Need Champions and Ideas to make use of the BAR funds

[MichaelB]

Storing equipment is always a issue. Some equipment is small and takes up little space. Certain equipment is delicate in nature and easily broken so loaning things to random memebers meh you never know how it will be treated. I'm confident most people take care of club equipment though there are always exceptions.

I think it would come down to size of equipment, practically, will it stand up to the test of time and being passed around. Is this something that the club as a whole would have a use for verse only one or two members. Ie club has calibration thermometers typically the last person or bod member that get it keeps it for probably 6 months plus. Until someone actually wants to get it. Not a issue because they are small. Bandsaw same thing most bod members will keep them for several months before they are requested. They are. Bigger takes up more space. When items get bigger they become problematic without a dedicated storage space for them. The location of members scattered through out the bay also posses a challenge for people actually wanting to drive across the bay to get one that's available, most wait for one available closer to them.

These are just challenges I'm mentioning actually buying equipment is easy. These are always factors in need of consideration when deciding rather the club should purchase something or not.

That tank lifter would have been awesome lol but I wouldn't wanna get stuck with holding it. The suction cups by themselves are in a huge tote bod members has to store somewhere as a item though useful they aren't moving weekly like par meters.

@spuri87 good thread you started here. Don't take my thoughts above as shooting things down. Only take them as major considerations. Keep the ideas coming. If something has real merit compared to considerations above please bring them up at our next bod meeting. Only takes a yes vote to make something happen.

Lol, expect the entire bod to quickly mentally consider all those points I brought up above as we would likey be the ones holding any new equipment or gear longer term.

 

[Turkeysammich]

Btw. I had brought this idea up years ago at a BOD meeting. It was shot down. Never went to vote. Just dismissed. Maybe you guy will feel different about it now. Reasons were need too many , what kind of power source, who will store them.

 

[MichaelB]

Btw. I had brought this idea up years ago at a BOD meeting. It was shot down. Never went to vote. Just dismissed. Maybe you guy will feel different about it now. Reasons were need too many , what kind of power source, who will store them.

Last I recalled there was some Amazon type charging type unit that was brought up they were about 3-$400 I recalled. It was a topic on a previous discussion on battery backups somewhere on the fourm. Maybe worth revisiting. I don't think they were that big if I remember correctly. Around size of the bandsaw range.

 

[H2OPlayar]

Do we mean Ecotech or Ecoflow? Just trying to clarify. If Ecotech, I would certainly veto that. If Ecoflow, a less stronger veto and I would refer to a post from me on that some time ago .

I meant ecoflow, like the river2 unit.

Ecotech needs to have their lead acid batteries updated to lipo. I have an old thread saved on how to do that.

Got a link to the thread talking about these?

 

[spuri87]

Thanks @MichaelB, @SupraSaltyReefer and @Turkeysammich for sharing your thoughts.. More I think about it, more I feel Randy's idea of renting a storage unit is a no brainer for us. That will help so many problems (access to the stuff when needed, remote lock/unlock, safe custody etc).. I loved Tu's suggestion of partnering with LFS for storage, I am certain as our partners and sponsors, they will support us in whatever way possible. I agree some of the things come for cheap and BAR members maybe better off buying for themselves.. that's true for fish traps and acclimation boxes too that's in the BARCODE, but I feel they are some things that are really useful for folks using it a few times rather than buying their own!

Like I said in the last thread, the brands, the number of items, their size, the storage and other important things needs to be thoroughly worked out.. But if there is 1 think that will help this entire cause, I feel that's storage of new as well as existing items.. I guess we need BOD to vote if the ideas presented in this thread and comments are something useful for the entire community or not.. if they are deemed important enough, we can assign drivers/champions for each new potential BARCODE items and let the driver/champion present a plan how they can help the ends meet.

Given what was discussed, we can add the following 2 to the list of items to be presented for approval:

1. Storage - partner up with LFS, renting either storage units or supporting member's garage (more than 1)
2. Promotional Budget - Dedicated budget to promote BAR on Social Media.. with all the fantastic things BAR has to serve, we should have more footfall.. Meta/Insta/Google can do targeted ads only for reefers in bay area, driving more traffic and thereby more supporting member fee to support all these initiatives.

Honestly, most of these are pretty cheap things for BAR to sponsor but will generate a ton of value for the supporting members - let's have the drivers drive their individual projects home.

 

[Turkeysammich]

Thanks @MichaelB, @SupraSaltyReefer and @Turkeysammich for sharing your thoughts.. More I think about it, more I feel Randy's idea of renting a storage unit is a no brainer for us. That will help so many problems (access to the stuff when needed, remote lock/unlock, safe custody etc).. I loved Tu's suggestion of partnering with LFS for storage, I am certain as our partners and sponsors, they will support us in whatever way possible. I agree some of the things come for cheap and BAR members maybe better off buying for themselves.. that's true for fish traps and acclimation boxes too that's in the BARCODE, but I feel they are some things that are really useful for folks using it a few times rather than buying their own!

