Ice cooler on ZX200

[skeeterman70]

Has anyone figured out any tricks to keep the ice from melting on the newer model ZX coolers between the seats. Ice doesn't last long for me.

[fishin couillon]

The cooler in my SX can't keep ice either. I bought the plastic shoe box and freeze water in them to make block ice. It last a little longer than the cube ice.

[reelman]

Gave up on that long long ago...the best ice chest is the new Igloo Island Breeze 26 qt...its tall and lid cannot blow off...mine has been super...$15.88 at Wally well spent.

I get used JIF jars and have a half dozen in the under seat spaces for various items ...works well also...you can fit 10 drinks or more in the Breeze and have lots of space left for ice.

[phillic]

Owned 4 skeeters the latest being a 20i and none of them have held ice for long when it's hot. I took some thick foam insulation and taped to the inside and top door of mine using double sided tape and it did make a difference. Still doesn't hold ice for an all day trip in the summer but it does hold it more than a couple of hrs as it was before.

[wildkat7]

I don't even use the cooler under the seat. I use the one in the floor in my ZX225 and it works much better.

[Neilslure]

I plug the drain hole and put 2 or 3 frozen bottles of water in addition to ice. The ice may not last all day but the frozen bottles and water from the melted ice keep everything cool all day. I perfer the cooler between the seats, its easier to get to. I usually grab a drink when I sit behind the wheel, also alot easier to access from outside the boat. I use my infloor cooler as a trash can and fire extinguisher compartment.

[no land]

get a soft cooler that fits in the port stern box.
drill a hole in the box and cooler. [ not too far because the gas tank is under there] the water goes into the bielge
use the center seat cooler for a trash can.
be cool

[reelman]

One little summer trick is too pour a can (12 oz) of your favorite drink into a used 20 oz plastic used drink bottle...freeze it...then put it in the driver's holder as you leave the house (or as u launch if a long drive)...then it slowly thaws in time for drinking that 1st couple cooler hours...you can do that for more than 1 bottle and take them out as needed, generally they will not be completely thawed for at least an hour during a summer day.

Also using frozen water in 20 oz bottles has many advantages...plus you can drink it in an emergency...versus dirty water at the bottom of any ice chest after thawing, can re-freeze and avoid stopping at 4am...sleep a bit longer maybe...can also toss a frozen water bottle or 2 in the livewell to save the bass on a "good bag" hot summer day.

Some good posts here we can use...I like...keep it going...

[fishnmd]

Not a cooler just a plastic box. Uninsulated. I tried to remove and insulate but bailed on that idea as it is suspended from onder the glass of the seat base. You can get agressive and insulate one of the rear boxes. one guy posted lowerdown, said he did it on the inside of the box with foam panels. the other way is to remove the box and spray with foam insulation, Gap filler. $$$

[blackknife]

I use a softside cooler which I put in the cooler under the passenger seat. it fits about 10-12 cans, has an easy access hatch on the top, and I use one of those blue things you freeze that is shaped to fit in between 6 cans. it works great for me, lasts all day long, and I don't have to drain it after.

looks like this:

I think I got it at walmart. I have two so I always have one frozen & ready to go

[blwall]

I put my water and other drinks in the cooler between the seats, buy a 20lb bag of ice and pack in as much ice as possible. I then tie a knot in the bag and put the left over ice in the floor cooler. After a few hours I put that ice in the cooler with my drinks and then use the floor cooler for trash. The 2nd round of ice will last all day. It also helps if all of your drinks are cold when you put them in the cooler.

[buttermilkbiscuit]

Big problem for me as well. I usually buy 40 pounds of ice for each tournament.

I took the rear storage well, behind the drivers seat, and double insulated it with insulated board from lowe's, that comes in a 4'X8' sheet and has silver reflective stuff on it. I cut two panels for the floor of it, then sloped one corner to a drain plug I put it. Then I cut panels for each of the sides. I used a tube of adhesive caulk they sell for the board, between each layer. Cut them a little big and squeeze them to fit, so they're tight. I then used an Elmers fiberglass kit, and cloth, to coat everything.

I can now put fifty pounds of ice in the chest. I use the seat cooler for trash. I still keep some ice in the floor. The bags of ice in the big chest, I don't dump out. They go in the livewell, or to replenish the floor cooler. If I put ice in the chest at 5 pm, it will still be 75% of it left, the next evening.

by the way, fiberglassing is a f'ing MESS, so it's best to take your deck lid off, and put towels around the hole to cover your carpet. If I had to do it again, I'd take it to our local f'glass repair shop, and give them a hundred to do it for me.

This is the best cooler I've ever had, and I've got guys wanting to pay me to make one on their boat, it works so well.

[reelman]

You must be catching some major fish...for my club events (4 clubs)...that Igloo 26 qt Island Breeze is perfect...best ever in 30 years of trying them all.

I don't waste time with "boat chests" except to store other stuff...never buy ice.
I freeze 6-8 used drink bottles 20-32 oz and for 1 day event the system is great here in super hot central La....water 88-95 every single day since early June and the air every bit as hot.

Frozen water means emergency drinks and easy re-freezing too....plus toss one in the livewell a lot easier than messing with ice to help save bass...IMHO...
anyway, to each his own...and the extra 20 minutes of sleep by not stopping in the morning before launching works too.

[earl]

I freeze a few drinks and mix in with the ones cooling- it is a major problem for sure though