C-26 Cooler

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Fri May 14, 2010 9:38 am

Has anyone found a cooler they like that fits in the forward cooler compartment? So far I found a Coleman 48qt that will fit, but it gives up a couple inches of space in each dimension and seems a bit thin on insulation. Everything else I've found is too tall.

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Fri May 14, 2010 10:37 am

Never mind, I quit looking at my local stores and used the force (aka internet).

I found this discontinued Coleman Marine cooler:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-50-Qu ... er/8187712

The dimensions given are obviously wrong, but it looks to be the same as this one, which will fit:
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemanc ... 540&brand=

So, hopefully better insulation and a great price.

NYCSAILOR · Post by **NYCSAILOR** » Mon May 24, 2010 6:43 am

I have the original coooler and it is a joke... it is very thin insulation as well... I will measure it when I go to the boat this weekend.

I think there is room for a small one under the stairs as well and is closer to the galley, also thinking of somehow building in a more proper ice box...maybe forward of the galley that could also serve as a chart table... but would take away from the settee

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Mon May 24, 2010 7:42 am

The Coleman I bought doesn't quite fit. It's slightly too tall.

My plan is to make a new lid out of plywood and rigid foam insulation to reduce the height about 3/8".

We took out the aft cushion of the port settee and found another Coleman cooler ($9 at our local Wallyworld) that easily slides under the galley. A couple of eye bolts, a bit of line and a carabiner make sure it stays under there. We'll find ways to maximize this storage space.

Originally there was a small cooler under the stairs, but that's where our batteries will go eventually.

NYCSAILOR · Post by **NYCSAILOR** » Mon May 24, 2010 11:56 am

I was thinking of the same, but a water jug ( to supply the galley) originally went there and I was also thinking of putting the battery under the stairs but if the bilge got above the sole the battery would be the first to be submerged and thus cut out -- the bilge pump!

If I do.. put it in that area ( I would like to fit two batteries, I was planning on putting them under the stairs but on the aft side of the low 1/4 berth bulkhead...

I am also worried about ventillation... don't batterries give off noxious and explosive fumes..?

where my battery is now ( OEM spot in cockpit port lazzerrette) is not good... too much weight way over to aft and port..

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Mon May 24, 2010 12:09 pm

I'm planning on two batteries down there. It gets the weight low and centered as it should be, and will also free up the lazarette for things I might actually want in the cockpit.

I'm not so concerned with flooding. Think about where the batteries will be, and the fact that water would need to be up to the top of the batteries before it has a chance to kill them. It could happen, but that's a lot of water. If my bilge pump has let it get up that far, it's probably not doing much good anyway.

Batteries release hydrogen which is not particularly noxious, but is explosive in the right concentration. The good news is they only release small quantities and being the lightest gas on Earth it will tend to leave the boat as long as your battery box has vents. If you're really worried about it you could even seal the box and install a vent tube.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled program...

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Mon May 24, 2010 1:46 pm

I could never find one that fit well either. Did think about getting some foam and building a permanent one in there with a drain to the bow and a small pump down there. But I never did it.

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Tue May 25, 2010 2:31 am

I have had good success in using spray foam (the kind you use for home insulation) to fill the void spaces in cheap coolers, works in providing extra insulation and stiffens the lid up.

NYCSAILOR · Post by **NYCSAILOR** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:07 am

making another attempt at determining the OEM "under the stairs" cooler.... the OEM manual states it is a 28qt Igloo cooler... but that was circa 1970's ! I know walmart has some marine 25 and 28 qt igloo coolers... anyone know the dimensions of the OEM cooler ( assuming somoen still has one fitted...)

BTW: I have no clue where my batteries will go... still have the single one in the OEM position for now..

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:34 am

Can't remember which I bought last, but it was a bit small and the next size was too tall. I added foam insulation around it, between it and the wall of the well.

bearley · Post by **bearley** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 2:40 pm

I searched all stores and manufacturers wanting to maximize the cooler space in the forward berth. I found a 70 quart Igloo Marine cooler that fits perfectly except it's a bit too tall. I plan to remove the lid and replace it with a piece of plywood with some rigid foam as someone else mentioned.

Igloo now makes a 72 qt marine cooler that I think is too big, but they have a 70 qt cooler that has a football field printed on the lid. The rest is white, so I think it's the same as the former marine cooler.