Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

[alwhite00]

I am looking for a 40-50qt 12V cooler to get out of the ice ritual and was wonderning if anyone had one they liked? I noticed som of them say they will cool up to 40 or so degrees below ambient tempature, So if it's 90 it will only cool to 50? I don't think that will work all that great, gets pretty hot here durring the boating season.

Just wanted to see what some people are using & how they like it.

Thx

LK

 

[Big Island Lifer]

I don't have any answers but I love the idea.


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[boater4life]

Be aware of the amp draw, many will suck down your batteries!

 

[JVM225]

I had one years ago and it really didn't work all that well. You are correct in that the temp in them is a certain amount below the ambient temp. Not sure what the exact number is, but I remember that the one I had struggled to achieve it's goal on the boat. It also drew a lot of power from the batteries.
They probably work well in an air conditioned car or something like that where the draw isn't much of a problem on a long trip where the alternator is keeping the battery in good shape and the ambient temp in the passenger compartment is fairly low. But on a boat on a hot day sitting on the hook with the motor not running, is really stretching the limit of their capabilities.

 

[skolbe]

My boating friend has one that they store ice in for drinks. They keep in the aft cabin which keeps it cooler. Works fine for that. They bought it at a truck stop.

 

[northern]

WalMart sells on line a 1.7 Cubic foot all refigerator on line. AVANTI H20 W 17 L 18. It works well for us but draws 10 AMPs on 12 volts I think when running. Also can run on 120V. It does not draw powers once it cools of inside. Works well I got it for same reason you are to avoid making ice all the the time. I think it woud draw down a 12 volt group 27 deep cycle in less than a day. Paid 180 for it. Real coolers are 600 for same size in our area.

 

[Summer Fun II]

They bought it at a truck stop.

Thats the place to buy one. :thumbsup: . :thumbsup:

 

[alwhite00]

I have the house battery seperate from the start battery, Half a day on the hook would be the most - then I can re-charge.

LK

 

[KP49]

I had a dometic CF-40 in one of my old larger bowriders, worked great, at 600.00 or so it isnt cheap though. Once you fill it up and everything cools off it doesnt run all the much, I would run it on 120v at the slip and would go all day on hook on one battery running it and the radio, electric flush head, LED lights etc. None of those 12v car type coolers work very well if you open it a lot on a hot day, you need something with a compressor and they arent cheap.

 

[MorichesBayBum]

I bought the igloo model at Costco. It works very well. We go on two week trips often and we never have a need for ice. It takes about 24hrs for it to get cold, especially with warm beverages. The power drawer is extremely minimal. I had it on my other boat for 3 days on a single deep cycle Deka battery, with the tunes and lights, with no problem at all. The only CON is that it does give off some heat. If the unit is in the cabin running without the A/C on it'll make the cabin very warm. I wouldn't leave home without it, and if it quit tomorrow, I'd buy another immediately. Hope this helps.