Kayak Coolers?

[Krux5506]

I've been rigging my new Predator pdl kayak and kind of feel like my old tiny little rubbermaid cooler isn't quite cutting it for those hot days I'm out there 8 or more hours. Started looking into Yeti and the other similar style coolers, maybe anywhere from 20-25 quart size or so just to tuck in the very back of the kayak. The more I think of it the more it seems to be pretty overkill, when those little coolers weigh anywhere from 16 to 25 lbs empty, then figuring ice packs and whatever drinks/food you put in you're nearing possibly an extra 50lbs back there. 

 

For any of the kayakers who use coolers like these or even bigger ones, does that added weight play a noticeable difference while out in the water? Does it make sense to just stick with the cheaper less insulated coolers that end up being a fraction of the weight? I really don't need something to hold ice for a week, just for the day really, but I feel as though I've gotten sucked into the rabbit hole of trendy, cool looking coolers. What brands do you guys use? Some I've been looking at besides Yeti are RITC, Orca, Hooked, Dometic from REI to name a few. The market has become flooded with these heavy duty styles of cooler and obviously targeted directly at the outdoor and fishing crowd. My common sense is telling me to just throw one of my bigger Igloo coolers in the back and mount rod holders to it, and skip the smaller cooler purchase all together. Even the big 45 qt or so Igloo's I have are no where near the weight of the smaller ones at half the capacity. 

[HookInMouth]

When I'm going out with the family we take an Engle dry box/cooler since it holds a lot more for the weight/size of the cooler (thinner walls, less insulation). Loaded up with ice and water it's still pretty heavy. I don't really notice it on my Bonafide SS127. But then again when the cooler isn't back there my 75 pound yellow lab is and I don't notice that much either. Not sure about your kayak.

 

When we don't need the capacity of the Engle I take an RTIC soft. I'm a really big fan of the RTIC stuff. I personally can't notice a difference between their stuff and Yeti outside of the price in my climate. Maybe if I was crossing 300 miles of hostile environment on foot it would be a different story. The RTIC soft is light and works really well. 

[Krux5506]

Yeah I'm in no way bound to Yeti, but the only tempting thing about them is they seem a bit lighter than the other options I was checking out. I'm not exactly the lightest traveler when going out on my yak so I don't sweat a few more pounds here and there but those little coolers really are heavy for their size even just empy. I got the 13' Predator with the intention of being able to comfortably bring whatever I need. Found a nice looking cooler mounted rod holder  setup I think from REI for $50. Might be better to just get one of those for my 45 qt Igloo cooler. 

[Fishingmickey]

Hi Krux,

     This is what I have been using. The Engel 19 w/rod holders.  I can bungee the cooler down with the rod holder tubes and it's secure. It's very light weight and does a great job holding ice, drinks and four rods. 

 

Fishingmickey

[Krux5506]

2 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

Hi Krux,

     This is what I have been using. The Engel 19 w/rod holders.  I can bungee the cooler down with the rod holder tubes and it's secure. It's very light weight and does a great job holding ice, drinks and four rods. 

 

Fishingmickey

Never seen that one but it's pretty cool....great price too. Now ya got me thinking!

[bulldog1935]

Sold on Engel (all my kayak buds are sold on Engel), and just replaced hinges on my 12-y-o.  

 

 

Also drilled through mine with a nylon eye-bolt for Kayalite 360 mount.  

  

 

 

Engel is an air-/water-tight dry box.  If you should turtle your kayak in deep water, holding your Engel cooler between your knees will provide buoyancy to help launch you back on board

[schplurg]

I'm easy. I use a very large empty drink bottle, fill it with water, freeze it, then set it in my yak and drink it as it melts. If it will fit I will put it in a cooler with other stuff. If not it sits at my feet. Lasts all day.

 

Coleman makes a line of coolers that will keep drinks cold in the sun all day no problem. I have a larger one, it's called the "Max" something, MaxCool? I use it camping and it holds ice for a few days for $40. You don't need a Yeti for one day.

[Quitlimpin]

I love my RTIC 12 can soft cooler. I can fit a couple big powerades, a few bottles of water, and a couple monsters/cokes in it just fine & it tucks in perfectly behind my crate. I’ll freeze a couple bottles of water and they’re thawed just enough to drink after a day on the water in 248 degree Texas heat.

