A best cooler for boating trips has to satisfy a number of conditions in order to be worthy of your choice. It must be durable, stable but not too heavy, compact and simultaneously roomy, portable, yet weather-resistant. Of course, since many of the desired features tend to cancel each other, it is obvious that an ideal cooler for boat has to represent some compromise between the desired aesthetics and actual properties. Hence, what factors should be considered first? What features stand for nothing more than a marketing trick? What special features distinguish marine coolers from ordinary iceboxes? How to make sure your cooler meets all the requirements?
Primarily, you have to inspect your interest in such a purchase and determine what you are going to do after you get it. The set of features necessary for offshore boating significantly differs from the one implied by small picnics for two. Once your goal is clear, start with the main factors moving from the most important to the least necessary.
What factors to consider when purchasing the best cooler for boat?
Size of Your Cooler
The size of your cooler depends on the amount of food and drinks you wish to preserve cold. A 35-65 quart cooler will do for short picnics and small companies. Long trips demand big ice chests even with a capacity of 100-120 quarts. However, make sure you are not underestimating the weight of your cooler. The biggest coolers that can store food for a week are made of metal or roto-molded plastic. Thus, a balance between satisfying capacity and manageable weight should be maintained. Of course, it is also necessary to make sure your cooler will fit into your boat.
Active Operating Time
The product warranty is always important – naturally, when buying a cooler we expect it to work for years. Factors to consider include armored walls, heavy-duty construction, additional rust-resistant coatings, UV-resistant and reinforced hinges, thick and durable lids, protected cup holders, and weather-resistant accessories. Usually, stainless steel and roto-molded coolers make the best choice in the context of this factor.
Stability
Your cooler should be not only durable and sturdy but also stable in every weather. Surely, you do not want to see a heavy loose ice-chest sliding on your deck at the mercy of tides. Models with a non-slip effect may provide the necessary stability and protect your crew from possible damage.
Ice Retention
Ice retention is an integral parameter that determines how long your cooler can keep the intended temperature. High ice retention means that the cooler can preserve its content for at least a week regardless of the temperature of the surrounding air. This parameter is crucial regardless of your other choices and should not be neglected. Even if you plan to use the cooler no longer than a day or two, higher ice retention means better protection even during hot summer days along with increased versatility.
Naturally, when it comes to offshore fishing with its unpredictable weather conditions, a cooler with the best ice retention is an absolute must.
Durable materials
The tougher the better – this recipe works for all marine coolers. Your ice-chest has to be able to withstand UV-radiation, corrosion, harsh weather, rains, strong currents, and heavy tides, protecting your food and drinks from heat, humidity, decay, contamination, rodents, and insects. In general, roto-molded iceboxes do not underperform in comparison with stainless-steel marine coolers, while the saving in weight is more than appealing. However, reinforced layers and stainless-steel hinges in addition to protective shells are strongly recommended. Composite materials allow you to obtain the same capacity and ice retention with enhanced core and better durability.
Special Features of Marine Coolers
Naturally, every detail is crucial when fishing in the open sea. Therefore, additional accessories, such as cup-holders and integrated fish keeper tools may be indispensable. Heavy-duty marine coolers with stable feet compatible with cooler seats also make a nice touch. Of course, extra features cannot compensate for decreased ice retention, so these options should be considered at the end of the line.
Conclusion
Fishing is an enjoyable hobby only when boating with comfort and the above listed best marine coolers are capable of providing such comfort when selected correctly. A great marine cooler is more than a simple fishing requisite; it is rather a versatile tool with a great number of multi-purpose features. Marine coolers are characterized by increased ice retention, generally enhanced durability, preferably airtight seals, leak-resistant plugs, and reinforced latches. Of course, some standard coolers, such as Yeti or Coleman, may also have some of these features; however, marine coolers represent a specialized complex of these characteristics that cannot be found among standard soft-sided ice-chests. Consideration in choosing the most suitable cooler for boating should start with the features that are crucial for you, such as size and portability, and yet the bottom line should always involve the crucial options, which are ice retention and durability.
What’s the main difference between regular and marine coolers?
The technology of marine coolers is similar to any other type. However, boat coolers are usually hard and are sturdier and more stable and durable. They are made this way to withstand any slides, hits, and falls that might happen on the boat if you end up in a storm. Most of them have enhanced ice retention and keep cold for longer. Some also have integrated fish keepers, which is pretty sick.
Is there a brand that specializes in and makes the top boat coolers?
Not necessarily. Almost every brand produces several types of coolers, including marine ones. And, of course, lots of coolers are multi-purposed. Like, Yeti tundra 45 can be used as both a marine and simple camping cooler.
Are all marine coolers in the review made in the USA?
To my knowledge, pretty much every brand here is an American brand (I think Engel is originally Japanese). When it comes to manufacturing, most brands nowadays have factories abroad. Even Yeti has production in China. Hard to say here about every brand cooler, but I know Bison and Igloo are US-made.
Why are Yeti coolers so expensive? What’s the point in buying a Yeti when there are so many options on the market? Are Yeti coolers worth the money?
In fact, Yeti established the high-end cooler roto-moulded industry. Before Yeti's came on the market, coolers would hold freezing for up to two days and crack if you were sitting on them. That is why this brand is not affordable to buy. You get the history of innovations when you purchase a Yeti cooler.
There are two brands whose products seem similar to me. Can you tell me which brand is trustier to use? Is the Igloo or Coleman better?
Both brands occupy the same niche, but they aren’t exactly the same. Coleman products are affordable and well-designed but have some disadvantages in terms of hardware. Igloo presents excellent hardware but has lower ice retention.
I need to find one of the marine coolers that will not be so heavy but still reliable. I’m also concerned with the warranty period, that’s why I’m choosing from the Pelican Cooler products. Which one would you recommend?
Pelican Elite 70 Quart Cooler will be a nice choice for you! It delivers super ice retention and is still very easy to transport. The lifetime Pelican Elite 70 Quart Cooler warranty will eliminate all of your worries.