Ice Cooler Storage

jimandlaurie · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 10:25 am Post subject:

That is a good recommendation on the fish bags. I looked at their site and read what you said 2nd-Byte. Looks like Bill is sold and he is a pretty good judge of stuff too, so that works for me. Just adds more to my Christmas list... Laurie thinks I am Rolling Eyes

(nuts) anyway.
Jim

True Story · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 5:18 pm Post subject:

Hmmm..... Now you got me thinking. Thats got to be a stout bag to hold that many silvers. I bought all of the "STUFF" to build the "Tyboo Cooler Rack" this morning and will proceed. Got a little pricey when I decided to go stainless. But those bags...... I was wondering what to do for Halibut. Not going to fit too many (or none) in a 100 qt. cooler, but those bags....... 30" x 47", plenty big for a handfull of them chicken butts or even tuna if I every get a chance. Thanks for the input.

Tim

Mighty Bite · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 9:18 pm Post subject:

Yep, the Canyon bags are pretty cool. (no pun intended)
They handle the small halibut with no problem. For the most part with the mid to larger halibut I bleed them and tie 'em off to a side cleat on a stringer until I get ready to come in when I move them into the cockpit.

Incidently, 30 silvers in a bag my size is really too many........it really was pushing the envelope. I thought I might have screwed the bag up with that big a load, but it came through with flying colors.

Mighty Bite · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 9:25 pm Post subject:

Really Jim........ you're wife thinks you are nuts? Hmmm, I think you have keyed on a rather common affliction suffered by almost all C-Brats. Perhaps it is a requisite to membership. For sure, being a little crazy is OK. Geez, just look around at your fellow Brats. You gotta love it!

TyBoo · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 9:27 pm Post subject:

True Story · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 12:31 pm Post subject:

Tyboo, Hope you had a nice holiday. Fooled around with rack off and on over the past four days. I bought SS 7/8" rail tubing and SS bimini tube end pieces to attach to SS bimini deck fittings that will attach to the inside of the motor well.

Well, I now have a better appreciation for why they call that space back there the "motor well" and not the "cooler well". There's lots of room back there with the engines down (75 HP main and 9.9 kicker attached directly to the transom). With the motors up though, it's a different story. I decided that I wanted to be able to raise and lower the kicker without having to remove the rack. I use the kicker when fishing and I want quick access for emergencies. To reach this end, I only have about 6" of clearance between the end of the tiller and the bulkhead. Consequently, when I set the rack down (16.25" x 37" overall dimensions), the rack overhangs the bulkhed (into the cockpit) by about 10". I was able to figure this out before I completely assembled the rack and drilled the holes as shown on your sketch. So instead, I screwed and glued Cool

two pieces of 1x2 material to each side of the rack with the ends extended about two inches past the back of the rack to drill holes into. Thought this would work better geometrically.

The only problem now is that the rack is only as sound as the screw and glue job and subject to quite a bit of potential leverage (if leaned upon)resulting from the overhang. I am now thinking that I will build a new rack using 1x4 material for all sides of the rack with the side pieces extended aft about two inches as before for locating the holes. Give me a reason for buying some more of that plastic lumber. It's cool stuff. Sorry for rambling on but I thought you or others, might be interested in the latest update.

Tim

Larry H · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 2:16 pm Post subject:

True story,

Will the main engine clear the rack when the motor is tilted up? If not, there will be a collision between the motor cover and the cooler rack if you run over something and the main kicks up.
I like to see a picture of your handiwork.

TyBoo · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 1:17 pm Post subject:

Hey Tim, how did the rack project turn out? We gotta see it.

True Story · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 1:47 pm Post subject:

Thanks to your help, I finally finished and installed the cooler rack. Pictures are posted in True Story's album if you care to take a look. All things considered, I am very happy with how this turned out. It does intrude into the cockpit by 10" but it's certainly less of an intrusion than putting the cooler on the floor. It also provides a great place to cut bait, something to lean against when fighting fish in the slop and the fish cleaner fits great and is out of the way. Thanks again for all of your help. Tim

TyBoo · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 2:02 pm Post subject:

You do nice work. I turned my head and looked at those pictures every which way, and it is all straight and square. It looks very functional, too, and can be removed quick and easy. Great idea of using the cross piece for a dam to get the motor well a little deeper.

Thanks for the pictures. I like it. I like it a lot.

True Story · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the nice words Tyboo. I'm not sure about you, but I've had a couple of steep boat wakes come through the motor well and into the cockpit when loaded up and a few people in the back. Never got much more than about five gallons of water, but it gets a person thinking. Well, we're off to the Bahamas to go cruising on our other boat Cool

. Happy Holidays. Tim