Ugly Pedestal/ Nice Improvements

[Hermit Scott]

I made a GPS holder and cup holder(that will hold a 40 of malt liquor). The cockpit table is complete. It actually spins to facilitate dining better. The sheet to wheel spool is also mounted. I can't wait to try that out. In the pic from behind the wheel you can see how the table turns.
I have to powdercoat the pedestal. It is hideous! I only have 3 weeks before I move to a better marina in Port Aransas, at least the town is better so I won't be able to get that done before the move.
Oh yeah, everything is covered in fiberglass dust from the work inside.

 

[RAD]

Nice job.
I used a brush and Interlux enamel on my steering pedestal and it looked pretty good after two coats and I didn't have to remove it...I should have sprayed when I had it off years ago for the deck repair

 

[BobM]

How long ago?

Nice job.
I used a brush and Interlux enamel on my steering pedestal and it looked pretty good after two coats and I didn't have to remove it...I should have sprayed when I had it off years ago for the deck repair

How is the job holding up?

 

[Jimm]

I made a GPS holder and cup holder(that will hold a 40 of malt liquor). The cockpit table is complete. It actually spins to facilitate dining better. The sheet to wheel spool is also mounted. I can't wait to try that out. In the pic from behind the wheel you can see how the table turns.
I have to powdercoat the pedestal. It is hideous! I only have 3 weeks before I move to a better marina in Port Aransas, at least the town is better so I won't be able to get that done before the move.
Oh yeah, everything is covered in fiberglass dust from the work inside.

Here's another solution for a cockpit table......... Made from pine stock, stained and 3 coats of varnish. Total cost was <$100.
Note - had to convert to 1 1/4" double bend guard to accommodate the C-80 and additional wiring for that and the autopilot.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I have the stock depth and speed on the bulkhead. I don't particularly like it there, because it's one of two of the best seats in the cockpit as well. I would like to move them to the helm or somewhere else. But I do want to keep any instruments as low and out of my line of sight as possible.
Saildog -Those nav pods look cool but I am so short I would have to make one of them an LCD screen and have a camera on the other side so I could see forward.

 

[Nereussailor]

I sanded my pedestal and painted it with Rustolium white spray paint. I put on 4 coats, and it still looks really good after 5 years. Powdercoating would be the way to go though.

Dave

 

[RAD]

Bob M......so far the paint looks as good as the day I put it on and that was 3 seasons ago, I installed a new pedestal guard and a Navpod so the GPS and radar screen stays put now and to cover it I have a sunbrella cover which keeps the instruments protected from eyes and weather but has helped in keeping the pedestal looking good,also the teak table still looks good after three years.

 

[DannyS]

Lookin' good

Table looks great! I attached a really goofy photo of me climbing out of our boat but I attached it for you to see the pods that came with our boat (not the one for the chart plotter, I made that one). They're pretty slick and out of the way. I believe they're Edson. You're pretty handy though, perhaps you could come up with a variation on these.

 

[Hermit Scott]

After seeing Saildog's bridgedeck he added to his boat, I was thinking of adding a narrow bridgedeck(about 4" deep) to my boat and installing them there. After consideration, I don't believe my boat needs one for safety reasons. But maybe to move the instruments.
I am going to make a doggie door in the side wall of the cockpit as soon as I can figure out if I can make something I can seal. It's almost like building an opening port the way it has to seal. That may be beyond my capabilities. I can build the door, I am not sure that I can make it watertight.

Danny I remember when you built that nav pod for your chartplotter. You got me thinking about them then. Very nice.

It's really easier for me to just drop off something at the powder coater and pick a color. They did my boom, and it turned out really nice. It's literally cheaper for me than buying a decent paint, primer, applicators ect. If I ever pull down the mast I will have it done as well. For something like that, they have to bake it one end at a time because the ovens aren't long enough. I was considering powder coating some stainless like the bow rail, but then I couldn't run into the pilings anymore. I am tired of cleaning the rust off.

 

[Patrick17430]

Powder coat sucks. Dont do it. It won't hold up in salty air. Anything else would be better including Krylon .

 

[Hermit Scott]

Powder coat sucks. Dont do it. It won't hold up in salty air. Krylon is better.

I hope you are joking! I'll take your cheese grin that you are.I honestly don't know. I talked to the powder coat guy, whom I trust and he said it would hold up. I take him some prototypes I do.
He actually did the boom for free for me. I NEVER trust anyone selling me something unless I have a long term relationship with them, and I know that they know that they are going to see me often.

 

[dubh]

powder coating describes the method of coating, not the resin. It can be done, but preparation, an epoxy primer, and exterior powder are mandatory. Powder is cheaper, not better. Go liquid, and clean well.

 

[txtowman]

looks great, congrats on moving to port A

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Looks like you had your wheel coated through Dave at Scandia products. Is that right?

