fit all these boats and work well.

John
 
Have you ever looked into using Reflectix to cover or better insulate the cooler? There are also a few companies that have some premade ones that might work. We use the stuff in our popup camper windows when in a hot or cold environment. Otherwise, the bunk ends get unbearable.

Here is an example:
http://www.rjroffroad.com/cooler-covers-insulated-offroad-pr-17725.html
 
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