Cooler Storage on the Roof

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kaelc

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C Dory Year
2007
C Dory Model
25 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Island Magic
Any tips for putting big fish coolers on the roof? I'm thinking of putting a little padding and then tieing both handles down. Hope to catch our limit this weekend off Bamfield on Vancouver Island.
 
Some of the early modern 25's had a fairly thin laminate on the middle section --my 2003, flexed with my weight standing on it. My 2007 does not, and seems substantial. Air conditioners weight 90# (I will probably re-inforce and level the top, but should be able to handle the weight.

Some have made racks, which distribute the weight to the hand rails, for heavy loads. There will be some minor handling differences with 100 plus lbs up there, with slight change of center of gravity.

I would put a light weight back packing foam pad--such as we get at WallMart for $5. under the cooler.

Most keep the coolers in the cockpit or fashion a rack over the splash well for a cooler.

Lashing the handles to the hand rails would be the normal point to secure. I would have one forward and one aft (being the uprights of the railing) to keep the cooler from sliding.

What weight do you aticipate? Some coolers full of fish can weigh in the 400# category--and that would make a difference as to where to put it.
 
thataway":2e5jb3ip said:
...What weight do you aticipate? Some coolers full of fish can weigh in the 400# category--and that would make a difference as to where to put it.
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You'd have to have some method of getting a heavy cooler like that on the roof in the first place.
 
Is this what you expect to be carrying in terms of weight, plus ice?

(From your album.)

IMG_8164.sized.jpg
"First Fish on the boat 49,33 and 15" lbs



Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Well, we only managed one small halibut a "chicken" as we called it but 15 springs and coho and a couple rockfish. Cooler went on the roof nicely empty, put on from the dock it was pretty easy and second cooler went into the cockpit filled with ice and was replaced by fish as fast as it melted but was a pain to dance around. Didn't touch the second big cooler on the roof. Still debating throwing roof racks on, but between the dingy and solar plans, it is tough to decide what to do on so versatile a boat.
 
kaelc":495xcrkk said:
Well, we only managed one small halibut a "chicken" as we called it but 15 springs and coho and a couple rockfish. Cooler went on the roof nicely empty, put on from the dock it was pretty easy and second cooler went into the cockpit filled with ice and was replaced by fish as fast as it melted but was a pain to dance around. Didn't touch the second big cooler on the roof. Still debating throwing roof racks on, but between the dingy and solar plans, it is tough to decide what to do on so versatile a boat.
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Sounds like you need to build a rack up over the engine splash well to get the cooler up off the floor and keep it off the roof as well. This also makes it conveniently accessible. I did this and found it worked great! Only big drawback is the extra weight near the transom, but, as you'll remember, everything on a boat is the result of a whole bunch of compromises. Is there anything inside the cabin you could move forward a bit to balance things out?

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Sea Wolf":2mf062ps said:
Sounds like you need to build a rack up over the engine splash well to get the cooler up off the floor and keep it off the roof as well. This also makes it conveniently accessible. I did this and found it worked great! Only big drawback is the extra weight near the transom, but, as you'll remember, everything on a boat is the result of a whole bunch of compromises. Is there anything inside the cabin you could move forward a bit to balance things out?

Joe. :teeth :thup
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Yeah I think we may need to. I think there a build thread and pictures that I have seen of this but I can't seem to find it? I browsed a few dozen pictures of yours as well.
 
kaelc-

Most cooler racks are made from stainless pipe life rail fittings, which adapt well to the task, but there are a great variety of materials used and designs constructed.

You can see the one I did below, then click below it for further views, and, hopefully, some other C-Brats will also offer references to theirs.

Good Luck! Joe. :teeth :thup

IM003306.jpg

More photos:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _photo.php
 
On SleepyC we have availability of 2 coolers, on fits on behind (aft) of the bar and hangs over the splash well and then one that hangs forward of the bar over the aft part of the cockpit, but not on the sole.

IMGP2134.sized.jpg

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

Hefting_Cooler_Friday_Harbor_2009_071.thumb.jpg
 
Go fishing with me. You won't catch diddly squat and a cooler doesn't enter the equation!

Martin.
 
bridma":2fojyjqs said:
Go fishing with me. You won't catch diddly squat and a cooler doesn't enter the equation! Martin.
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There is some great fishing off Kitty Colman beach at the Hump and the Denman Hornby area and you are not far from Browns Bay and so much closer to Nootka and the North Island! My brother and his friends have always done amazing. They even went and got 104 Tuna a couple of weeks ago.

Would love to go fishing with you but I don't know all the techniques for the area. I grew up in Courtenay/Comox but didn't get serious into fishing til I moved to Victoria. Winter springs are supposed to be on Plugs trolling fast if I remember correctly!
 
I purchased an Elkton Outdoors Insulated Fish Cooler Bag (kill bag) on Amazon for $109 for the 40 inch they also make a 60 inch bag for $139.
I’m going to hang it most likely under the rail out of the way so there is no need for a bulky cooler taking up deck space. Once installed I’ll post a picture.
 
Teufelshunde":3gqk6x1m said:
I purchased an Elkton Outdoors Insulated Fish Cooler Bag (kill bag) on Amazon for $109 for the 40 inch they also make a 60 inch bag for $139.
I’m going to hang it most likely under the rail out of the way so there is no need for a bulky cooler taking up deck space. Once installed I’ll post a picture.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Would love a review!
 
Teufelshunde":uci4apqg said:
I purchased an Elkton Outdoors Insulated Fish Cooler Bag (kill bag) on Amazon for $109 for the 40 inch they also make a 60 inch bag for $139.
I’m going to hang it most likely under the rail casinos mit freispielen so there is no need for a bulky cooler taking up deck space. Once installed I’ll post a picture.
Click to expand...
Waiting for the review!
 
Finally mounted the (kill bag) and stuffed it with 12 Rock fish and 2 Lingcod one of them 23 inches and the other 28 inches and had room for 2 or 3 more ling’s! Bag worked great was easy to clean out and kept the ice from melting off for 12hrs which made for good and chilled fish :lol:
I’ll post a picture of where I put the bag in my album - it was out of the way unlike the hard cooler option.
 
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