A big cooler loaded with ice is an ablsolute necessity in my boat - right now I carry one around that is 42 inches long in a 16 foot boat and I have used every bit of it. One of the major criteria in selecting my boat was room for the cooler. When I had a smaller boat I still carried the big cooler and to hell with legroom. Fish quality is extremely important to me, I bleed, clean, and ice all my fish on-board but don't filet them until I get home as it's too easy to contaminate things in the field, not to mention the obvious difficulties of proving it was large enough or had an adipose clip to the warden!