[Peril]

One of our US members (sorry, I think Les) posted some pics of their setup, including a pic of the Crate Mate. This product turns a cheap file basket into a kayak fishing crate, complete with rod holders:

http://www.3rdgrip.com/pages/6/index.htm

I really like this idea and want to buy one, but they are not available locally. I have asked the manufacturer what price they could offer for a bulk purchase and what would be the minimum lot size. Buying wholesale, without US sales tax. including surface post and, potentially, GST, I think we should be able to offer these at something like the US RRP or $50-60 AUD.

Please express any interest in purchasing one here. I will put it all together if there is enough interest and the manufacturer offers a reasonable price and lot size.

Please note that I won't be making any money out of this. Just using a few mates' buying power to get what I want at a good price

 

[Magicrik]

peril they look like a ready cool bag.........but im still to "borrow" my crate yet.......I dont know if i want one yet as i think im going to need some trips out in my new yak before im happy with what i want in it.
Can it be used as a cool Bag do you know?

 

[Peril]

Sorry guys. The manufacturer won't come to the party on price, offering for 10 a price per unit that is higher than the single price from KFS. Given that a bulk order is likely to attract GST and the postage cost was also unattractive it makes no sense to proceed with this.

 

[Phoenix]

I saw something like that on KFS - I actually custom made something similar myself for my crate. If anyone is interested I could do a custom crate setup - tell me what you want and I'll give you a price.

 

[beardys]

thanks for the link, i just asked for a quote for 1 posted to aus, if its reasonble i will be buying one. it looks much neater than what i have at the moment.

just got my e-mail back........ $63 express shipping to melb or $55 super slow shipping in USD or AU (not sure) and $69.99 USD for the crate mate......

thats over $120 which at the moment, i think would be a waste of money.... what do you guys think?

SO i am going to try get my hands on a milk crate and build my own crate mate, if all goes well i will post it up in DIY .

 

[DGax65]

thanks for the link, i just asked for a quote for 1 posted to aus, if its reasonble i will be buying one. it looks much neater than what i have at the moment.

just got my e-mail back........ $63 express shipping to melb or $55 super slow shipping in USD or AU (not sure) and $69.99 USD for the crate mate......

thats over $120 which at the moment, i think would be a waste of money.... what do you guys think?

SO i am going to try get my hands on a milk crate and build my own crate mate, if all goes well i will post it up in DIY .

I've been thinking about getting one of the new Crate Mates (with the folding plastic crate). I think it would be a bit of an improvement over my existing crate, but it is a little pricey. I definitely wouldn't spend that much for shipping. For that price you could buy some heavy vinyl material and have a sail maker sew it up for you.

Maybe I should go into the fishing gear export business :idea: 8)

 

[water_baby]

Maybe I should go into the fishing gear export business :idea: 8)

funny, im in importing, and was thinking i should do fishing gear imports on the side... 8) just need to get the import/distribution rights for a new, popular bream lure and ill be set :lol: :lol:

i have the crate-mate, Les and I did a swap deal (i sent him some sx-40's and he sent me a crate mate) quite some time ago.

it really is quite good, and attaches easily to the yak just behind my seat. i only use it for offshore/big stuff days, where i need to carry a bit more gear than the usual (1 rod, 1 small tackle satchel), and the extra rodholers on the crate mate are ideal for gaff/lip grips, knife etc. keeps them all close and easy to reach. it is waterproof, when it is closed, so no splashes get in, but the top flap would obviously allow water in if it upturned. overall, it is a good item for use out wide, as there is no need to rummage about in the hatches (a bit of a pain in a swing, but not impossible). the size of the file crate is nice and big too.

admittedly, a sailmaker could probably do it for you. getting the rodholders onto it could be a tad difficult, but no reason it couldnt be done for under $120.

if you want dimensions, or even want to have a look at it i would be happy to post it up to you Peril, reverse engineering is quite handy and i wont need it for a while. if you can find one closer, have a look. they are really nice. i assume, as nobody else has said anything, that it is the only one in the country, but im probably wrong!

hell, you could go into business selling a "similar, but legally distinguishably different" version here, and sell locally, and export to New Zealand, and probably to USA too!! nothing like selling somenones product back to them at a lower cost, everyone else does it.. ka-ching :lol:

 

[DGax65]

I've used zip ties to keep the rod holders in place. It would be fairly easy to make a vinyl cover and lid. You could even put the rod holders on the outside the way they have it on the Crate Mate. You're never going to make it waterproof; you just have to make it splashproof. Should be an easy project 8)

 

[Peril]

if you want dimensions, or even want to have a look at it i would be happy to post it up to you Peril, reverse engineering is quite handy and i wont need it for a while. if you can find one closer, have a look. they are really nice. i assume, as nobody else has said anything, that it is the only one in the country, but im probably wrong!

Thanks Aaron. But this is an old topic and I lost interest a long time ago. We are so fickle

 

[FoolInjected]

Why not.....

Borrow a milk crate (as we do)
Get windscreen sun shields from the $2 shop for umm $2 ea (the foil type)
Get the wife (or other) to sew the sun shield to fit the crate with a simple lid ("hinged" one side and velcro the other 3

So for less than $10 you got a insulated milk crate. If you want it waterproof just put some silicone on the seams before sewing
Attach rod holders etc through the insulation with flat plastic strips both sides to make it more durable

It may be better to make the bag fit inside of the crate rather than over it. thay way the crate protects the bag from scuffing and abrasion

Cheers
Wayne

ps MY FIRST POST,,,,,,,,wooohooo

edit: the last bit about the bag being inside would make it a bugger to open and the bag will keep "falling in"
So you will need to make the bag fold over at the top about two inches, like when you fit a garbage bag to the can. This will only be on the front and two sides as the rear edged is still attached to form the hinge.

Now if one of you guys would be kind enough to give me a kayak I will then have the need to make a prototype :lol: