What is the best Esky

[Scalem]

It has been a dream to be in this dilemma for a very long time - My 80 ltre moulded plastic Esky is too small ::)

For fish such as Kingys and pelagics such as Wahoo and dollies that I will be targeting in summer months, I need a bigger Esky.

As a minimum size Esky I think a 125 litre Tropicool or similar will suffice, which come in at around $325 - $380.00 depending on Brand.

Can anyone recommend if I am being realistic in trying to get the price down more for this size, and suggest the right choices when it comes to dimensions of the Esky? Length is more important than Volume, I would be happy to take 2 pelagics and possibly 4 or 5 mixed other species such as Snapper and Pearlies home for the dinner table. Perhaps similar for the deckie of the day, depening who that is.

Scalem

[legsy11]

i got my 125l tropical on special from A MART all sports at morayfield.i paid $220 and it had around 10 ice gel packs that someone had put in it by mistake.i think the tag had $340 on it.
i also took a 85l the same day for $175
it is a very good esky and holds ice well as long as not opened too many times and stacked inside properly.
so if you keep your eye open i think you can get these at a good price

[dnej]

Scalem,
The ones advertised on Bush And Beach, are good value. 120 litre are 199 dollars. There was some great info put on Aushfish about them some months ago.
The 120 litre is 500 wide,775 long 535 h. The delivery fee is 18 dollars from memory.
See if a search will bring up something.
Regards David

[dnej]

http://www.techniice.com/english/iceboxes.asp#1
There you go. That is the link
Regards David

[lethal098]

i have a techni ice esky that you can buy direct from manufacture in melb, been great since i have had it, link is below, cheers Lee

http://www.techniice.com/english/iceboxes.asp

[Swindells]

Mate i was in the same position last year and i saved an absolute fortune by buying one online from Ebay - Chilli coolers are a good one, got a 200ltr esky for $160, and it's perfect.

[Sabre]

Picked up a "Mackeral Esky" from Big Chilli Coolers factory at Nerang/Carrara on the gold coast, for the exact same reason as you.....needed something with length and it's great, Also picked up a cushion for it and it comfortably doubles as a seat offshore.

[Blackened]

G'day

My techniice are very good, follow the links posted earlier.

To answer the question, the best esky is one filled with reds and rum!

Dave

[yellowbeard]

There is nothing more Oz than blokes talking about their Eskies. So who's got an oldie? Here's mine, the original Malley's metal Esky, which I've had since the 60s I think -- but the plastic top may have signalled things to come.
Would you believe that they also have one on show in Sydney's Powerhouse Museum?http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x189/boatbogged/Esky.jpg

[Mad-One]

you can buy from then on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/210L-Blue-Cooler-Ice-Box-Esky-New-RRP-749-PM_W0QQitemZ190326317830QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Acce ssories_Tackle?hash=item2c50552306&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Cheers Phil

[Scalem]

You blokes are amazing, ask a question on AF and in come the very welcome replies that have opened up a heap of different options.

David, I remember seeing the add but could not remember which Mag, and the wife has tossed out all my reading material I had stock piled in the smallest room of the house::) So thanks for providing the link;)

Swindells - You got a bargain! I rang these guys and their 90 litre Mackeral version is $250 with the potential of their being a seconds or two on the floor ( only scratched or insufficient dye in the colouring or something similar) But I will still have to pay $210.00 or so. So you should have bought two at the time!;D

yellowbeard - that esky has come straight from the back of the HQ holden Ute hasn't it? Maybe older,the EH? That's a classic. My mother still uses brocolli coolite boxes but I can't stand the squeeking of the coolite.

Thanks for the replies guys!

Scalem

[flatzie]

Yep the Techni Ice ones on Ebay are brilliant, and they usually have plenty to choose from in different sizes. I paid 89.00 for mine on auction and the same size sell in most stores for over well over 200. And you get the ice packs as well.
Cheers
Flatzie

[f.t.r.]

i bought a 150 litre big chilli cooler from ebay

paid $140 for it and was able to pick it up from carrara to avoid the delivery fee.

it holds ice very well, as good as any other i have used.

the esky is not a second, just a colour that no one else wanted. bright red will be easy to see if the boat ever turns turtle!

the only negative is when the esky has spent a full day in the hot sun the lid warps a bit, not enough to stop it closing properly but enough to s**t me.

all in all for the price totally worth it

matty

[Seahorse]

bite the bullet, buy the best. evakool

[falconsforge]

+1 for the techni ice via ebay. Great esky and you can get some screaming bargains.

[PinHead]

the best esky is the one with the best insulation..I have about 6 eskies in varying sizes up to 110 litres. 2 of them are a well known brand and they are absolutr crap..they would not keep anything cool on a summers day..someone ought to teach them a bit about insulation and heat transfer.

[TimiBoy]

I picked up a 150l + 40l + 12l + 12 slabs of Techni Ice on the Techni Ice website. Wait for the specials!!! That little lot would retail around a grand, I paid $349 plus $25 delivery.

They are excellent eskis, and will keep ice for days.

Cheers,

Tim

[FNQCairns]

On a trip we filled a 95l mackrel shaped tropicool esky with approx 40L of bottled ice, it lasted 8 days if memory serves me, the last 4 with perishables/some drinks added and getting opened and closed.

