Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

When I first started paddling, the front of my 16' Mohawk (purchased very used from Bullwinkle Boat Works) was filled with a truck inner-tube and a plastic pickle-bucket... the tube for flotation and the bucket to keep stuff dry. Now, over 20 years later, I find I've gone almost full circle... back to plastic buckets. But, times have changed!!

Last week I was on a multi-day trip on the Rio Grande. I needed to pack food for self-supporting 8 days... rocket boxes were, by definition, too heavy for the trim little 16' Rendezvous that Bobby Stout lent me for the trip... What to do? An internet search for sealable plastic buckets turned up the "Gamma Seal Lid". Take one strong, light, tough, recycled plastic tomato-paste bucket, drive on a threaded ring, screw on the lid and, voilla! A water- and air-tight bucket!! And, it simply screws open!! Pretty darned neat!! And, you can order the lids from lots of suppliers on-line. (I couldn't find them locally, but maybe soon!)

The down-sides of the lids don't appear to be significant... The water-tight seal is provided by an O-ring that could be lost or will probably wear out pretty quickly. Also, if the bucket is squashed too tightly into the space where it will reside, it can bend and, if the top is screwed on in that place, the lid may not go on well and the seal may not be adequate. Other than that, the only down-side I noticed was that the only tie-down available was the handle of the bucket... but, those are strong, too, and I had no problems.

Would I buy more of the lids? Yep... I would. They look to make river trips lighter and simpler... and I like simple!! Crane

I use them in canoe and on the raft camp trips. Easy to tie on. Good for smushable or stuff that could poke thru a bag.

I have different color lids that make it very easy to distinguish between buckets. Now all I have to do is remember which one I put what I am looking for in.

Yeah... I guess another down-side is that they load from the top and sometimes you have to rumble through all the stuff on top to get to the item you need... on the bottom... But... Crane

I think they use those buckets for Outward Bound sailing trips or possibly canoe trips in the Florida 'Glades. Either way, anything OB owns gets a lot of hard use, so they must work out okay in the end. Now I know what to look for if I want to order one!

The only downside for me is that I have a groover seat that goes on a pickle bucket too. Don't want to get those buckets confused!!! :shock:

Shep

Another vote for Wag Bags in buckets with Gamma Seal lids.

I have 5 of the gamma seal lids (in 5 colors) and in 4 years, none have leaked yet with regular use. I really like them. They vary in price depending on where you order them from, and prices go up and down, so it is worth looking around on the internet to see who is currently the lowest cost supplier. They are also cheaper in bulk, so you can save a few bucks if you get a group order worked up. Haven't worn out any of the gaskets yet with a few hundred cycles. Your milage may vary, but I think you will be pleased.

Eric Esche

Yep, me too

let me know if you need any 5 gallon O rings for your lids

Crane wrote:Yeah... I guess another down-side is that they load from the top and sometimes you have to rumble through all the stuff on top to get to the item you need... on the bottom... But... Crane

most of my bags do, too

But, not our WaterShed bags:) Truly great products... but, not in the $10 range of plastic buckets with Gamma Seal Lids! Crane