Larger storage coolers

Has anyone successfully installed larger storage in the hulls? I see the bin below the hatch is molded as part of the hull. Nervous about cutting them out to install a drop in bin and hatch. Would it weaken the hull integrity? Might I have issues with flooding the hull upon capsize if not sealed well? There are the hatches (13"x30") and bins I want to use to replace the standard storage coolers in the Getaway hulls. They are 2x as deep and 2x as long. Similar width as current.

Hatch: http://www.westmarine.com/buy/tempress- ... 20_002_003

Bin: http://www.westmarine.com/buy/tempress- ... 20_003_515

Would love to hear from Matt Miller on this from Hobie perspective and also from anyone that has modified their Hobie with larger storage or other ideas.

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2002 Getaway - SOLD in 2018 "Cheshire Cat"
2016 AI - Bought used 3.18.23 "Crabby Puppy"

Still interested in doing this. Anyone have any input?

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2002 Getaway - SOLD in 2018 "Cheshire Cat"
2016 AI - Bought used 3.18.23 "Crabby Puppy"

Suggest you take one of the existing coolers off and take a look inside to see what the project will entail before making the investment. The chainplate might interfere or reinforcement for the front crossbar. If you do take it off, take a couple photos and post since I was considering just removing the bottom of my cooler if I ever needed a lot of space for storage if I were to go camping.

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R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

I say go for it. Let me know if you run into any problems, like your boat breaking in half. JK . If it doesn't maybe ill try it.

You can't just remove the bottom of the cooler as it's a molded part of the hull. The hatch is screwed on top with a gasket in between but the cooler bottom is not an insert. That what makes me nervous about cutting it out. Maybe I will take out the deck plate in the bottom of the cooler and stick a camera inside to see what it looks like from the inside. I'd be looking for structural reinforcements that I would not want to cut through or out.

I suppose another option would be to leave the hatch as is but cut out the bottom and say the lower 3/4 of the sides of the cooler to make much larger access to the inside of the hull. Then rig some sort of netting to hold items in place so they don't slide to the front or back of the hull. Only issue (which is a big issue) would be in a capsize. The amount of water flooding the hull through the, well documented, non-waterproof, hatch would sink the downward hull probably before it could be righted.

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2002 Getaway - SOLD in 2018 "Cheshire Cat"
2016 AI - Bought used 3.18.23 "Crabby Puppy"

I know the coolers and hatches have changed over the years. Mine don't leak. Not at all.

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R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

I'm with Keith, I would be worried about the integrity of the hull if you remove that much material from the top.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

Upgrade to a newer boat? In several different areas (motorcycles, for example, which are my profession) upgrading can be far more practical than going through the work of making an older model perform more like a newer model. In this case the larger coolor would be fully engineered with no thinking needed on your part, replacement parts are available worldwide, and you get the added benefit of newer everything. And of course the '17 models are redesigned...

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'00 H16 #104691
'78 H16 #32692 ex-rental [gone]
Old Holsclaw trailer
My Hobie 16 pages

I dunno...I sure wouldn't buy a new boat for better storage (my wife might, she wants a bigger house for more junk). Of course, I have a pair, my wife don't.

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R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

Of course it's not like you have to spend $10,000 to get bigger coolers. Just the difference between the value of a newer boat and the value of what you have. If it's (making up a number) $1500, and you get a turnkey big-cooler system, newer sails, newer hulls, newer tramps, etc... how bad is that really?

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'00 H16 #104691
'78 H16 #32692 ex-rental [gone]
Old Holsclaw trailer
My Hobie 16 pages

I tell you what I have a 2006 Getaway I bought brand new and it only sees a few weekend sails a year as my sailing locating is in the northern shield of Canada and If I could trade up to a 2017 Getaway for $3,000.00 or under I would do that in a heart beat.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

Well, my boat is a 2002 and I seriously doubt I could get more than $3-4k for it. I only paid $2300 for it 7 years ago (it was a great deal). I'm not about to spend $7 grand just to upgrade the coolers. Besides, it would only be a better hatch as I'm pretty sure the coolers themselves are the same size. I want more storage, not the same size.

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2002 Getaway - SOLD in 2018 "Cheshire Cat"
2016 AI - Bought used 3.18.23 "Crabby Puppy"