[Krux5506]

Only reason I wouldn't go with a soft cooler is I like the idea of utilizing it with rod mounts. One reason I haven't upgraded all this time was on my last kayak I had little to no space for my gear + a cooler any bigger than what I have now. With the 13' Predator I have plenty of space for a crate (which my rod holders currently are mounted to) and a cooler behind that. 

 

At this point I either mount rod holders to one of my current Igloo coolers or I spend a little on one of those Engels. If mounting rod holders onto a current cooler i don't really care for the idea of drilling into them and bolting them on from the inside. Thinking of possibly using adhesive velcro for something like that so it's not as permanent. 

[bulldog1935]

6 hours ago, Krux5506 said:

... If mounting rod holders onto a current cooler i don't really care for the idea of drilling into them and bolting them on from the inside. Thinking of possibly using adhesive velcro for something like that so it's not as permanent. 

The Engel 19-qt is offered with rod holders already installed.  

Drilling through your good cooler is a tenuous choice.  

In my case for the kayalite eyebolt, using nylon didn't sacrifice heat transfer (engineer here, I even compared it to spendy fiberglass eyebolt), and everything is sealed with pressure seal washers and 3M Marine sealant throughout.  

It also doesn't need much structure, because the 360 light springs up and down on bungee like a whip antenna.   

[CountryboyinDC]

I also have a Predator PDL and it is so heavy with so much load capacity, I doubt the weight of a cooler is going to be an issue.  In fact, short of lead shot, you might have trouble finding anything that gives serious issue in terms of overloading the kayak, weight-wise, in the water.  Other kayaks could pose an issue, like my latest purchase.  A full 3 liter bottle off to one side would make it pretty well unpadleable.  

If you decide to go the soft cooler route, I got this one for $25 from Walmart (I think the normal price is double that or so).  Certainly not the product that Yeti or others make, but it keeps a 6 pack of beer cold enough to want to drink it even after being out all day.

If you're adding a rod holder to a cooler, I'd avoid the velcro or Gorilla Tape or non-permanent solution you're shooting for.  I would tend to believe that @bulldog1935 knows his business here.  After all, who but a perfectionist would use a dial caliper to make sure a fastener going into a plastic cooler is absolutely snug-fitting?

 

I don't have experience with Engel coolers, but another I've seen that has an already installed track rail system is the Orion.  Ths way you could truly mount whatever you want rod holder-wise.  I've seen that they have a seatback, and folks strap these to fishing SUPs, using this as their seat when they tire of standing.  Just another thought.  They are spendy.

[Functional]

havent used it for kayaking but the Pelican 14qt personal cooler is a nice size for a day trip and has some nice features for dry storage. Good price at $100 too. They have a larger size if you wanted a bit more.

 

I own a 30qt and have used it in the NC sun for 3 days straight outdoors and still had cool drinks on the original load of ice. Very well built coolers

[bulldog1935]

For fishing-shack long-weekend trips, for hauling kitchen, couldn't pry my Icemule from my cold fingers, etc.  

Some people use Icemules for fish bags, and several makers offer really nice gel-ice fish bags that mold to kayak bows.  

I have a soft gel-ice lunchbox that travels in my truck on long drives, and may pack a small watermelon to the back-bay slough (notice I know how to thump).  

 

There's a current thread on soft coolers on TKF forum, and most of the recommendations were WalMart examples like @CountryboyinDC posted above. 

 

My Engel, though, is a permanent fixture in my boat - it comes out for washing the boat, and will go right back in.  

 

 

btw, Engel also offers a bait livewell, and I know a few who have retrofitted their Engel coolers for bait livewell.  

[Krux5506]

I really think I'll end up with the Engel based on price + attached rod holders. Just seems to be the most practical for what I need. 

[Koz]

I prefer a small, soft cooler and some ice packs. As for the effects of any added weight, while it can impact the way my kayak rides on the water where I noticed it most is unpacking the kayak at the end of a long day.

[dickenscpa]

I have two Yeti coolers, the hard Yeti 18 or 20(?) and the softer square one. The weight has never affected me, it's more space. I have a Hobie PA that has size for days but if I put it behind my H-Crate I can't reach my cooler from my chair. If I put it in front, I can't reach my tackle.

 

My previous kayak had an open bow and I kept it up there and no problems, but the Hobie PA has that closed front hatch and neither cooler fits in there.

[J Francho]

I use one made for my boat.