Another front hatch cooler mod

This topic has been covered before - see viewtopic.php?f=78&t=50816&hilit=hatch+cooler
Nevertheless, I wanted to show my mod.

On my previous PA14 I tended to carry LOTS of gear in the front hatch, most of which was not used on any one day. I carried an insulated large fish kill bag on the rear deck for the fish I was taking home. In my new PA14, I wanted to run leaner and commit the front hatch to use as a fish cooler. I quickly found that ice does not last long in a stock front tub, but also recognized the need to be able to easily wash out the tub after bringing home a bloody slimy mess of lake trout. So instead of using a spray-on insulation, or permanently bonding Reflectix to the tub, I opted for an insulated "pocket" which the tub could easily slip into and out of. This keeps the insulated pocket clean and permits the tub to be completely removed for easy washing.

The insulation used was cheap auto windshield "shades" made of reflective bubble-wrap type material (Total cost $6 USD for 2 shades at local Dollar Store). These were cut up and wrapped around the outer side of the tub. Seams were sealed with aluminum HVAC tape. Most areas of the tub ended up with 2 layers of insulation. An additional 2 layers were applied to the inner surface of the lid, making sure not to impinge on the rubber gasket so as to avoid aggravating the known leaky front hatch issue.











Project worked out fine. Tub is relatively well insulated and is easily removed for cleaning. The lid closes just as tightly with or without the insulation in place. And sorry about all the pics being "sideways" - image hosting site used does not permit rotation.