Like I said in the last thread, the brands, the number of items, their size, the storage and other important things needs to be thoroughly worked out.. But if there is 1 think that will help this entire cause, I feel that's storage of new as well as existing items.. I guess we need BOD to vote if the ideas presented in this thread and comments are something useful for the entire community or not.. if they are deemed important enough, we can assign drivers/champions for each new potential BARCODE items and let the driver/champion present a plan how they can help the ends meet.

Given what was discussed, we can add the following 2 to the list of items to be presented for approval:

1. Storage - partner up with LFS, renting either storage units or supporting member's garage (more than 1)
2. Promotional Budget - Dedicated budget to promote BAR on Social Media.. with all the fantastic things BAR has to serve, we should have more footfall.. Meta/Insta/Google can do targeted ads only for reefers in bay area, driving more traffic and thereby more supporting member fee to support all these initiatives.

Honestly, most of these are pretty cheap things for BAR to sponsor but will generate a ton of value for the supporting members - let's have the drivers drive their individual projects home.

This has been done in the past. Arnold told me they had a storage unit back in the day. No one really used it. Maybe the OG BOD can throw some knowledge

 

[CaseyP]

I guess we need BOD to vote if the ideas presented in this thread and comments are something useful for the entire community or not.. if they are deemed important enough, we can assign drivers/champions for each new potential BARCODE items and let the driver/champion present a plan how they can help the ends meet.

Would you like to champion the champion process? With all ideas like this, we need a way to get them passed or not. Most of the time these ideas just kind of fade off. For the next board meeting in about a month, I'd like to formalize a way to have them submitted, what are the proposal requirements, and voting requirements to fund or not, etc.

 

[spuri87]

Would you like to champion the champion process? With all ideas like this, we need a way to get them passed or not. Most of the time these ideas just kind of fade off. For the next board meeting in about a month, I'd like to formalize a way to have them submitted, what are the proposal requirements, and voting requirements to fund or not, etc.

Sure, Happy to help and be a part of this

 

[Slingfox]

While it is a nice idea, my primary concern with having club managed generators is who will ensure those units are properly maintained? Tasks include ensuring the fuel tank and lines are clear when not in use, doing regulator oil changes on schedule, basic carburetor maintenance, replacing sparks plugs when needed, etc. None of this is particularly hard but someone will need to be responsible.

 

[Slingfox]

I believe ecotech is vastly recommended.. this one right here: https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/vortech-battery-backup-ecotech-marine/

I honestly hadn’t heard about ecoflow until now

Don’t get the Ecotech. If you want a battery backup that can sustain during a blackout your money is better spent on something like the Anker Solix C200 Gen 2. I also have an older Ecoflow and would go with the better tech, specs, and pricing—particularly since Anker is a reliable brand as well. This model is best bang for your buck last time I looked into the area half a year ago or so. I have a generator but I put battery backup on equipment that I want to make sure run 24/7 and during the lag time before I can spin up the generator.

 

[spuri87]

While it is a nice idea, my primary concern with having club managed generators is who will ensure those units are properly maintained? Tasks include ensuring the fuel tank and lines are clear when not in use, doing regulator oil changes on schedule, basic carburetor maintenance, replacing sparks plugs when needed, etc. None of this is particularly hard but someone will need to be responsible.

agree generators might be tricky, battery backups might be easier.. ack on Anker Solix C200 Gen 2.. if this gets approved, we will do the due diligence to find the best fit for the club after talking to experienced reefers including you.

 

[Alexander1312]

Don’t get the Ecotech. If you want a battery backup that can sustain during a blackout your money is better spent on something like the Anker Solix C200 Gen 2. I also have an older Ecoflow and would go with the better tech, specs, and pricing—particularly since Anker is a reliable brand as well. This model is best bang for your buck last time I looked into the area half a year ago or so. I have a generator but I put battery backup on equipment that I want to make sure run 24/7 and during the lag time before I can spin up the generator.

Same. I use this after a similar sized ecoflow outlet failed on me overnight, which could have ended up quite bad [https://bareefers.org/forum/threads/alternative-power-back-up-solutions-not-ecoflow-brand.39492/]

https://camelcamelcamel.com/product/B0DCJV9LTB

 

[Slingfox]

agree generators might be tricky, battery backups might be easier.. ack on Anker Solix C200 Gen 2.. if this gets approved, we will do the due diligence to find the best fit for the club after talking to experienced reefers including you.

Apologies, I meant the Anker Solix C2000 G2:

https://a.co/d/01cPLVNJ

It is currently selling for “50% off” for $749. I am pretty sure this pricing is not uncommon so don’t be tricked (I bought mine previously for $778)

It can run my RedSea Reefer 7000 return pump (1900 gph) at 25% power for 60 - 90 hours accordingly to ChatGPT. In the last decade, the longest power outage I can recall is half a day or so but some of the remote areas areas can experience longer outages.