 

[moparv104x4]

Hermit for your Doggie door just buy a small hatch and install it, there should be no leaks.

 

[sailingdog]

After seeing Saildog's bridgedeck he added to his boat, I was thinking of adding a narrow bridgedeck(about 4" deep) to my boat and installing them there. After consideration, I don't believe my boat needs one for safety reasons. But maybe to move the instruments.
I am going to make a doggie door in the side wall of the cockpit as soon as I can figure out if I can make something I can seal. It's almost like building an opening port the way it has to seal. That may be beyond my capabilities. I can build the door, I am not sure that I can make it watertight.

How big is the dog? If you make an opening that you can fit a standard inspection hatch into and then put up a curtain of slit plastic strips behind it, that would allow the dog to get in and out while keeping the spray and such somewhat off the interior of the boat. In bad weather, you could pop the inspection hatch back into the opening to seal it off.

Danny I remember when you built that nav pod for your chartplotter. You got me thinking about them then. Very nice.

It's really easier for me to just drop off something at the powder coater and pick a color. They did my boom, and it turned out really nice. It's literally cheaper for me than buying a decent paint, primer, applicators ect. If I ever pull down the mast I will have it done as well. For something like that, they have to bake it one end at a time because the ovens aren't long enough. I was considering powder coating some stainless like the bow rail, but then I couldn't run into the pilings anymore. I am tired of cleaning the rust off.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Looks like you had your wheel coated through Dave at Scandia products. Is that right?

I don't know what it is on there. But it is hard as ceramic. I intended to cut it off because it is yellow, or yellowing and I don't like the look. But I don't even want to start because it feels harder than the stainless wheel it's self.
I would like to cover in leather, but it cost too much for me. I am thinking of buying 1/2" staset in a color to match my canvas, pulling out the inside and using the outside sheath to cover the wheel. It will flatten out should cover the wheel contours and be durable. I may waste $25 in line but I will get to see how well it works.

I did some testing with the dog last night. He fits through an 11" round hold. I cut out a 11"X10" rectangle frame with 2" border. I am going to take that to the boat and see if it fits in the area of the cockpit I am thinking of isntalling it.
I don't need the rubber curtain hanging down. I just want to be able to remove or open the hatch, and then seal it when don't want him to be able to go in and out.
Do you have an example of the hatch you are thinking of?

 

[ancientmariner]

cockpit table

I made a GPS holder and cup holder(that will hold a 40 of malt liquor). The cockpit table is complete. It actually spins to facilitate dining better. The sheet to wheel spool is also mounted. I can't wait to try that out. In the pic from behind the wheel you can see how the table turns.
I have to powdercoat the pedestal. It is hideous! I only have 3 weeks before I move to a better marina in Port Aransas, at least the town is better so I won't be able to get that done before the move.
Oh yeah, everything is covered in fiberglass dust from the work inside.

The pedestal on my O'Day 28 looks very similar to Hermit Scott's (including the condition!) but there is no provision for a guard. The supports for the guard in the photo look as if they could be add-ons. Does anyone know where I could find something like that? I've been pondering for years on how to make some kind of base for adding equipment, including a table.

 

[Hermit Scott]

The pedestal on my O'Day 28 looks very similar to Hermit Scott's (including the condition!) but there is no provision for a guard. The supports for the guard in the photo look as if they could be add-ons. Does anyone know where I could find something like that? I've been pondering for years on how to make some kind of base for adding equipment, including a table.

what kind of pedestal do you have? If you have the kind I have, it may be very difficult since they don't produce them anymore. If you have an Edson and $300 you can order one. It comes with the support that attaches to the pedestal and extends out to hold the bent stainless rail, the SS rail and pieces that you screw to the cockpit floor that hold the legs of the SS rail to the floor.

If I didn't have one, I would make the support out of plastic like I did the rest of these. And find a 1" SS rail or have one bent. But I don't have a superfine yacht or much money to spend on it. The best thing to do is buy the one that goes with your pedestal.

 

[Herb Craft]

I made a GPS holder and cup holder(that will hold a 40 of malt liquor). The cockpit table is complete. It actually spins to facilitate dining better. The sheet to wheel spool is also mounted. I can't wait to try that out. In the pic from behind the wheel you can see how the table turns.
I have to powdercoat the pedestal. It is hideous! I only have 3 weeks before I move to a better marina in Port Aransas, at least the town is better so I won't be able to get that done before the move.
Oh yeah, everything is covered in fiberglass dust from the work inside.

Thank you, Hermit.
Really a good idea.
I have my 26X at a trailer yard on Clear Lake (Galveston Bay).
Might like to try something like you did.
Do you have any plans, drawings or more detailed, close-up pictures?
Would you welcome a visit if I drove down to see your improvement?

Please reply to my direct email.
herb@craftandassoc.com

Regards,

Herb Craft
713/524-2261
Houston