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IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: profisher on Feb 07, 2019, 09:04 AM

Title: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: profisher on Feb 07, 2019, 09:04 AM
I am considering using a medium size cooler as a bench seat for a eskimo quick flip. I figure this could double as storage and a seat. I will mount fishing rod holders on the side as well. Any one try this or see possible issues I may have?
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: Stickhick86 on Feb 07, 2019, 09:12 AM
Wont hold enough beer?
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: hardwater diehard on Feb 07, 2019, 09:21 AM
Frabill makes one out of a storage/sportsman's tote ...my issue would be back support and height ..take a look at the HT Sports chair .. its light.

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/ht-enterprises-padded-back-and-seat-sports-chair?a=64293
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: stinkyfingers on Feb 07, 2019, 10:19 AM
Without some back support you'll soon be miserable, I'm afraid. I'd rather see you sitting on a clamp-on folding stadium seat for butt and back comfort since you'll have no room for a stand alone chair in your flip. That was my personal solution as well as using an office tote/milk crate to attach the rod holders. Solves much of the storage problem also.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: Kevin23 on Feb 07, 2019, 10:58 AM
If it isnt a quality cooler it may crack with cold.  You could always mount one of those small boat seats on it for a little back support too. 
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: esox_xtm on Feb 07, 2019, 11:09 AM
It'll be fine until the big drunk guy that gets irascible when you disturb him passes out sitting there and you want another beer.  :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

I have actually seen this...
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: ajv5148 on Feb 07, 2019, 11:39 AM
I agree with the posters above, a sturdy cooler should work fine. But I would acquire one specifically for ice fishing and mount some type of seat. Something like a stadium seat or flipover shelter seat
https://www.amazon.com/Stadium-Seats-Cushions/b/ref=dp_bc_5?ie=UTF8&node=3395081
https://www.amazon.com/Wise-8WD734PLS-664-Back-Boat-Charcoal/dp/B000AUA6YA/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549561098&sr=1-3&keywords=boat%2Bseat&th=1

or purchase the pre-built one
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/frabill-one-man-boat-seat-on-trunk?a=1946371&pm2d=CSE-SPG-15-PLA&utm_medium=PLA&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=CI&gclid=CjwKCAiAy-_iBRAaEiwAYhSlA4l2GeiOTbrbdqgzi4_DjkWVSQ-5n23rvhjG4gNaK40vv4uLh9Z16hoCVnkQAvD_BwE
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: FG Steve on Feb 07, 2019, 01:38 PM
I echo the back support comments, but if you know a bench-style seat is OK for you, then I suggest a cooler that is designed to be a seat, such as the Coleman Coastal Extreme series:

https://www.coleman.com/70-quart-xtreme-5-marine-cooler/3000001845.html?cgid=coleman-coolersandwaterjugs-marinecoolers#start=1 (https://www.coleman.com/70-quart-xtreme-5-marine-cooler/3000001845.html?cgid=coleman-coolersandwaterjugs-marinecoolers#start=1)

I'm planning to put one of these in my boat this spring, because it seems that people are gonna sit on a cooler whether it is made to sit on, or not.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: Fontona19 on Feb 07, 2019, 01:44 PM
I used a small cheap Coleman cooler for years. It worked great for the most part, but you did end up with a sore back at the end of the day. The great part was I used it as a bait well, or as storage. You could easily mount a seat to the top of it though.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: SKIFFLAKEJIMMY on Feb 07, 2019, 01:53 PM
I had a 96 quart cooler mounted on skis, kinda smitty sled style. It held everything I owned for ice fishing. Year round. It finally died of old age. It worked well.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: slipperybob on Feb 07, 2019, 08:54 PM
Does it have to be a cooler?  Why not a foot locker or utlity bin like those from Contico.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: Ice Scratcher on Feb 07, 2019, 09:28 PM
Coolers generally speaking aren't that tough.. Thin plastic with foam filling.. If you're going to bolt anything to one use big fender washers to spread out the stresses, or a backing plate...

<°)))>{
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: JohnnyO19 on Feb 08, 2019, 12:41 PM
  You could always mount one of those small boat seats on it for a little back support too.

Would have to be pretty big cooler, wouldn't it flip over? top heavy
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: rdhammah on Feb 08, 2019, 01:48 PM
flambou /plano storage box use a plastic folding stadium seat. mount to cover of the box and use fender washers
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: RickWakeman on Feb 08, 2019, 03:14 PM
I am considering using a medium size cooler as a bench seat for a eskimo quick flip. I figure this could double as storage and a seat. I will mount fishing rod holders on the side as well. Any one try this or see possible issues I may have?

