Turning Livewell into a Cooler

[SkunkedAgain]

Not the whole thing, but just part of it. My Navigator has the one big livewell in the front with two hatches. I already keep the divider in there. I've been thinking about converting the side in front of my console into a cooler. Has anyone done this before?

[PerchJerker]

I haven't done that before but I have a couple things for you to consider. One is that water will probably come in the livewell overflow and you will want to plug that so you don't get a bunch of water in your cooler. Another consideration is that your livewell is probably not insulated, so it won't hold cold temps very well.

When I had a boat with a huge front livewell that I wasn't using as a livewell, I had a few small softsided coolers that I just set inside the livewell.

Hope that helps a bit and good luck.

[Northlander]

Ya ice dont last long in a livewell. Especially in July. Better off with a good cooler in the boat.

[fishinfey8]

On my dad's boat, he has a reg. size livewell in the front, and an oversized livewell in the back. We took and plugged the back livewell, lined the inside with 2 and 1/2 in. pink styrophome(sp?) insulation and turned it into an ice box. Had to make sure it was sealed well by making sure we were detailed in our work, but it works like a charm. Holds ice all day, and has enough room for all the fish.

[SkunkedAgain]

Yeah, I was thinking about molding styrofoam in there, sealing it, and but inserting a spout so that I can drain ice/water. I realize that a cooler is best, but sometimes it's nice to not take up the extra space.

Good ideas.

[fishinfey8]

come to think of it we didn't plug the livewell. Just kept the plug in. After each trip we just take out the foam, and give everything a rinse.

[marine_man]

I would expect that any permanent modification will decrease resale value as well... it's your boat, and you need to be happy with it; but something to consider if you're thinking about upgrading anytime in the future.

marine_man

[PerchJerker]

I realize that a cooler is best, but sometimes it's nice to not take up the extra space.

What I did with my big front livewell is to use 2 or 3 smaller softside coolers and keep them inside the livewell --- they were small enough that they fit through the hatch and inside the livewell, and where big enough that I could put everything in there that I wanted. And since they were in the livewell they didn't take up any extra room. They worked great.

[Esox_Magnum]

I use my livewell and baitwell as bait storage my cooler I just slide under the drivers console and friends slide theirs under my rear deck, keeps everything out of the way and as neat and tidy a 17' muskie rig can be....

[Fishjet]

I made a cooler out of one of my built in storage boxes. Lined it with styrofoam, didn't seal it and the melted ice drains into the bilge. Has worked for 15 years.

[AaronM]

Resale will be poor, I'd advise to do what was mentioned above and make it removable.