+ you can use it to chock the trailer up to do some axle work:)..... long term investment.

cheers fnq

[Scalem]

Greg, I understand what you are saying about the ability for cheap eskys to keep things cool, I am not too worried. The esky I am looking for will have oodles of ice thrown in and only has to keep the catch of the day chilled for a few hours till I get home the same day. Does not have to be super quality for that, although a week on Frazer is a different story when I can borrow the brother in laws.

Tim, Had a look at the techni website and what if I don't want all the other stuff? I have other eskys and to be honest we are running out of room in the house to store them. If all that cost you $349 Tim, what if I only want 1 x 150 ltr esky?? Maybe it was more obvious, but I could not see a link on their website where I could hand pick a single esky outside of their "bundle" offerings.

Ekka show holiday today, I might be able to jump down to Carrara and have a look at the 2nds stock on the floor at Chilli eskys.

Scalem

[PinHead]

Greg, I understand what you are saying about the ability for cheap eskys to keep things cool, I am not too worried. The esky I am looking for will have oodles of ice thrown in and only has to keep the catch of the day chilled for a few hours till I get home the same day. Does not have to be super quality for that, although a week on Frazer is a different story when I can borrow the brother in laws.

Tim, Had a look at the techni website and what if I don't want all the other stuff? I have other eskys and to be honest we are running out of room in the house to store them. If all that cost you $349 Tim, what if I only want 1 x 150 ltr esky?? Maybe it was more obvious, but I could not see a link on their website where I could hand pick a single esky outside of their "bundle" offerings.

Ekka show holiday today, I might be able to jump down to Carrara and have a look at the 2nds stock on the floor at Chilli eskys.

Scalem

Brian..the ones that I have that are not much good do keep ice cold for the day...they are okay on day trips but the bloody things sweat on the outside..leave a trail of water wherever you put it.

[Scalem]

Brian..the ones that I have that are not much good do keep ice cold for the day...they are okay on day trips but the bloody things sweat on the outside..leave a trail of water wherever you put it.

Now that's an interesting point you raised Greg. The condensation on the outside can be more .... or less with a better quality Esky???? That would be a buggar if you didn't realize and packed luggage around it in the truck for a extended trip, to find a heap of moisture got to items you didn't want it to. Anyone experienced this?

Scalem

[Swindells]

Swindells - You got a bargain! I rang these guys and their 90 litre Mackeral version is $250 with the potential of their being a seconds or two on the floor ( only scratched or insufficient dye in the colouring or something similar) But I will still have to pay $210.00 or so. So you should have bought two at the time!;D


yeah mate definetly got a bargain, i actually bid on it on ebay rather then buying direct. i waited until these guys had about 10 up for auction and hoped that there wasn't too many people in the market for one. came out pretty good.

If your good with your hands, i work for a company that manufactures boatbuilding supplies and can get you polypropelene panels, fibreglass, epoxy and pouring foam if you want to custom build your own. i have a lot of guys that come to me for that, personally i couldn't be bothered, id rather build boats.

Cheers,

Swindells

[Swindells]

I LOVE MY ESKYS - A must for every self respecting man. in fact, you can almost judge a man by whether he has an esky or not, think about it.

[timddo]

Buy fibreglass, It's the only way.

I brought one of ebay for $300 delivered 120 litre capacity.

Keeps ice cold for 7 days

[Skusto]

anyone know of some slime line ekys need something like 400 wide by 1200 long by what ever height the big baileys takes up to much room..

[Chris_2184]

I bought my 150L esky for $230 on special......very happy with it;D

50009

[yellowbeard]

yellowbeard - that esky has come straight from the back of the HQ holden Ute hasn't it? Maybe older,the EH? That's a classic.


Scalem

You're close, it was the boot of an FE Holden Sedan.

[NIZ180]

Another vote for the Big Chilli Coolers. I got a 140L for $130 off ebay. Awesome value for money

[Teabag73]

I have a Techni Ice 120ltr and 40ltr which are fantastic.......Good bang for your buck.......

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o145/Teabag_album/Esky/PC180001_r1.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o145/Teabag_album/Esky/PC170002.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o145/Teabag_album/Esky/PC170004_r1.jpg

[honda900]

Scalem,

the best esky I have is a Waeco fibreglass, you can get them as factory seconds as cheap as some of the mention prices here.

http://www.getawaeco.com.au/products.asp?catId=6

Regards
Honda.

[Marlin_Mike]

i bought a 150 litre big chilli cooler from ebay

paid $140 for it and was able to pick it up from carrara to avoid the delivery fee.

it holds ice very well, as good as any other i have used.

the esky is not a second, just a colour that no one else wanted. bright red will be easy to see if the boat ever turns turtle!

the only negative is when the esky has spent a full day in the hot sun the lid warps a bit, not enough to stop it closing properly but enough to s**t me.

all in all for the price totally worth it

matty


I bought one of theses 110 litre paid $160 pick up from Carrara. Cant say anything bad, great esky. havent had the lid warping problem with mine though.

Mike

[Teabag73]

Scalem,

the best esky I have is a Waeco fibreglass, you can get them as factory seconds as cheap as some of the mention prices here.

http://www.getawaeco.com.au/products.asp?catId=6

Regards
Honda.

Now, this is my opinion but my 2 Techni Ice boxes are far better than my Weaco fibre glass 65ltr esky. More efficient (holds ice longer) and far more durable. The Weaco is good but not a patch on the poly type Techni Ice boxes, especially in a boat.......

[Swindells]

I sell polyurethane casting resins at work and when i bought my moulded esky i tried to sell them some, they said all of the molded polyurethane eskys are made in Indonesia.

Fun fact.