Shouldn't an Oxygenator be standard equipment?

[Savage]

Guys-

When we plop down 50-60 thousand bucks for a new boat, shouldn't an Oxygenator be standard equipment?  I lost 3 fish up in Escanaba at the Northern Divisional when my livewell had "technical difficulties".  By B.A.S.S. rules, it is 1/2 pound per dead fish so I lost 1 1/2 pounds that day.  I eventually finished top in my state, but I only won by less than 2 pounds.  You can bet I was sweating it out bigtime at the weigh in and those dead fish were heavy on my mind.

here is a link to the article on ESPN.com:

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/federation/news/story?page=b_tourn_federation_2009_northern_divisional_day2

I made a silent pledge right then and there to install an Oxygenator no matter what.

Besides the penalty, I absolutely hate killing a bass.  I mean it made me sick to my stomach that day knowing I had killed 3 beautiful smallies....

Next time you are considering a new boat purchase, tell your dealer you want that Oxygenator installed before you'll take the boat!

[yukonjack2]

Be aware of the additives your use with an Oxygenator.  The standard please release me or Bass medic salts used with the oxygenator will kill the fish as well, so only use the oxygenator additives and it wont poison the fish. 

Congrats on your win in Escanaba.

[MBell]

Oxygenator is just a brand name... you can get yourself set up with aquarium stones for about $35.  All you need is a 12 volt compressor tubes one way check valves and aquarium stones.  More important than the stones, is to seal your livewell.  Most factory livewell setups will lose water to the bilge area when you run.  On rough days your fish end up bouncing around in 2" of water.  I had to plug mine on my triton, I fill them with the recirc pump it also saves gas running empty livewells if you don't need them.
-Matt 

[Savage]

I've actually been doing quite a bit of research on this stuff, and those aquarium stones don't sound like they can get the job done.  Here is a link to the Oxygenator site that explains the difference between an aerator and an Oxygenator.

http://www.keepfishalive.com/oxy-vs-aeration.html

I'm going to have one in my boat before my next tournament, you can bank on that.  I was reading up on the Skeeter boats that B.A.S.S. is providing for us down at Nationals, they have twin Oxygenator livewell systems on them so maybe some of the manufacturers are starting to put them in as standard equipment after all.  I had heard that they are standard on Nitro Z-9's as well...

[motocross269]

Buy a Bass Cat with Pro Aeration that will solve all your Livewell problems plus put you in a "Real" boat.....LOL... .....I see a kitty in your future...

[Savage]

You don't need an aerator at all when you don't put anything in the livewell though do ya Mr. Burnt this weekend on Erie?

Meee-owch...   

Me and my old Nitro do well enough.  She aint pretty but she gets the job done.