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Whether you are someone engaged in watersports like sailing, a fishing enthusiast, or someone who simply loves to spend time out in nature, a marine cooler is an essential piece of equipment that should be present by your side for a number of reasons.Â
Aside from preserving the freshness of your bait or catch, they store food, ice, and drinks for long periods of time, storing all the different necessities for you and your family throughout your adventure.Â
The quest for the best marine cooler isn’t a simple task given the fact that there are a lot of options on the market. The top rate boat cooler has to have a clever design so that it functions as it is supposed to do without letting you down at an unexpected time.
That’s why we have dived deep in the marine cooler reviews to find the best boat cooler for you. We have also prepared a buying guide to help you out with your questions in mind.
OUR TOP PICK
Igloo Ultra Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- Available in different sizes from 28 to 94 quart
- Protected from the sun by Ultraviolet inhibitors
- Comes with a locking telescoping handle
- Wheels make no marks while riding
- It moves fast and easy with soft-ride rally wheels
- Has four self-draining cup holders
- There are lockable lid strap and hinged latch
- Rust-resistant and withstands wet environments
- Keeps ice frozen up to 5 days
- Has a Capacity of 140 12-oz cans
- Threaded drain plug makes cleaning easy
Product Dimensions: 18.4 x 16.5 x 13.4 inches
Weight: 8.81 pounds
EDITORS CHOICE
YETI Tundra 45 Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- With a capacity of up to 26 cans plus ice cubes
- 3 inches of PermaFrost Insulation
- Has an extra thick FatWall design
- Sturdy Rotomolded construction
- Heavy-duty rubber T-Rex lid latches
- It comes with one dry goods basket
- It doesn't slide due to BEARFOOT™ Non-Slip Feet
- Easy to carry with LIPGRIP™ handles
- Leakproof, rugged, and designed for quick and easy draining
- The military-grade polyester rope provides extra durability
- Several color options including Reef Blue, Seafoam, Coral, and River Green
Product Dimensions: 26 x 15.5 x 16 inches
Weight: 0.96 ounces
BEST VALUE
Coleman Steel-Belted Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- Several color options including matte black, red, and turquoise
- Has a charming retro design
- Built to last and pass down to the next generation
- 54-quart capacity contains up to 85 cans
- Has 4-day ice retention as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit
- Built with a rust-resistant stainless steel hardware
- Steel handles provide a comfortable grip
- Lid supports 250 pounds, so you can use as a seat
- Durable in any weather condition
Product Dimensions: 25.2 x 17.1 x 17.2 inches
Weight: 18.8 pounds
YETI Tundra 65 Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- Coral, Desert Tan, Seafoam, River Green, White, and Ice Blue
- 3 inches of PermaFrost Insulation
- Sturdy Rotomolded construction
- Heavy-duty rubber T-Rex lid latches
- It comes with one dry goods basket
- It doesn't slide due to BEARFOOT™ Non-Slip Feet
- Easy to carry with LIPGRIP™ handles
- Leakproof, rugged, and designed for quick and easy draining
- The military-grade polyester rope provides extra durability
Product Dimensions: 30.5 x 17.5 x 16 inches
Weight: 35.2 pounds
ORCA 75 Quart Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- Has a 75-quart storage capacity
- Durable, roto-molded construction
- Lid gasket to ensure a perfect seal
- Extendable flex-grip handles
- Cargo net attachment for added storage
- Easy-flow drainage spout for effortless cleaning
- Made in the USA
- Integrated insulation for up to 10 days
Product Dimensions: 35 x 19 x 19 inches
Weight: 35 pounds
Engel High-Performance ENG35 Roto-Molded Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- Coastal White, Arctic Blue, Haze Gray, Pink, Sea Foam, and Tan
- IGBC Certified bear-resistant product
- Ice Retention up to 10 days
- Compatible with dry ice
- Has a seamless rotationally-molded construction
- Sizes from 25 to 320 available
- You can use the non-slip lid as a casting station
- Quick and easy draining due to tapered interior
Product Dimensions: 25 1/2 x 13 x 15 1/4 inches
Weight: 25 pounds
Camco Currituck Heavy Duty Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- White and Tan/Green options
- Comes with a cooler cushion
- Fully sealing gasket
- 5-year warranty
