Uncategorized
Mad Cow Metal Works: ‘The last dry box you will ever buy’
Published
10 years agoon
By Megan Paulson
Explore Big Sky Staff Writer
BOZEMAN – After 16 years of working as a professional river guide – six seasons on the Colorado River, and a year guiding government research teams in the Grand Canyon – Todd “Mad Cow” Maynard was sick of skirting big water. Scientists continually asked him to “cheat” the rapids for fear the boxes holding their instruments would get wet. So Maynard decided to make his own dry boxes.
Mad Cow Metal Works specializes in custom aluminum welding and fabrication, custom dry boxes, raft frames and panniers for boating, recreation, and outfitting industries. Officially formed four years ago, Mad Cow’s high quality, durable containers have already made a name for themselves.
“Traditional dry boxes don’t stand up to the use and abuse of outfitting,” Maynard said. “I knew there had to be a better way to do it.”
Mad Cow uses 100-gauge aluminum to make what they call the toughest, most reliable dry boxes on the market; Maynard notes most traditional dry boxes on the market today are made with 80-gauge aluminum. He also uses robust can-jar latches, full-length stainless steel hinges, and rubber gaskets on all his boxes.
Everything Mad Cow Metal Works builds is made in Montana: They source and shape the aluminum in Belgrade and fabricate the boxes at Mad Cow’s workshop in Four Corners, where Jim Carli, the company’s co-owner and welder, completes fabrication and showroom aesthetics. To wrap up the process, all boxes are finished and packaged for shipment in Maynard’s home at over 8,000 feet on Bozeman Pass.
Carli was originally Maynard’s welding instructor. Later, when they crossed paths again, the teacher was inspired by his student’s quest to create high quality boxes, and they ultimately joined forces.
Mad Cow builds one of the industry’s largest Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee certified boxes – approved for use with professional outfitters in Alaska and anywhere in the Lower 48 where grizzly bear-proof boxes are required. Testing for IGBC certification is intense and rigorously monitored, requiring that bears actively test the box “hands on” for one full hour.
Additionally, Mad Cow contracts with a variety of government entities and oceanic research groups who use the dry boxes to house computer equipment and electronics. Each box is powered by solar panels, floating on buoys connected to a platform in the ocean.
“It’s crazy to think the boxes are literally floating in the ocean, keeping important data dry,” Maynard said. “But that’s exactly why I wanted to build them the way I do – so strong and reliable that anyone can use [them].”
With standard and custom sizes available, most clients use Mad Cow boxes for practical purposes: rafting, ATVs, trucks, horses and bicycles, and any other use you can imagine. And most of their orders are custom; on average the team crafts and ships 10-20 boxes every two weeks.
Maynard says he’s confident in the product. “This is the last dry box you will ever buy.”
This article is adapted from one first published in the June 28, 2013 issue of EBS. For more information, or to order a Mad Cow Metal Works dry box, visit madcowmetalworks.com.
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Thursday) 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm