Built durable, and good for offshore anglers
Date: |
1/22/02 |
Tackle type: |
Tackle
Storage |
Manufacturer: |
Plano Molding |
Reviewer: |
Zander & MP |
Total Score: 7.25
Introduction:
Plano has been in the plastics molding business since 1952 and continues to
be a dominating force in the storage systems for outdoor activities. We take a
look at the Magnum 1119-05 to explore some of the advantages and disadvantages
it offers fresh and saltwater anglers.
Plano Magnum
1119-05 Specifications |
Size |
13.5"L x
4.25"W x 10.13"H |
Storage Compartments |
19
of varying size |
Color |
Beige and Amber |
Price
as tested |
$25.00 |
Impressions: The Magnum is built tough. The entire frame is
built from molded ABS plastic and is extremely durable. In addition there are
almost no moving parts, just two lids held in place by 4 pin hinges. One
advantage of the Magnum is that the lids are transparent so anglers can easily
locate the right piece of tackle quickly.
For Freshwater anglers: The Magnum has
ample storage space for most anglers who don't go overboard with too much
tackle, but lacks the ability to be quickly customized. So if you are like us
and like to fish for different species of fish you have to pull everything in
and out depending on your trip. In addition anglers that like to walk the shore
tossing lures will find the Magnum far too cumbersome. Unless you are willing to
put the entire box in a backpack there really is no way to hold onto the box and
fish at the same time. The box is useful for freshwater boat anglers who need a
quick box to draw from.
For Saltwater anglers: The Magnum seems
much more at home in the hands of saltwater anglers. The construction is durable
enough to take a beating on and off shore. One side of the box has smaller
compartments that are good for weights, swivels, and hooks. The other is ideal
for large diamond jigs and big game cranks.
|
Locating the right piece of
tackle is made easier with the see-through lids |
Real World Test: For saltwater shore anglers the Magnum's strength
comes from the ability to hold a large volume of weights and lures, but the
inability to carry the box and fish simultaneously still is an issue. The
perfect application for this box is on personal and charter boats.
We have used the Magnum on over 10 trips out to the ocean fishing for a
combination of Rockfish, Salmon, Albacore, and Barracuda...in San Diego. When we
went fishing for Barracuda in San Diego last year we actually went out on a
charter that offered a "free for all," which basically means you can go out
there and fish for Sea Bass, Barracuda, Rockfish, anything that swims is fair
game. So we were forced to load a ton of varying tackle into the Magnum. The
overall volume the Magnum can hold is impressive, and the compartments separate
everything efficiently.
|
To prevent the Magnum from
slipping around the boat on rough water we added 4 rubber pads from OSH with
some epoxy |
On the first few trips we noticed an inherent
problem with the Magnum on all the charters. In rough water when the boat tossed
back and forth the box would slide across the deck. A couple of times I thought
the box was going to flip right off the deck into the ocean! We addressed this
issue with a quick and easy modification that can really apply to any box. We
procured 4 rubber feet and epoxy from Orchard Supply Hardware and affixed them
to one side. (A total cost of only 6 dollars) The box not only doesn't move now
but is actually strong enough to double as a small seat to avoid resting on
ocean sprayed decks.
We continue to use the magnum each and every time
we go on charter trips. The size of the box is adequate for weekend trips, and
the durability is outstanding. You can stand on this box and it wont break!
Two things that would have made the magnum more
attractive are if one side had adjustable compartments so odd sized tackle could
be accommodated, and a optional shoulder strap could be useful to carry this box
when loaded and/or carried for an extended period of time.
Ratings:
Plano Magnum
1119-05 Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
Good
quality, very tough and durable design |
8 |
Performance |
Does a good job of holding a variety of tackle including oversized cranks
and large diamond jigs |
8 |
Price |
Decent price |
8 |
Features |
Not
a whole lot of features, basically a solid design...what you see is what you
get |
6 |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
Designed to be tough and durable, not carried over long distances.
Would be better if had an adaptable system inside and a shoulder strap of
some kind to reduce the load on a single hand |
7 |
Application |
This
tackle system is good when used for certain types of fishing, otherwise it
may be too limiting for some |
6.5 |
Total Score |
7.25 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Durable! |
L
Not flexible |
J
Can hold oversized lures |
L
Can't carry and fish |
J
Decent price |
|
Conclusion: Overall the Magnum is a great box for boaters, but
has limitations for anglers on the shore. Walking with the fully loaded box over
long distances is difficult because all the pressure is put on one hand. Bass
fisherman may find the Magnum too limiting and may opt to go with a soft bag
with modifiable contents. Where the Magnum really excels is on boats where you
don't need to worry about carrying it, and can quickly locate and pull out lures
with ease.
Until Next Time....Tight Lines!