- Seamless walls provide longer ice retention
- Two hinges built into the lid to prevent damage
- Rotomolded one-piece cooler
- Holds up to 26 pounds of ice alone and 18 drink cans
Product Dimensions: 18.2 x 27.5 x 16 inches
Weight: 26.5 pounds
Pelican Products ProGear Elite Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- Marine White, Outdoor Tan, and Graphite options
- Guaranteed for life
- Ice retention op to 10 days
- Freezer grade gasket has 2-Inch polyurethane insulation
- Dual handle system for easy transport
- Feet don't skid and leave marks
- Corrosion Resistant Stainless Steel Hardware
- Has a built-in bottle opener
Product Dimensions: 29.7 x 20 x 19.2 inches
Weight: 41.4 pounds
Rubbermaid FG2B8001TRWHT Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- 150 qt storage capacity
- Made from Rubbermaid
- Elite propellants deliver consistent performance
- Manufactured in the USA
- Extra thick insulation keeps ice up to 7 Days
- Holds up to 250 lbs. of fish with 30 lbs. of ice
- Cooler pack inserts sold separately
Product Dimensions: 46.8 x 19.9 x 21.4 inches
Weight: 1 pound
Grizzly Marine Cooler
- What Makes This Marine Cooler Stand Out
- 10 color options including pink, red, green, and tan
- Made from rotationally-molded LLDPE plastic
- Grip Feet prevent your cooler from sliding
- The 2” Drain allows for complete and quick draining
- Dry ice compatible
- Built-in molded handles for easy carry
- Interlocking design withstands the toughest situations
Product Dimensions: 46.8 x 19.9 x 21.4 inches
Weight: 1 pound
How To Choose The Best Marine Cooler – Buying Guide
Type
When it comes to the best boat coolers you can either get a soft walled cooler or the type of boxes that we have shown here today. A soft cooler is easier to use and more portable. On the other hand, they are small in size and won’t be able to keep the contents cold for long periods of time.
Related Review: Soft Cooler
Size
Coolers mainly come in a rectangular standard shape, which is the most convenient shape to store and carry. The size of the space inside the box is usually measured in quarts. As a measurement, a quart is a quarter of a gallon and is just more than 1 liter. So the more quarts a cooler can hold, the more content it is able to hold.Â
When it comes to the overall size of the cooler, different coolers have different size walls. Therefore it is important to take a look at the dimensions depending on where you want to store it.
Durability
Durability is a key aspect of a cooler as over time it will undergo a lot of punishment as it is used, closed, filled up, placed down, and stored on a boat. You want to make sure that it is built to last and most of the coolers that we have reviewed here are able to stand up to harsh environments.
When a cooler is rotationally molded (rotomolded), it adds a great deal of strength but that isn’t the only place that a cooler needs to be strong. You also want to ensure that it has a strong seal and its latches are able to hold tight.
Material
If you want an effective and long-lasting cooler, plastic is always the best. Plastic ones keep your contents colder for longer while also being more durable in the process. Metal is another option; however, these can be heavier and also prone to dents which can affect the look of the cooler. Fabric options are also available but lack the insulation of the sturdier materials.
Insulation
Of course, insulation is the be-all and end-all of the coolers to keep your contents cold. 2-3 inches of insulation is ideal for long-term ice retention as it will be able to keep your contents ice-cold for days. Anything less than that reduces the time the contents will remain cold.
Ice Retention
Ice retention is the amount of time that a cooler will be able to keep ice in its form without fully melting under normal temperatures. Ice retention is one of the key tests that many companies have in order to prove the amount of insulation their products claim to provide.Â
The problem is that there is no official standard test for ice retention, which means every company has their own methods of testing. Grizzly Coolers, for example, open their coolers twice a day during their experiments while others don’t.Â
Related Review: Grizzly Coolers Vs Yeti
Drainage
In order to properly clean and maintain your cooler, you will want to have the ability to drain the water. Most coolers come with at least one drain some models have two options. Drainage also reduces the odors that are coming from a cooler.
