Tool chests doubling as dive bags - your experience w/ Catalina?

[dytis-sm]

I have been considering purchasing one of those Stanley tool chests to use for dive gear when traveling to Catalina and diving at Casino Point. I looked at sizes and the 25 gallon seems to be a bit small for me particularly for fitting things like fins or a tank as others seem to be able to do. Seems to me that the 50 gallon tool chest is the way to go but seems to be a bit too big particularly if you are going to load it on a taxi, take to a hotel, etc.

The question is whether any of you have had experience using the 50 gallon Stanley or Husky tool chest and whether you have carried such a chest to Catalina island? The Express seems to impose a scale test for overweight baggage and this chest by size alone has some weight. The measurements also seem borderline for taking up and down the boat. I have seen construction workers with them but I am not sure if they have some sort of exception on weight, plus these guys seemed to walk them to a job site not a hotel. Any suggestions and experience with those larger chests?

A side question, any alternatives short of spending for a large Pelican case just to transport gear on foot?

 

[jscan1]

The Husky is giant, I have the Stanley 24 Gal. Mobile Chest, I fit large Turtle Fins, all dive Gear including drysuit and undergarments quite easily. The only thing I leave out is the BCD, because it has an easy handle for carrying. As for the tank, I bought a powder coated L Bracket, that I bolted to one side, than about middle of the box cut slits and fed a weight belt through to hold tank in place. As for Catalina last time I went they made me take tank off the top, and remove the weights, once done I walked about eight feet to the line, put weights back in the box, strapped tank to the top and got on board. Once at catalina there is a service that will take your gear to and from the dive park for I think $10 very easy and very convenient

 

[MWilliamson]

Do you have a picture of your creation? I've been looking for information on this very thing.

 

[drbill]

Keep in mind that the Catalina Express is now enforcing the limit of 50# per item and they are weighing SCUBA gear. I wonder if they also target trades people who bring their tool kits across with them. Seems those would weigh a lot more. I'm a fan of the Express as they have improved cross-channel transportation quite a bit, but I don't understand why there is a 50# limit on items that divers have to carry on board on the catamarans. I DO understand it on the monohull boats where the crew actually has to lift the items and place them on the cargo treadmill.

 

[Teamcasa]

Many of us have the Stanley or Husky brand rolling tool chests and now Catalina Express is making us keep them under 60#. Last weekend, for the clean-up dive they made us empty them until they were under the 60# number. We were supposed to put the extra gear in our back-packs but 99% of the divers just put the gear back in the boxes and got on the boat.
Something needs to happen with this policy or the whole going to dive the park is going to suffer.

 

[SanDiegoSidemount]

Many of us have the Stanley or Husky brand rolling tool chests...

Do you have a recommendation among the various ones commonly available? My dive buddy uses the Husky chest and it's gigantic. 50 gallon size may be fine if you have a pickup truck or SUV to tote it around...

Husky 37 in. Mobile Job Box-209261 at The Home Depot

...but I'd prefer something closer to the actual size I need, especially if I need to load it on the Express. Does the smaller Stanley 24 gallon fit a reasonable amount of gear?

Stanley 24-Gal. Mobile Chest-029025R at The Home Depot

 

[MarkMcQ]

My recommendation is go for the 24-gal. I can fit all of my gear and wetsuit in mine easily. I have a dive buddy that uses the 50-gal.. we have to unload it to unload it.. it is just too heavy with it more than half full of gear. It is nice that it has all the space but it reduces portability if space is used. Nice that it has a lock built in but a cheap lock can be added to the 24-gal.

I added a tank strap system to mine and an igloo ice-chest drain. Requires a dremel style tool but very easy and less than 10 minutes to add the system. After my dive I throw my gear back in and fill it up with fresh water, let is soak while for awhile then pop the drain and spray the gear off and hang to dry.

Let me know if you want photos.

Igloo 24010 White Standard Drain Plug
by Igloo
Link: Amazon.com : Igloo Replacment Triple Snap Drain Plug : Cooler Accessories : Sports & Outdoors
Mount this opposite end of handle side.


Scuba Choice Scuba Diving Adjustable Tank Carrier
by Scuba Choice
Link: Amazon.com: Scuba Choice Scuba Diving Adjustable Tank Carrier: Toys & Games
Cut four slits in top of lid and feed straps through.. cutoff carrier section.

This holds a HP 130 tank secure with no problem. Very affordable dive setup.

 

[scubagrant]

Several years ago I would simply strap my gear bag to a lightweight, four-wheel dolly I made from plywood. It wasn't as classy as a commercially made tool box, but it was effective and inexpensive. Since it was flat it didn't really consume any extra space. The only restriction was that a deckhand made me remove the bag from the dolly so it couldn't roll around on the way to Catalina.

 

[Malpaso]

Another discussion of this topic here -> http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/gear-bags-cases/486890-i-just-joined-stanley-50-gallon-club.html

 

[TSandM]

I can get everything but my tank in the smaller Stanley trunk (which is what I use for diving everywhere). Correction; I don't put my undergarments in the trunk, because coming back, everything in it is wet . . .