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I don't normally put anything in the cooler that doesn't need to be kept cold - that means lunches, a couple of beers, bottle of water, and since I do like to fish, bait and plenty of room to ice fish. Here's a small tip for cooler storage that may seem very simple but it's useful. I found a tupperware container with lid that fits perfectly beneath my cooler tray. It is 6" X 13" X 9" H, and is used to store lunches and beverages - keeps them cool and dry. The tray is used for bait storage (if needed) or snack items. This leaves the rest of the cooler available for fish. I put life jackets in a dry storage bag beneath the forward console seat (a nice feature on old 16s). Batteries are aft, emergency gear is in the console, and fishing tackle is beneath the pilot seat. I rarely stray from this system, although with more than two aboard (especially kids) all bets are off!