The issue is the melt water. So I could add a self priming hand or electric pump that drains up to the sink itself. Or, perhaps change the paradigm and do away with the melting ice? Freezing water in jugs is ok for planned outings, but not for unplugging and casting off for the evening after work. that requires something fast and easy like ice, or something permanent and electric.
I have been considering other options as well,but I will not spend $2,000 for a cold beer and no ice water in the bilge. I have recently picked up an Igloo Kooltron 12v fridge/cooler to experiment with, and a Kenmore dorm fridge that I have partially apart on my workbench. Both were possible candidates for a "franken-fridge" conversion. The Kooltron is the easiest but requires the largest hole to be cut in the icebox and promises to be the least effective based on my running it in my workshop. It works after a fashion, but only provides a cool beer, not a cold one. The dorm fridge would be more complex to adapt and is more of a mystery to me.