I used to do this with a plastic footlocker I received as a kid. Same idea but it wasn't insulated. I bungeed it to a home made sled and put all my gear in it.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: perch chacer on Feb 09, 2019, 07:27 PM
If you were brought up old school, like me, by sitting on a bucket before all the new huts and shanties, then sitting on a cooler won't bother you without a back rest.  But now that I am older I need the new cushion seats with a back rest.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: profisher on Feb 10, 2019, 09:12 AM
I agree with the posters above, a sturdy cooler should work fine. But I would acquire one specifically for ice fishing and mount some type of seat. Something like a stadium seat or flipover shelter seat
https://www.amazon.com/Stadium-Seats-Cushions/b/ref=dp_bc_5?ie=UTF8&node=3395081
https://www.amazon.com/Wise-8WD734PLS-664-Back-Boat-Charcoal/dp/B000AUA6YA/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1549561098&sr=1-3&keywords=boat%2Bseat&th=1

or purchase the pre-built one
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/frabill-one-man-boat-seat-on-trunk?a=1946371&pm2d=CSE-SPG-15-PLA&utm_medium=PLA&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=CI&gclid=CjwKCAiAy-_iBRAaEiwAYhSlA4l2GeiOTbrbdqgzi4_DjkWVSQ-5n23rvhjG4gNaK40vv4uLh9Z16hoCVnkQAvD_BwE


Omg....this is it. That is exactly what im looking for. Thanks for sharing this.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: Seamonkey84 on Feb 10, 2019, 12:27 PM

Omg....this is it. That is exactly what im looking for. Thanks for sharing this.
Wow, that’s about as good as it gets without buying a yeti ($$) and attaching a seat to it.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: bootstrap on Feb 10, 2019, 12:43 PM
i use on on my sled.  much better than sitting on a bucket. they are light and i fill it with a bunch of gear and sometimes even fish. if you had rods mounted they would prob get in the way.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: jbird68 on Feb 10, 2019, 02:49 PM
(https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.frontiernet.net%2F%7Ejaycub%2FShanty2009-05.JPG&hash=58b818efae0715802741d546026f56d7)
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: perchnut on Feb 11, 2019, 08:31 AM
as an experiment, I mounted one of my old Yukon seats to a cooler I had and took out the bench in my shapely one man.  I'll give it a go this weekend.  doesn't seem extremely stable, and im quite a bit higher up, as in my head hits the ceiling....but I'll try it just to see if I like the concept...and if so, maybe find a more stable cooler.  Like one of those cubes or something.  I like the idea of putting most of my gear in the cooler, so its not just laying around willy nilly....my son said fill it with beer and it will be more stable....hmmmm, he might have something there..... 
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: ajv5148 on Feb 11, 2019, 09:28 AM

Omg....this is it. That is exactly what im looking for. Thanks for sharing this.
happy to help. if you build something post it so we can see what you came up with
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: Evinrude58 on Feb 11, 2019, 01:10 PM

(https://i.postimg.cc/4Yz9x8hG/file1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4Yz9x8hG)
I added these rod holders (like $2 at Walmart) by using an old door hinge I had. Just bolt a half hinge to the sled on each end. You do need to bend the rod holders a bit to get the right angle. They will swivel side to side.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: gola yona on Feb 11, 2019, 01:35 PM
You could keep your shiners in the cooler as a livewell also, just saying.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: Kevin23 on Feb 14, 2019, 03:54 PM
You could keep your shiners in the cooler as a livewell also, just saying.

Or if you keep fish, the cooler keeps them from freezing. Little slush in the bottom and good to go.
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: Unclegillhunter on Feb 14, 2019, 04:18 PM
Or if you keep fish, the cooler keeps them from freezing. Little slush in the bottom and good to go.
Plus the vultures won’t see the fish on the ice and come swooping in to get in on your spot!
Keep it safe! JDL
Title: Re: Cooler as bench seat?
Post by: Kevin23 on Feb 14, 2019, 04:19 PM
Plus the vultures won’t see the fish on the ice and come swooping in to get in on your spot!
Keep it safe! JDL

It's so bad here I have to fish in a tent with all the windows open when its 40-50 degrees out. Otherwise you'll have a bunch of new friends sitting with you in a few minutes.