Boats and Ice coolers: Need expert advise.

[IDWITHELD]

I have a 21 ft Custom Weld jet boat. I would like to mount an ice cooler on the deck over the jet drive. Is this a good idea or am I asking for trouble?

Question: What is the difference between a "marine cooler" and a standard cooler?

What I gather so far:
1. Marine coolers have very secure lid latches.
2. ...the color white demands a 30% price increase???
3. ?

I'm thinking 100qt. minimum.
What do you guys use?

Thanks in advance.

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I have a couple of the white "marine" coolers and they suck. They don't hold the cold nearly as well as the new breed of coolers. The new coolers are the ones that will keep ice for 5-6 days in 90 degree heat.

I'm selling my "marine" coolers at our next garage sale.

[Geemo]

Costco has nice LARGE coolers during the season. As for mounting... We use bungie cord to keep ours on the back deck while we are going down the road and out on the water.

I have seem a connection bracket North River has to attach the ice chest to the transom as it sits on the back deck.

Geemo

[Tall-tailer]

Had one on my boat for several years and found that the following modifications were needed to make it work well.

1. replaced standard handles (which can pop out of plastic backets, with a rope with wood handle "more secure".(easier on the hands too).

2. added stainless tie down hooks to deck for securement.

3. cut round bungee cords to custom length for hold downs. (Type with metal reinforced plastic hooks).

4. removed standard drain plug and drilled out too larger diameter (1 1/2" pvc thru fitting with cap) standard drains were set up too high and were too small and would clog easy)

5. added over the top securement strap for highway transport. (very important) You see a lot of ice chest lids on the side of the road, without an over the top strap the wind at 55-65 mph can catch the lid and away she goes.

6. Replaced standard hinge screws with stainless screws.

I did not find a factory ice chest that was the right size and offered all of this so I found one the size I needed and made these changes. Have used it for 5 years this way no problems.

[TrinhTD]

3) Marine Coolers have stainless steel hardwares.