The title of this column might need a makeover in the future, as even the most rudimentary equipment we install in our boat these days has had, in the majority of cases, a huge amount of research and development put towards it. And amazingly in many cases, the pricing is comparatively cheap at the retail level for products that are far from basic.
I’m in ‘boat show’ mode at the moment, traipsing around the country doing all sorts of media work at the BIA (Boating Industry Association) run shows in each state. If you can work your way among the glut of locally made and imported boats you will find cubicles tucked away between the main walkways, and in the throng of the moving mass of people it can be easy to miss some great products.
Even spending every day at the show as I do, it is hard getting to see some of the great inventions that make our life easier as recreational boaters.
A couple I found at the Melbourne and Sydney boat shows deserve some mention.

ICE BOX

The first is an ice box from Waeco. “Not another ice box!” I hear you say? Well, the design of this range has been a long time coming.
The first advantage is the colour of the shell of the box. Typically, ice boxes are white with some of the poly boxes lashing out into various colours of yellow and blue. A lighter colour reflects the heat but quickly gets scuffed and grotty from being knocked around in the boat. This range is light in colour but with a moulded-in speckle that looks clean even after being used on board to store fish and food. Although cosmetic, it does keep the box looking good.
The second is the solid rubber feet which protrude from a rebate in each corner of the base. This is a good design that takes a lot of strain away from the fixing device of the rubber to the box. The rubber keeps the box just off carpeted decks so that wash down can rinse the carpet underneath if the box is too heavy to shift, and prevents the box sliding on both alloy and carpeted decks.
The seal on the lid sits in a rebate, well in from the edge of the box. This ensures the rubber receives little sun which, in the case of the boxes I have, has resulted in perishing and impacted on the insulation capacity. While this box has finger rebates on each end, you may install your own rope handles in the holes recessed in the top of the bottom section.
The catches on the lid are rubber and replaceable. When the lid is left to fall, the catches hook over the lugs on the box base to ensure a firm seal. They can then be pushed home to lock the lid down.
The inclusion of a concave inner bottom allows all fluids to drain into the centre which slopes to the bung on the side. This bung has a very aggressive thread which makes it hard to cross thread as will happen with many boxes. (Just ask me, I have a supply of champagne bottle corks to keep ice boxes functional due to damaged bung holes.) This is a long thread that can be partially unscrewed exposing a vent in the side that allows fluid to drain without total removal of the bung. This is a godsend in big boxes. They can be permanently fixed to the deck and easily cleaned without upending; which might not be possible if you are weak in the arms or have a bad back.
Overall, this is the most practicable ice box I have seen to date and no, I don’t own one and yes, I will be digging into the hip pocket at the end of the show to take advantage of this great product.

LIVEBAIT PUMP

The next item is a portable livebait pump from Johnson Pumps. I have discussed livebait pumps at length in this column, but this item is a good backup for those that have a permanent tank and fixed pump.

Typical livebait pumps have high pressure nozzles which aerate water by force. This eventually knocks the bait around causing premature death. The L-450 model is a 700gal/h unit that can be set up with alligator clips and immersed in a tank whose pump has stopped working or just in a bucket if you have a boat without a livebait tank. It can also be a permanent fixture with accessories. It aerates water with a venturi system that draws air through a hose suction cupped above water level. The volume and pressure of water is at the right level for baitfish, and with the gentle mix of fresh air, this rig goes a long way towards providing longevity for live baits. At just under $60 it’s a no brainer for a back up.

By Rick Huckstepp, as featured in Trailerboat issue 223.