Looking to buy my dad a new cooler for his ocean boat. He has been using the same Coleman 150 for at least 15 years. Just got back from Rupert, fishing was good, but man that cooler SUCKS!! Might as well put your fish and ice in a tote of similar dimensions.
Speaking of dimensions, it is important that I find a cooler that is pretty much the same size. Otherwise, it will not fit in the spot where the cooler goes. I snuck a few quick measurements when he wasn't looking.
Outside dimensions = 40 inches x 17.5 inches.
Inside dimensions = 39 inches x 16.5 inches x 15 inches deep.
Obviously I'm looking for a significant upgrade from what he has. I believe the correct term is a "roto molded cooler." Yeti, Calcutta, Pelican, Grizzly, something like that.
I have a Lifetime 65 from Costco that I bought a couple years ago. It's awesome! I paid $150, I see now they are $200. But it's way too small, would need about 3 of the damn things for my dad's boat. I know he likes having just one big cooler for the ice/salmon/hali/ling. The boat has a separate cooler in the floor inside plus fridge for their perishable food.
I have no problem buying, say, a Yeti, if they are worth the $$$. If one is just paying for the name, and a knockoff roto molded is more or less the same, then I would probably go for the knock off brand.