itiming wrote:
We had used a cooler at first, but, like you, found it too large as well as prone to catch wind.
We added insulation to the front hatch bin and the hatch cover -- using reflextix/foam. This has worked well for our needs -- holding ice for a day's fishing and keeping the deck clear. When we keep fish, we do so to eat them, and so keep smaller fish, which fit into the hatch. We also gill/bleed the fish before placing them in the ice.
Another option we use on our tandem island is using hot/cold mylar grocery bags. We line a mylar bag with closed cell foam (fold a piece of foam in half); then place another mylar bag inside that (with the foam, as sandwich between). This has proven to be an inexpensive method that has kept ice even overnight. The larger mylar bags are a few dollars and are large enough for nearly all the fish we keep. These bags fit inside the front hatch, so again, keeps the deck clear (and out of the sun). They also make it easy to carry to the fish cleaning area.
Thanks for the feedback! I do have a fish bag and I think I'm going to start using it but keep it under the front hatch. I like the idea of lining the hatch cover with reflextix.
I did just purchase some Cooler Shock ice bags so looking forward to testing them out. I've heard really good reviews on them. We'll see.