tackle bin -completed
 

Although, it seemed like a lot of guys suggested not storing much
tackle in the trunk, most of my trips are multi-day trips where I
need to haul more garbage. In addition, I am hoping that this box
will help me be more efficient between outings and transitioning
between spots. I finished the sucker last night and decided to post
some pics of the result.

I am aware that there is a commercial product called the "tackle tote"
that this was inspired by....but I decided to build my own with stuff I
found at Lowes and home depot. In the end, it probably would
have been less expensive to just buy a ready made tote, but part
of the motivation was to customize one to my own needs.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ps0c9cbe50.gif

These are the features of the bin

1. Storage for about 20-30 plugs - linear hanger style
2. Storage for soft plastics and bucktails - tray style
3. Storage/access points for tools...bolt cutters, scissors, screwdrivers, tape...
4. Leader and line dispensers
5. Storage for surf belt and plug bag
6. Illuminated interior
7. Spill proof...as...if I knock it over everything stays put.
8. Latching lid
9. Self contained wash down.... fit it with a drain plug

The idea being that it is a sort of mini workstation module for my trunk that is a
one stop location where I can find everything and quickly prep or
modify my surf bag on an outing or between locations. One thing I
don't like about the tube style storage methods...is that it is
natural to have the tendency to over pack them. In doing so... its
impossible to quickly locate a plug and extract it....so the primary
method of storage will be a linear hanger style. It may limit the
amount of lures I bring, but I consider it a feature. If I can't cover
the bases with 20-30 plugs for a 4 day outing...then there is
probably something wrong. I use either a 2 or 3 tube plug bag
when I fish....and like to fish light. 30 plugs is typically what I bring
on a 4 day outing and up until this point they have been tucked
into different plug bags and boxes. I am hoping this bin will help to
centralize things....and cut down on my fumbling around in a dark
trunk. The box doubles as a place to let my bucktails , plugs, and other
gear drip dry without leaking int my trunk.

Most of the metal is aluminum, with exception of the metal trays that I got
at bed-bath-beyond. I suspect those will rust...but for $4 each...I can
always replace them or find a better option. I never used pop rivets
before...but used them on this project. What a wonderful binding method.

I started with a $35 contico bin I found at Lowes. whats nice about this
bin is that it is a 1/8" thick soft plastic. It made it easy to work with and
modify. I added some Latches so that I could keep it closed.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...pseb4750f9.jpg

I bought three lights for the bin. All from lowes. They are the sylvania
Dot-it...type with leds...super bright and they turn on by depressing the
light head. The longer one on the lid has a swivel light and is velcro-ed on
so I cant detach it and use it as a hand light if I want. The round dot
lights are riveted to the box.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ps3fb5aa44.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ps4c5b242e.jpg

I added a drain plug so I can use it to let plugs and bucktails drip dry and
when I get home I can hose down the hole box and drain the water
without tipping it over.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...psd52675a1.jpg

Lowes gave me some scrap plexi-glass that I used to create a divider in
the bottom. I set this up to separate my surf belt and plug bag from the
plugs.....so they do not get hung up with each other. I used plexi...so i can
still see the longer plugs and so that the lights can still illuminate the
whole box.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ps62c3e1cb.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ps683d35bf.jpg

I used some schulter edging that conveniently has holes cut into it that
seemed to be perfect for hanging plugs. I also had some old surf belts
that I cut up for tool and pork rind jar holders. Nearly everything is
attached via aluminum pop rivets. Those are so cool.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ps40480552.jpg

The cost:

$35 - Contico bin
$5 - Latches
$9 - schulter edging
$15 - 3/16 pop rivets assorted sizes and aluminum washers
$10 -metal trays
$15- assorted bolts and fasteners
$25- sylvania lights
$10 - aluminum angle iron
$3 -rubber stopper
free - plexi

items I had...
free -strapping
free - tools and borrowed rivet gun

Added all up its about $130. Add in 10 hours of labor including time to
look for parts that might work....it becomes an expensive project even at
minimum wage its over $200, but it was fun to do.

I still have left some space for a couple of missing items. Tape, Scissors, terminal
tackle, and fillet knife. At first I thought I could use a magnet to hold the
terminal tackle, but it seems that stainless steel doesn't stick to the
magnets I tried. I might try the box a few outings before I figure out how
and where I want to attach these additions.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...pse372e318.gif

Wow, looks great and well thought out!

That's slick....nice job, I gotta build one of those.

Nice job,they had similar bins for sale at RISAA.

Nice box, you might want to reverse the drain stopper? Push in from the inside that way you won't lose it!

Very cool

That is a great solution, nice work.

I received the one they had at Risaa as a Christmas gift.
It will be great for Cutty trips or bringing to Montauk. I wouldn't feel comftorabke leaving it in the car though.

Another thought, don't put wet plugs in. Dry them
Before they go in and put Silica packets ( to help with the moisture) on the bottom.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

thats a pretty sick set up stephen. like the dyi aspect of things and it does make sense for what you do and traveling.

I spoke with the guy from tackle Tote and his wife and daughter, super nice people and learned a lot about how the boxes are assembled and whats hes doing to help those with disabilities, not sure if he has the whole story posted online but seems like a great guy.

i would say its the way to go for traveling, cutty, block, montauk ,etc but ever since my buddies truck was broken into in 2006 while we were fishing and our extra gear was stolen, i travel light now.