Latches And Hinges
Latches and hinges have to be made out of high-quality materials in order to keep the contents inside as cool as possible. Plastic hinges can be effective but metal ones are also preferred. Make sure that they are resilient to the seawater and rust-resistant.
Measuring Area
If you’re going to be using your cooler for storing fish then you will want to know how big your catch is. Some of the best boating coolers come with a scale on them so you can measure your catch before storing it in the cooler which is a useful feature.
Portability
When it comes to coolers sometimes portability can be difficult. They are often big and bulky and when they are fully loaded, they can be very heavy and require at least two people to be able to carry them to wherever you want it to go.
That being said, it’s important that handles are designed well so that you can carry the heavyweight without hurting your hands. The best coolers for boats also have a lip around the lid which will allow numerous people to carry it. There is also the option of getting a smaller cooler with wheels that can be pulled with a handle.
Related Review: Small Cooler
Slip Resistant Feet
If you’re going to be on a beach then having a cooler with slip-resistant feet isn’t going to be an issue but there are plenty of other situations where you will need that grip when you’re on a boat. When the boat is rolling you will want to make sure that everything stays in one place and doesn’t slide about.Â
Related Review: Beach Cooler
When it comes to the feet of your marine cooler though you also want to make sure that they are non-marking so that you don’t have to end up cleaning numerous black marks from the surface.
Ability To Withstand Harsh Conditions
Being out there on a boat is a harsh environment for all equipment and a marine cooler is no different. It needs to have the ability to withstand the sun’s rays, be resistant to UV light, bangs, scrapes, and the corrosive seawater. This is one of the most important features of a cooler according to marine cooler reviews.
Sturdiness
All the coolers that we have reviewed here have a high level of sturdiness and will be able to withstand the difficult marine environments including the tides and rough seas. Best marine coolers can even be sat on and used as a bench such is their level of build quality. One of the big advantages of having one of these coolers is that you know it’s not going to break or bend and it’ll leave the contents inside protected.
FAQs
Q: What's the difference between a marine cooler and regular cooler?
A marine cooler is a specifically designed product to withstand the harsh sea conditions. It retains ice for longer times than a regular cooler does. It is generally larger and made of the UV ray protective layer. They are so durable that you can even use them for sitting.
Q: Why Do I Need Marine Cooler?
If you want to keep contents cold then there is no better solution out there than having a marine cooler. It can be used for a few different reasons including keeping drinks cold for a party or keeping your catch fresh.
Whatever the reason for wanting to keep something cold, there is no better and easier solution than a cooler unless you have a freezer which is generally only found on much larger boats with big power supplies. Modern-day coolers can keep food cold for days on end so they can be used for a long period of time.
Q: What Size Would Work Best For Me?
The size of the cooler you need depends on what you’re aiming to use it for and how long you need it as well. If it is just for personal use in order to keep food and drink cold, then it’s unlikely that you will need a large cooler as a smaller one would be much easier to carry.
There is also the consideration of storage as there will only be a certain amount of space on your boat. You need to work out where you are going to put the cooler and then work from the space available.
Q: How To Clean Marine Cooler?
Using dish soap, a little bit of baking soda, and finishing with sanitizing spray will be more than enough to clean your cooler while leaving any unpleasant smells behind and leaving it safe to be refilled again ready for your next trip.Â
A marine cooler is easy to clean thanks to the smooth surface. Clearing out the liquid is also simple due to the drainage. Still, though, it’s important not to clean them with any product which is not food safe. To avoid unpleasant smells building up, it’s a good idea to rinse out your cooler as soon as you can after your trip.
Globo Surf Overview
Marine coolers are a great way to add comfort to your boating trip as well as keeping your drinks cool while you play at the beach or relax by the pool. The best marine cooler should keep your contents cold for as long as possible and withstand the harsh conditions that it may find itself in. When it comes to size, this is a personal choice based on how much space you need for the contents and how much space you have in your boat. Independent of your specific needs, hopefully, our buying guide has given you the knowledge that you need in order to find the best marine cooler for your needs.
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