View Full Version : Problems w/ Frabill Aqua-Life
Nette B
07-22-2001, 06:25 PM
I purchased the aqua life bait bucket and was wondering if anyone else has had problems with it. It seems to run sporadic at best. Its almost as if it overheats and then quits. Has anyone else had this problem, or did i just get a bad unit?
Thanks,
Nette B
I've used mine about half a dozen times so far, each time on batteries. I only get about 12 hours of life out of two batteries then it's done. Mine stopped running on Saturday and I assumed the battery monster needed to be fed again. After trying new batteries with no luck I connected up to 12 volts with the adapter, still nothing. If only I could find the receipt so I could bring it back. It SEEMED like a nifty idea when I bought it, now I think I'm the one on the Hook!
Crappie Kid
07-23-2001, 04:49 AM
Mine ate batteries too, and then broke so I took it back to Galyans for a refund. I now use a plain insulated Plano bucket with a clip on aerator I found at Sports Authority. It will run for a couple of days.
Time to retrofit a baitwell into my boat.
The Kid
Nette B
07-23-2001, 11:21 AM
I e-mailed Frabill telling them about the problem and they said that they have had complaints about it not working. they said that the air piston gets too hot and it bogs down the motor which can't handle the stain of the pump. they said to either run it with the battery compartment open or to not run it when it is in the sunlight. Alot of good that does when you are out on the lake fishing all day. They also said that they were going to redesign the thing for next year to fix the problem
What a joke...
Nette B
S-bone
07-23-2001, 05:34 PM
Had the same problem with the batteries. One other problem was that during transporting in the boat, water would splash up and run down between the pail and the liner and force the line up and pop the lid off. I would not buy another one.
Dan Bolha
07-25-2001, 09:45 AM
When the product was tested over a two-month period, prior to introduction, we did not incur this type of problem, if it had we would have addressed it immediately. Frabill prides itself on quality products. The first contact of such an issue was taken two weeks ago, and we have been working since to try and get the issue resolved.
What we did find is that the pump piston, made of a nylon material expands when heated, such as in direct sunlight. This will also cause extra power drain on the batteries, thus the short battery life. We had new sets of Alkaline batteries lasting four days straight running in our pre-introduction tests.
What we are doing is designing a new pump. The concept is being drawn up now based on tests of an existing pump that is being tested for a new aeration unit available next year. We placed this pump in extreme heat to verify that it would continue to perform without locking up and found no aeration loss.
The redesign from drawing board to production pieces will take several months. Because we have just begun the process, exact timing is not known at this time.
Granted that doesn't help now in direct sunlight, however as I stated before, return the unit to where you purchased it for credit, or if you don't have a receipt we will be offering the replacement pumps for exchange when they become available.
Again, sorry for any problems this has caused. The feedback has been very favorable as to the concept, so we want to make this product a performer.
Frabill, Inc.
Lund_Dude
07-25-2001, 10:12 AM
Thank you for the explaination, we appreciate that our input is taken to heart by at least one manufacturer. Now if you could only contact Normark and get them to follow your lead...
Dan Bolha
07-25-2001, 10:17 AM
The design of the foam liner is meant to keep water within it.
We recommend not exceeding a water level of 4" below the battery compartment. Unless really being tossed around due to large waves, the water should stay within the liner. Unfortunately the product cannot be designed for extreme conditions.
Frabill, Inc.
s-bone
07-25-2001, 12:38 PM
thanks for the reply, it means something when you respond.
Certainly was nice to see a response from someone at Frabil,and he told it the way it is, refreshing. Would have been nice to see Lowrance do the same on the X15 debacle. Thanks Frabil, maybe there's still hope for my minnow keeper alive'r.