Very nice.

The only thing I can suggest is if you rinse the whole box don't close it up until its dry inside.

A vent is key also. Steady moisture and a warm box (heat) will accelerate hooks rusting.

Nicely done.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Trust me..that stopper is not moving. It needs a real solid hit to pop
out. It is tight against the bottom of the box, so coming from the
other direction is not an option unless I cut down the rubber
stopper. I will keep and eye on it though.


Right on.

It seems like there is more value in just purchasing one like "Tackle Tote".
Like I mentioned, as humble as my bin is, in the end... I
dumped more time and money into it, than it would cost to buy a
ready made. I think Tackle solutions "tackle tote" has more
features and is bigger than mine.

I was obviously inspired by their design. When I first saw pictures
of their work...my immediate thought was "brilliant!". Another
motivation was doing my own... I was looking for a diversion project
from my home renovation that I am 4 years into yet only half way
through. It was nice to start and finish something un-related to the
house in a short schedule. As a bonus...its for my surfcasting
obsession.

great Idea. I will think about venting the sucker....maybe install a
little battery operated fan. I have seen little battery operated
computer fan rigs.....hmmmm.

I don't like how the hooks on the hanging plugs could get caught up on something else stored in there, other than that it seems fine.

I have one of those boxes and I stuff it with my canal jigs and a bunch of plano boxes full of plugs, sometimes a plugbag or 2. My stuff goes in and out of my truck often since I use the truck for work also.

LOL. Still too small. That's why mine has four wheels an a V-8. LOL

Looks great, I think it was well thought out and perfect for your needs

Nice layout.

Try Plasti Dip on the bare metal trays.

Nicely done great layout well thought out. The tackle tote at RISAA was nice but definitely cost more than your overall solution but ready made stuff is often not exactly what you need one solution is not the best for every one.

Very cool
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I do not intend to over pack the bin, and to prevent plugs getting
tangled in my surf belt and plug bag....I put the plexi divider in. I
guess it could have gone up a little higher, but it seems to work
pretty good. I left enough of a gap on the plug hanging side to get
my hand in easily... in the event that a plug drops to the bottom.
Didn't want to put my hand in a bear trap.

I actually just did a test with it and lifted it upside down over my
head. Everything stayed put including the plugs. I could hear them
swinging around but none came free. When I was putting the thing
together I thought I would need a rubber gasket on the lid to force
down on the hooks to keep them from coming free. It turns out it
didn't need it, so the gasket is going back to Lowes.

There is a trick to hanging the plugs that I saw on a pic on the SJ
site, where instead of hanging the plug from the top, you feed the
hook from the bottom. It seems to make a difference in keeping
them in position.

hahaha....yeah, I guess my tackle bin is sort of sad. I have seen guys with more
plugs hanging from their shoulder, than what I have in the bin. For
some reason, I really like fewer options. I am constantly, fighting the
urge to bring everything. It could be my lack of solid experience or
confidence in certain plugs, but I find my mind more focused if I have
fewer options.

My whole plug collection is about triple what I can fit in the box. I am
trying to stick to only plugs I have confidence in....and not buy any
more. Even still, I feel like I should be on hoarders. There are plugs
that I should put in the trash or give away, but for some sick reason I
want to keep them.

Na it's good. I'm just a bit on the sick side LOL. Bad part of making the stuff an knowing so many others that make such great stuff. LOL

nice setup P, if I may ask, where did you get the latch?

Nice work. Just be careful. I have had so much stuff stolen (truck broken into), I only bring what I can carry in a backpac

Thanks!

Lowes. In fact everything was at lowes...but I am sure home depot
has similar stuff. In there door hardware section they had a couple
to choose from. I forgot to mention that these are probably prone
to rust as well, as they are most likely just steel. I attached them
with bolts, prior to knowing about pop rivets. They probably could
be attached better/easier with the 3/16 pop rivets...as the holes
seem to be almost the same size.

This is not the one...but the only one on the site I could locate. Its
called a draw latch or sometimes a loop latch. This one happens to
be stainless steel, but I do not know if it would fit on the box I
used. There was very little room for attachment and the ones I
picked fit perfectly.

Shop Sugatsune Polished Entry Door Night Latch at Lowes.com

Thanks!

Understood. I wish I had the option to leave the stuff at home. I live in
Ct on the western end on LI sound. This box is not for my
local excursions, but for when I fish open ocean beaches on
multi-day trips. I wish I was as lucky as most of you to fish the
open ocean beaches when ever I want. I have to drive 3 hours one
way.... to fish in RI. When I go on these trips I am going blind.
Don't know the conditions or the local bait. So I need to pack a bit
more stuff to cover the bases.

I hope I never get broken into. It would definitely mess my
head up, as it is, I am paranoid.

That came out sweet

Nice job, Steve... looks awesome!

Yeah...if I have the spare time this spring, I may be building something like that.

I can attest to that. During the derby his truck looks like a mobil tackle shop. Almost no room for a driver.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Nice job! Anyone looking to build one on a budget, I saw a bin at Walmart yesterday for $20.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

thanks for the 411

P, I Google'd stainless steel draw latch and got quite a few hits, under $4 free shipping.

Need them for my cooler -

i'll need to know how many beers it fits, in addition to the gear, to give my honest opinion :)