Fishing a small waterhole in the Macquarie Marshes, NSW. Note the anode arrays being supported by the safety railing. They're attached with an ingeneous swivel mech.

The hull is a flat-bottom punt, around 4m long. The Smith Root control box is mounted in a rather tall stainless cabinet in front of the driver, who sits on a luxurious padded chair – within easy reach of the 15hp Johnson tiller, generator pull start and choke, and digital sounder unit. The dip-netter stands on the raised foredeck (which provides bonus below-deck storage), protected by a safety railing (which also supports the anode poles via adjustable rope or chain fittings).

The dip-netters view looking aft. Space is at a premium on a craft of this size.

Most of the electics (including two deadman switches) are wired topside for easy access, encased in protective conduit. The generator exhaust is piped outboard to port, away from the crew. Fish are looked after by a large livewell in the centre of the boat, complete with a custom environet and a 12V bildge pump system for easy filling, aeration and drainage.

Livewell detail, showing spray bar and custom net on stainless railing.

On the water PoleVolt handles well, steers predicatbly (if a little slugishly) and is sturdy enough to take hard, consistent abuse (much like her crew). There’s enough room for plenty of gear, although it needs to be suitably protected from the water which sloshes up and down the deck. The railing can be removed to negotiate obstacles, but the complete boat is rather heavy and difficult to maneuver if man-handling is required – portages are out of the question under most circumstances, with frequent re-launches often more efficient.

Launching PoleVole on the Macquarie River, near Warren, NSW. Note the winch cable and 5th wheel in use. Here the outboard is tilted up to avoid bottoming-out and the anode poles are swung back in transport mode. They're made from fiberglass poles, reinforced with steel bars.

One of the best features, however, is the bomb-proof trailer. It has full suspension, with coil springs, rather than flimsy leaves. Reinforcing is everywhere, but the jockey wheel set-up leaves a lot to be desired (especially given the whole set-up is so heavy).

Coupled with a large 4WD, the strong trailer allows for some remote fieldwork. Here we're heading home after a day in the Macquarie Marshes, NSW.

As with any working vessel, PoleVolt is constantly evolving. New Technicians adjust the set-up, making slight improvements every time. I’m sure she’ll continue to perform for the NSW DPI crews for years to come.

An adult golden perch caught in the Macquarie River, tagged and about to be released.

Download the Australian Code of Electrofishing Practice