GoldiBox Backpack Dredges are in their own class – they are not intended to replace or be compared to larger, louder, and heavier gas powered dredges.
GoldiBoxes are for prospectors and hobbyists who want to dredge with the lightest, most portable gear available, remain stealthy, and recover remote gold that is otherwise unreachable.
GoldiBoxes are silent – gas dredges are loud
GoldiBoxes are lightweight – gas dredges are heavy and cumbersome
GoldiBoxes can be taken virtually anywhere – gas dredges are larger and can’t transported to remote places or steeper terrain.
GoldiBoxes can be enjoyed by anyone – due to their size, gas dredges are typically run by several adults.
Think of it like this: The GoldiBox Backpack Dredge is the material processing unit just like the sluice box is on a traditional dredge setup. Neither the GoldiBox or the sluice creates the suction. The suction power is a function of the pump/motor, battery/gas and nozzle. The GoldiBox and sluice simply process whatever the nozzle sends it.
So the stronger the pump and battery, the better the suction.
A gas powered pump is stronger than a (12v) electric pump no matter what the processing unit is but there are things that can be done to boost the output of the electric pump which will in turn, increase suction. A 12 volt 3700 GPH pump operating between 12v-18v will deliver very good suction. Most pumps can handle a voltage higher than their rating and by doing so, will deliver huge performance gains. We’ve overvolted both the Oasis (recommended) and Johnson SPX brand pumps with 18v and achieved great results over dozens of outings.
This is a common question and it really depends on a few things: battery, pump and material composition.
With the optional cover the GoldiBox can be used as a submersible dredge and you can dredge to any depth. This allows unlimited dredging possibilities.
Without the cover, the GoldiBox Backpack Dredge is able to dredge to 3.5′ using the recommended configuration. At that depth, there is still ample suction to send material through the GoldiBox .
If you’re new to dredging, we recommend dredging no more than 2′ of overburden as a starting point and as you become more familiar with the system, you’ll go deeper and explore new methods and opportunities.
The GoldiBox is capable of moving a good amount of material but ideally, shallow bedrock is best because you can focus on sucking out cracks and crevices. – where the best gold (and most fun) is.
Several factors determine how much material the GoldiBox can process: Material Composition, run time, clearing overburden, etc.
Assuming the recommended setup (3700 GPH pump/12v 50ah LIFEPO4 battery) and dredging gravels, the GoldiBox can move approximately 1 to 1.5 cubic yards of material in about 3.5 hours. (That’s a hole 3′ x 3′ x 3′) When dredging bedrock CRACKS AND CREVICES and sucking out the compacted material, there’s less material to process but the gold recovery is much higher. Bedrock is where the best gold is.
We recommend a 12v LifePo4 battery (lithium phosphate) with a minimum capacity of 50ah. This provides between 3-3.5 hours of runtime with the recommended 3700 GPH pump. The Eco-Worthy brand has proven to be very reliable at great prices. We’ve done many capacity tests with their batteries and they are true to their spec. These are the same batteries that we use.
Amazon Link: Eco-Worthy 12v 50ah LIFEPo4 battery
We've been producing Backpack Dredges since 2020 and we have field tested virtually every pump out there- Johnson SPX, Rule, AMarine, Oasis , you name it we've used it and abused it. Many pump manufacturers overstate their performance claims, are overpriced, don't last that long, or can't handle being overvolted. For the past 2.5 years we have been recommending the Oasis Marine 3700 GPH 12v Bilge Pump. They have proven very reliable under years of use. This pump strikes a great balance between value and performance. It’s what we use. For your convenience we include free custom adapters for these pumps with the purchase of a GoldiBox Dredge Nozzle or a GoldiBox Backpack Dredge.
Amazon Link: Oasis Marine 3700 GPH 12v Bilge Pump
Your GoldiBox dredge requires two hoses.
The first is your pressure hose which goes from the pump to the nozzle. The pressure hose should be 1.25″ in diameter. We recommend a length of 6 feet for the pressure hose.
The second hose is the suction hose. This is the discharge hose going from the nozzle to the GoldiBox dredge. The suction hose should be 2″ in diameter. We recommend a length of 6-8 feet for the suction hose.
The GoldiBox has been tested extensively with varying hose lengths. Please use the recommended hose lengths to ensure maximum performance with minimal maintenance.
TIP: Smooth interior walled hoses work best as they provide the least internal friction. If smooth walled hoses are not an option, make sure to clean the suction hose out in a gold pan as the internal ridges act as riffles and can hold gold.
We recommend the following hoses from Keene. They are very flexible and are smooth walled. You will want 6' of each size.
Clearflow Suction Hose - You will want to get 6' of each size.
2" x 6' Discharge Hose (Nozzle Output) - https://www.keene.store/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SH2
1.25" x 6' Pressure Hose (Nozzle Input) - https://www.keene.store/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SH125
We provide our custom pump adapter/reducers with every nozzle and dredge purchase. The adapters twist fit on the pump spout and accept the 1.25″ hose. The pump adapter fits all pumps with a 40mm (OD) output spout.
Yes, the GoldiBox can be operated underwater as a submersible dredge using the optional cover. The lid uses a toolless design and is held securely in place by a rail system that allows for easy adding and removal of the cover.
Main Benefits
- Dredge deeper
- Enhanced stealth
- Infinite possibilities for dredging
Yes, you can connect two or more pumps to the nozzle with our Y adapter. The Y adapter takes two 1.25″ hose inputs and combines them into one 1.25″ output. The Y adapter can be found here.
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