Cooler for 2005 26M

[Chip]

The size of the Igloo cooler that WM sells and that fits perfectly in the aft berth cutout on the starboard side of the 2005 26M is 72 quarts, or 110 cans. Great for a group day trip or an overnight weekend trip but not quite big enough for all of you multi-day, hardcore cruisers. It keeps things cold for up to 5 days in 90 degree heat, depending on how many times one opens the lid. I haven't tested the ad but it sure has kept things cold for a few days. I put in ice at noon on Sunday, opened it twice, and today there was still ice in it, not all water. Food was cold. (Of course, if there is water rather than ice, you don't drain that - the melted ice still cools.) The 72-quart size also comes with a sliding, removable tray which is handy for obvious reasons. If sliding is too much effort for you, don't slide it. Just leave it in place and reach down below it for a cold one. There's still plenty of access. Just pulling Moe's chain on that one.

[Moe]

Not trying to pull your chain, Chip, but a cooler this large can weigh 70-100 lbs fully loaded. What's going to happen to it if your boat gets knocked down on the port side? A fairly long drop. With no inner liner to absorb the impact, that carpeting on the thin Mac hull may not be enough to stop the cooler from punching a hole in it... especially if it lands on a corner. And that hole would be underwater when knocked down if wet sails, the cooler, and other loose stuff that fell to the port side keep it down. You might get lucky and have a berth cushion get between the cooler and hull, but I wouldn't count on it.

The cooler may have two eye straps on the handle mounts for an S hook on tiedowns. I'd install 4 gas tank strap eye straps on the berth deck, with at least fender washers, if not backing plates, underneath.

Those of you sitting coolers on seats might consider the same. I know I'm going to tie down the Igloo Ice Cube cooler.

--
Moe

[Chip]

I just would not have thought of that. Maybe because I never owned a boat before or maybe general lack of foresight. Thanks, Moe.

Chip

[Moe]

You're welcome. I don't recall where I read it, but someone once wisely wrote that for everything you put in a boat, think about where it will be when the boat's upside down.

--
Moe

[Andy26M]

In addition to tie-downs or some other bracing scheme, I found that using one of those non-skid rubber pads (like you put under rugs - they also sell them as placemats for boats, but of course they cost more if they are listed as "marine") will do a very good job of keeping the cooler from sliding around. I use bits of this non-skid rubber all over the place in the boat, it works surprisingly well.

I had a pretty near knock-down once last year with the igloo 5-day cooler in it's habitual spot there to starboard, and it was not tied down (I was being incautious) but the cooler did not move an inch - everything on my stbd settee wound up on the port settee though...

As to packing, if you try and plan meals like soups and chili in cans, take fresh fruits and vegetables like apples and potatoes that do not need to be cold, keep a separate cooler for drinks, and then deep freeze EVERYTHING that is going into the "long term" cooler, you should be able to get a full week out of the 5-day cooler. This is not experience boating per se, but experience tent-camping in primitive areas where it is a big hassle - like a 3 hour drive to the nearest store - to run and get ice. By "deep freeze" I mean either use a commercial reefer or crank your own reefer to as cold as it'll get - get the temp down near zero. My neighbors have a big unit in their basement where they store meat, so I toss my stuff in there for a few days before I pack the cooler. Even the hot dogs and hamburgers, and Mom's spaghetti sauce. Try to only open the cooler with the frozen foods in it once or twice per day.

Also, "moveable" air inside the cooler is your enemy. As you take stuff out, try and refill the empty volume with something - clean the container you had your frozen sauce in and put it back in the cooler empty. Shoot to minimize the amount of air that is exchanged with the outside each time the cooler is opened.

I also try and make sure things like meats are double bagged and the outsides of everything are clean before packing the coolers, so that I can drink the melted ice.

Oh, here is another tip - freeze your own ice using plastic half-gallon milk jugs. The ice seems to last longer, it is easier to move around and rearrange, and as it melts it does not get your butter all soggy. When you want a nice coooold drink of ice water - voila, it is already in a jug for you. All summer long I always have 3 half-gallon ice jugs in my freezer ready to toss in the cooler for short-notice picnics, road trips, whatever - when you get home, just put 'em back in the freezer and they're ready for next time.

- AndyS

[Chip]

Nice ideas. I hope you cleaned those milk jugs well.

[aya16]

Coolers: When I use a cooler its double duty. First off I replaced the cheap 5 gallon water jug that came with the boat. I use the 2.5 gallon water jugs from the store I poke a hole in the top slide the manual pump hose in and its ready to go. the old space that held the water bag will hold two of these. I freeze the 2.5 jugs and use them to cool the cooler down when the ice melts its used for with the manual pump fo drinking water. Two of these last a long time in the cooler.

Needless to say the cooler or the fridge has to be secured from slideing when the boat is being sailed.

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

You're welcome. I don't recall where I read it, but someone once wisely wrote that for everything you put in a boat, think about where it will be when the boat's upside down.

--
Moe

Say Moe!
I don't think the factory would recomend sailing a mac upside down.

[Moe]

You mean it doesn't fly inverted?

--
Moe

[mtc]

i picked up an igloo refrig for $70. anyone have any luck with these units?

seemed better than doing the ice thing.

[Moe]

Micheal, if it's one of those thermoelectric coolers, I hope you like cool, but not cold drinks on hot days. And you can't put ice in them either. I don't consider them safe for foods that need to be refrigerated at 40 degrees.

They also draw nearly 5 amps continuously, over 100AH per 24 hr day, where the Engel and other compressor refrigerators cycle on and off, and draw nearly half that, 2.7A, when on. The compressor refrigerators are rated at 1/4 duty cycle, which is 0.7A per hour or 17AH/day in the case of the Engel, but can use double that or more in hot weather.

A friend gave me one of those thermoelectrics bought for keeping food and drinks cold while driving. It was such a power hog for anything else that I tossed it. I guess if you're just daysailing and not overnighting, and have a deep-cycle battery, it's okay.

--
Moe

[Divecoz]

I have seen two brought down to the island and both failed after about 30 days of constant use. Seems they might be better suited for short term occasional use. 8 hours of sitting and running inside a Van really brought the battery down. One was normally hooked up to a battery charger and it did last a bit longer than the one that was plugged into the wall with the supplied converter. Cooler is a good name as it got the beer "cooler " than it was when it came out of the box.

[aya16]

MTC if your talking about the black fridge with the stainless front 110 volt house fridge. Thats the one I have. Although I use the fridge to keep drinks and ice while plugged in to shore power all the time it will stay cold all day with out power so it works great for day sailing. I think the other posters think its the type you plug into a 12 volt plug. Mine is not its a real fridge.
As far as working and how long it will last. I have had mine for about 5 months and it seems fine. put a bunch of those pouch drinks in the freezer part and when you unplug for the day it will keep the whole fridge cold all day. Also my 1000 watt generator will run it for extended trips.