There’s a group of folks in Flippin, AR who combine decades of premium boat building experience with an inherent desire to do the right thing.
So, when the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame asked them to donate a unique item to the Hall’s annual fundraising auction, a group of skilled Vexus® Boats employees jumped at the chance. They built a one-of-a-kind cooler that the winning bidder can proudly utilize in their boat, garage, or on their back porch.
“When the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame asked for help, I immediately thought of our friend and mentor Forrest L. Wood, who always taught us to do our best to support great causes for the fishing and marine industry,” says longtime Vexus V.P. of Operations, Lance Newton.
HIGH TECH COOLER FOR THE BHOF
The cooler is a replica of those found in the sleek high-end VXs series of Vexus fiberglass bass boats, built of vacuum-infused fiberglass by experienced ladies like Paula Burns and Laikynne Whitsel, seen here on the left side of the photo. This process assures a perfect blend of fiberglass and resin with tremendous consistency, in much the same way guys like Elliot Calhoun and Clayton Welch achieved perfection on the cooler’s gel coal and paint finish.
The cooler’s gel coated liner is surrounded by foam insulation, and the lid showcases a classy image of 2001 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee Forrest L. Wood’s signature cowboy hat. The lid is made with a core material that insulates the cooler from the top side. In all, the custom piece preserves ice for days, in much the same way today’s popular and costly rotomolded coolers do.
However, not content to stop there, David Henley, who has spent more than three decades as a boat builder, then fabricated a custom stand made of steel for the unique showpiece, and Darrin Wilson added the final sizzle by decorating it with high-end hardware and lighting. His co-worker John Payne gave it one final inspection, and buffed it to provide the perfect shine.
Truly, a team effort involving arguably the most experienced and talented folks in the premium fishing boat building business, who never hesitated to showcase their talents for a good cause when the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame called to ask for their help.
Proceeds from the winning bid on this premium cooler will be used to fund academic scholarships for students conducting bass fishing related research, as well as conservation projects aimed to enhance bass fishing.
“While many involved in the bass fishing world have a competitive spirit, be it on the water at a big tournament, or on the business side where we try to gain market share from competing brands, that all gets thrown to the wayside when it come to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and this really unique project from Vexus exemplifies that,” said HOF Board president John Mazurkiewicz.
WANT A CHANCE TO WIN?
For a chance to win this first-class cooler, please visit https://one.bidpal.net/BFHOF/search/cooler(details:item/163) and to learn more about the skilled folks at Vexus, and the premium boats they craft, please visit https://vexusboats.com/.
