Building in ice chests

[TheShadow619]

I have a 1970 19ft tri-hull, I/O. The front seats are square, in a u shape. I have seen some of the newer boats have storage under the front seats. In my boat, this area is only accessible from under the dash, and kind of a wasted area. What I would like to do is build ice chests in under the 2 side, front seats. I haven't decided whether to fiberglass them in solid, or make them a removable insert. I can run a drain line down the sides to the bildge under the engine.
My question is, would it affect the structural integrity of the bow if I cut the fiberglass under the 2 side seats? Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[cptrick3]

70's tri-hulls were built like tanks. No one knew how strong fiberglass was back then and most of those old tri hulls were all over built.

 

[Chris1956]

It will affect the strength of the hull, no doubt about it. The question is whether the hull will still have sufficient strength, after you cut it.

One of the things you can do is to reinforce the lip of the opening that you make. That will help restore strength.

If it were me, I would glue Styrofoam to the inside of the framed area to act as insulation for the cooler. Use epoxy resin and a layer of cloth to complete the cooler. Rig up some kind of insulated cover as well.

 

[Chris1956]

One more thing....the boat is 45 years old. If you want the convenience of coolers, go ahead and build them. The worst that can happen is the boat goes to it's grave...a place it should have gone 25 years ago.....

 

[gm280]

One more thing....the boat is 45 years old. If you want the convenience of coolers, go ahead and build them. The worst that can happen is the boat goes to it's grave...a place it should have gone 25 years ago.....

Chris exactly why would you say that? I mean folks refurbish old boats all the time on these forums. And if folks trashed every boat that had some age on them, these forums would be so empty...

 

[littlerayray]

I think you should be able to I would definitely glass them in with a drain i have built in coolers on my boat and I love em don't have to lug coolers around

 

[smokeonthewater]

Keep in mind that front area may be intended as flotation.. Cut a hole in it and that goes away.

 

[Chris1956]

Yes as was said, the older boats used air compartments instead of foam, for the required floatation. That design was not a good one, as compartments could leak, after some use. My 1962 Crestliner had air-filled compartments, and they leaked. I would hope that by 1970, foam was being used instead.

 

[TheShadow619]

Thanks for your input Chris. I was planning to double wall with fiberglass and foam in between.

As for the grave comment...

One more thing....the boat is 45 years old. If you want the convenience of coolers, go ahead and build them. The worst that can happen is the boat goes to it's grave...a place it should have gone 25 years ago.....

I have several reasons for keeping this old boat.
1. My dad bought it when I was seven. He died 10 years ago. I have a lot of memories in this boat, and I'm making new ones with my own kids.
2. I love running old stuff. I own an 89 Toyota PU, a 65 and a 71 motorcycles, and usually the oldest boat on the lake.
3. We are having just as much fun on the lake as you without spending nearly as much money as you.
Would you tell the guy driving a Model T that he should junk it and buy a new BMW?

 

[TheShadow619]

Yes as was said, the older boats used air compartments instead of foam, for the required floatation.

The area that I want to put the ice chests in is not fully enclosed. It is completely accessible from under the dash on both sides. I use it to store tubes and life jackets. But the chests would be far enough forward to leave me plenty of storage area. The chests would take up less than a 1/4 of the total space under there.

 

[TheShadow619]

Thanks everyone for your inputs. I'm going to ask my local boat shop too. If I decide to go ahead, I will post pics and let you know how it goes. Thanks again.

 

[smokeonthewater]

The air pockets don't need to be fully enclosed to a t as flotation... The boat will always go down motor first... That traps air in the front...

Just like a hot air balloon is open on the bottom.

 

[Watermann]

Thanks for your input Chris. I was planning to double wall with fiberglass and foam in between.

As for the grave comment...

I have several reasons for keeping this old boat.
1. My dad bought it when I was seven. He died 10 years ago. I have a lot of memories in this boat, and I'm making new ones with my own kids.
2. I love running old stuff. I own an 89 Toyota PU, a 65 and a 71 motorcycles, and usually the oldest boat on the lake.
3. We are having just as much fun on the lake as you without spending nearly as much money as you.
Would you tell the guy driving a Model T that he should junk it and buy a new BMW?

I'm right there with ya Shadow, I love the old school too! Here's my one foot in the grave 45 year old Starcraft. Please post a pic of your boat and the area where you want to put the cooler. I installed an in deck cooler in my SeaNymph but the design is a bit different.

 

[Watermann]

I didn't install a drain for the cooler because I opted to use some big blue ice containers which stay cold way longer and don't flood the food in your cooler. All I do is use some 409 every now and then to wipe it clean.

 

[MTboatguy]

Chris exactly why would you say that? I mean folks refurbish old boats all the time on these forums. And if folks trashed every boat that had some age on them, these forums would be so empty...

Chris is a grump!

:lol:

 

[TheShadow619]

No Title

I'm right there with ya Shadow, I love the old school too! Here's my one foot in the grave 45 year old Starcraft. Please post a pic of your boat and the area where you want to put the cooler. I installed an in deck cooler in my SeaNymph but the design is a bit different.

It's beautiful. I am working to get mine as nice as that. Slowly but surely, I have too many projects going at once.

This is mine.

 

[Chris1956]

Nah, I am not a grump. When I am making modifications to something, I always ask myself "what could go wrong? What is the worst case scenario? and what don't I know?" These three questions tell me the risks involved and hint at the likely outcome. I am therefore able understand the risk and reward domain.

In the OP's case, the risk is very small, IMO, as the boat is worth nothing on the open market. The worst that could happen is the hull collapsing, and him getting a newer, better boat, without it costing him any additional dollars. I simply pointed out that fact.

 

[PatinIdaho]

Nah, I am not a grump. When I am making modifications to something, I always ask myself "what could go wrong? What is the worst case scenario? and what don't I know?" These three questions tell me the risks involved and hint at the likely outcome. I am therefore able understand the risk and reward domain.

In the OP's case, the risk is very small, IMO, as the boat is worth nothing on the open market. The worst that could happen is the hull collapsing, and him getting a newer, better boat, without it costing him any additional dollars. I simply pointed out that fact.

Worth nothing?
Around here thats a $1500 boat all day!

 

[TheShadow619]

No Title

Worth nothing?
Around here thats a $1500 boat all day!

Here in CA, they go for about $2000 to $2500.

These are pics of where I'd like to put the chests. The fiberglass is thin under the seat, maybe 1/4". I don't think it's really structural. A guy at my local shop made a good suggestion yesterday. He said just build boxes and use the soft wall ice chests as inserts. That way they can multi-duty as storage, ice chests, bait storage (use a different ice chest there for bait). I think it will work great.

Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Doesn't look like enough height to me but if it is and if you don't care about the flotation then do a google search for tempress hatches and hatch liners... You won't need to build anything.... Cut out, drop in hatch and liner... Done..... Wrap with or spray in foam from underneath and it's a cooler... Install a small fitting and a drain hose if you like... A rubber plug on the inside would hold ice and water.