Built-in Cooler

[MSUDawg]

I just bought a 2007 Wakesetter 23 LSV.  I really like having a large built-in cooler for drinks under the seat.  However, the cooler is not really functional because it is not well insulated.  

Does anyone have a solution for adding insulation for the built-in cooler in the ‘07 23 LSV?

[TallRedRider]

Part of the problem I think is in the lid.  It is just the seat base and isn't real tight all the way around.  I just never planned on having ice last more than from morning to evening and it worked for me, even where it is 110 degrees sometimes here.   Sometimes I had to be generous with the ice.  

 

I am not sure how much it would help, but You could bulk up the insulation with some of this:  http://www.hillas.com/Categories/Spray-Adhesives/3M-Polystyrene-Foam-Insulation-78-Spray-Adhesive-Clear-Net-Wt-17-9-oz-12-per-case.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwx43ZBRCeARIsANzpzb9GmsULXf-KzeUTO6jSaL6FyiFnc7ylhIMqSbTwSbzAqy0CCHfAHPAaAqMQEALw_wcB

 

 

Edited June 15, 2018 by TallRedRider

[MSUDawg]

9 minutes ago, TallRedRider said:

Part of the problem I think is in the lid.  It is just the seat base and isn't real tight all the way around.  I just never planned on having ice last more than from morning to evening and it worked for me, even where it is 110 degrees sometimes here.   Sometimes I had to be generous with the ice.  

 

You could bulk up the insulation with some of this:  http://www.hillas.com/Categories/Spray-Adhesives/3M-Polystyrene-Foam-Insulation-78-Spray-Adhesive-Clear-Net-Wt-17-9-oz-12-per-case.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwx43ZBRCeARIsANzpzb9GmsULXf-KzeUTO6jSaL6FyiFnc7ylhIMqSbTwSbzAqy0CCHfAHPAaAqMQEALw_wcB

 

 

Thanks.  I never thought about spray insulation.  And, good point about the ice - I probably need to be a lot more generous with it.  

[lonestar]

Easiest for me was AO Cooler Stow N Go soft sided. (Either direct from AO or Malibu Boats Gear). It was custom designed by the Crew and fits this compartment perfectly. Most users have good results with it.

I know someone on the Crew custom molded their own to fit this space, but it looked like more work than 90% of us can handle.

[MSUDawg]

1 hour ago, lonestar said:

Easiest for me was AO Cooler Stow N Go soft sided. (Either direct from AO or Malibu Boats Gear). It was custom designed by the Crew and fits this compartment perfectly. Most users have good results with it.

I know someone on the Crew custom molded their own to fit this space, but it looked like more work than 90% of us can handle.

Thanks lonestar. I just Googled the AO stow N go.  Looks like it’s just what I need.  

[ryangb]

I went with a Coleman stacker. Ice doesn’t last super long, but it fits nice and is a hard shell. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-25-Quart-Party-Stacker-Cooler/dp/B002BMCLMU?keywords=coleman%2Bstacker&qid=1529292280&sr=8-2&ref=mp_s_a_1_2&th=1&psc=1

[Infinitysurf]

I have the built-in cooler in my boat and since ice melts so fast, we use a soft-side cooler for the drinks (The Wal-Mart brand of Ozark Trail work very well at much less cost) and we use the built-in cooler for the trash can.

I have thot about doing the spray foam modification so the built-in cooler would be more functional (but then again you still gotta carry drinks back n forth to boat and having separate cooler is just easier IMO). If I did it tho the hardest part for me (due to limited access) would be figuring out how to enclose the space around the cooler (under deck) so I could actually fill it with the spray foam since that stuff expands and does not like to stick well to something like a cooler wall unless you are filling a cavity where it can just go where ever until it starts to expand and fill the space. No sure it would even be possible in my situation due to where gas tank sits in relation to where I have access hatch under deck.

[carguy79ta]

Not quite sure of your situation, but be careful with spray foam.  'Great stuff' expands like a wedding .... on Viagra. Of confined too much  and the confining space isn't sufficiently strong, it can blow  out the confines.(?). They make other spray foam that isnt that expansive.

[Gavin17]

I removed my cooler the week I brought the boat home. Seemed silly.  

I fill the boat cooler with drinks when I get home at the END of a lake trip. Then I put the whole cooler in my garage fridge. When its time to go to the lake I can grab the whole thing and since it's already ice cold I only add a little ice.  

It's kind of like a go bag but for beers.  

[MustGoFast]

Wish I hadn't gotten the cooler.... At nearly 100 $so it's a piece of junk 

[isellacuras]

I like using the stock cooler. I use lots of ice and if I'm going to be out on a long hot day, i freeze a dozen water bottles to help. Pre chilling is key. I also use the stock malibu cooler (similar to the AO) on top of my icey cold beverages for dry stuff like sandwiches and fruit. It keeps my stuff dry but also creates an insulator to keep things cool down below. When I'm done, i toss the leftover beverages in the soft cooler to clean out the cooler. In short days, i just use an Rtic 30 soft cooler in the bow walkthrough area. 

[Fffrank]

I use the stock cooler and when we stop for beer and ice in the AM I grab a couple blocks of ice.  These keep the cooler lasting all day.  I never need ice for more than 12 hours so haven't had an issue with it melting.

The only issue that I did have was that for half a summer my boat smelled AWFUL.  At random times while driving I'd get the wind blowing in a certain direction and would literally heave and consider vomiting.  I looked everywhere for the source.  Was convinced it was just a musty cooler smell from it not fulling draining and having empty beer cans creating a science experiment.  After 3-4 times wiping down the inside of the cooler with bleach and still not solving the problem I decided to dig deeper.  I finally found a good solid "handful" type smear of what appeared to be rotten mayonnaise on the inside TOP of the cooler lip.  I had to use a mirror to see it.   There was vomiting involved in the clean up.  Smell immediately went away.  To this day I'm still convinced that while rafted up with another group of boats, someone must have done this on purpose.  I don't put sandwiches in this cooler and even if someone did, it doesn't seem possible for the amount of mayo to end up in that spot accidentally.  Why would anyone do this?  I have no flippin' idea!!

[Kojak]

I removed the stock cooler in my 06 and now have underseat ballast.  I bought a soft sided cooler for the observer's compartment and it works 10x better than the stock one.