in floor storage fabrication....

[cocacola]

My boat is a mod vp family ski boat. It has a small removable teak hatch between driver and passenger bucket seats...not big enough to be used as a cooler. On each side of it (fore and aft), the center sponson of boat would be a perfect candidate to seal over and add more compartments with hatch. I want one as a storage and the other as a cooler. Should be easy enough to do as there are many covers available. Now the big question.... what should I line the cooler with to keep ice from melting too fast? nothing at all? a rubber bladder? other?

[Techno]

I've done a similar thing.
I'm not sure if you want to insulate a hole in the floor... the hull. Or if you want to build a suspended box and insulate that.
I don't recommend using the hull for lots of reasons.
The box isn't a good idea generally but might be OK for you, they're all convenience issues. If you have a permanant cooler in the floor use any kind of foam. Air is what insulates and foam is mostly air. Make sure this foam is closed cell. IE not seat open cell foam!!!! Open cell foam of any kind absorbs water. The foam in a can is open cell.
Divinycell or klegecell foam is a strucural foam and you can laminate with poly resin. That foam isn't cheap and might be hard to find.
Styrofoam can be laminated with epoxy and then coated with gelcoat for a nice cleanable finish. Poly melts this so the epoxy barrier.


I installed a box in my foamed floor. This is totaly seperate from the hull suspended from the floor. The cooler drops in. At this point the cooler doesn't have to sit flush but can stand above the floor, if capacity is needed. It also makes it easier to get at. The section of floor removed can cover the hole. This floor box also has drainage holes.

As a last suggestion lots of boats have only fiberglass and gelled coolers. No insulation at all. Really a glove box with teak cover instead of a door.

[Tom Foley]

Great cooler fab material is Coosa board , a high density closed cell foam and glass fiber composite that is used by tons of boat manufacturers . If you have one in your area you may inquire as to whether you can have some drops for your project. The 3/4 board is very rigid and fabs easily .

[cocacola]

Thanks Tom... I will look into it.



Great cooler fab material is Coosa board , a high density closed cell foam and glass fiber composite that is used by tons of boat manufacturers . If you have one in your area you may inquire as to whether you can have some drops for your project. The 3/4 board is very rigid and fabs easily .