I wanted to put a TV on our boat to keep the kids occupied while we were sailing. My wife said absolutly no way. So I had another idea. A glass bottom so the kids can watch all of the fish and stuff almost as good as a TV. How do I do this and what kind of bottom paint do I put on it?
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Bad idea
Forget the glass bottom. It will ruin your boat. Besides you will spend a lot of time keeping it clean. I don't think there is such a thing as clear antifouling. However, you can buy devices that let you see under the water while in the boat. Check out the link below. Tim
Forget the glass bottom. It will ruin your boat. Besides you will spend a lot of time keeping it clean. I don't think there is such a thing as clear antifouling. However, you can buy devices that let you see under the water while in the boat. Check out the link below. Tim
Hmm...both of those viewing devices
...look very much like the forbidden T.V. Will the wife allow it? Will the kids watch it if it has only one channel and no DVD? My suggestion is to teach them to read.
...look very much like the forbidden T.V. Will the wife allow it? Will the kids watch it if it has only one channel and no DVD? My suggestion is to teach them to read.
How about towing a raft?
Set their little butts on it (with pfd's of course) and let out all of your 200' painter. I'll bet PHRF will give you a generous handicap. We could start a whole new class.
Set their little butts on it (with pfd's of course) and let out all of your 200' painter. I'll bet PHRF will give you a generous handicap. We could start a whole new class.
Laptop with DVD
I agree that TV and Sailing don't mix at all but, I can't convince my 13 Year old crew about it and particularly when he takes a friend with him. We solved the problem by renting ONE DVD per weekend to be watched on the laptop at night. The other nights we play cards, domino, or any of several table games that we keep on board.
I agree that TV and Sailing don't mix at all but, I can't convince my 13 Year old crew about it and particularly when he takes a friend with him. We solved the problem by renting ONE DVD per weekend to be watched on the laptop at night. The other nights we play cards, domino, or any of several table games that we keep on board.
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clear raft! - glass bottom very bad idea
its a really bad idea to cut the hull to install a viewing port. even factory installations have problems over time. get a clear plexi row boat, and enjoy. how about a xbox/ playstation? or dvd player. depending on where you sail, you may not see too much anyway.
its a really bad idea to cut the hull to install a viewing port. even factory installations have problems over time. get a clear plexi row boat, and enjoy. how about a xbox/ playstation? or dvd player. depending on where you sail, you may not see too much anyway.
Fred, that worked well for us.
But only while motoring up the ICW. After the great white that we saw this past summer on Mass Bay, I would not dare doing it up here.
But only while motoring up the ICW. After the great white that we saw this past summer on Mass Bay, I would not dare doing it up here.
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Guys, I'm not aginst DVD, just whiney kids,,,
Check out my flat screen and 5-1 system on my H34 rebuild.
Check out my flat screen and 5-1 system on my H34 rebuild.
another idea
We built a few fiberglass dighys with viewing ports. they worked ok, but water condenses on the glass and they have to be wiped. they tend to leak and the window gets to scratched to see out of in short order. a bucket with a clear bottom works well when floating in the inflatable. we did a couple with clear resin they too scratched. no bottom paint will work.
We built a few fiberglass dighys with viewing ports. they worked ok, but water condenses on the glass and they have to be wiped. they tend to leak and the window gets to scratched to see out of in short order. a bucket with a clear bottom works well when floating in the inflatable. we did a couple with clear resin they too scratched. no bottom paint will work.
Cutting a hole in your boat is a bad idea.
Dear Perry, Generally speaking, cutting a hole in the hull of any boat is a bad idea. I would rather suggest an underwater camera and a small monitor. While the kids will still be watching T.V. at least there are no commericals on this reality show. There are several black & white, as well as color cameras made for this application, most used in underwater fishfinding gear, however a waterproof housing for your camcorder, hung over the side while connected to a monitor will also work. Good luck.
Dear Perry, Generally speaking, cutting a hole in the hull of any boat is a bad idea. I would rather suggest an underwater camera and a small monitor. While the kids will still be watching T.V. at least there are no commericals on this reality show. There are several black & white, as well as color cameras made for this application, most used in underwater fishfinding gear, however a waterproof housing for your camcorder, hung over the side while connected to a monitor will also work. Good luck.
No Clear Bottom Paint
So, all you have to do after cutting the hole, is to seal all the other openings to your salon to make it airtight. Do not cover the opening with plastic for all the reasons already noted. Just leave it open like an old-fashioned diving bell. It will help for you to install a 12 volt commressor used for filling inflatables. This will maintain a positive air pressure in the cabin, helping to insure that the water stays out. If you sail at over 8000 ft of altitude or 26 knots of hull speed, you may consider installing a generator and 110v compressor as the 12v inflators just aren't up to the job in those conditions. An added benefit is that it eliminates the need for a vacuum aboard and the inevitable spills generated by your kids can be easily sluiced "down the hatch"!
So, all you have to do after cutting the hole, is to seal all the other openings to your salon to make it airtight. Do not cover the opening with plastic for all the reasons already noted. Just leave it open like an old-fashioned diving bell. It will help for you to install a 12 volt commressor used for filling inflatables. This will maintain a positive air pressure in the cabin, helping to insure that the water stays out. If you sail at over 8000 ft of altitude or 26 knots of hull speed, you may consider installing a generator and 110v compressor as the 12v inflators just aren't up to the job in those conditions. An added benefit is that it eliminates the need for a vacuum aboard and the inevitable spills generated by your kids can be easily sluiced "down the hatch"!
Give them a chore
Your wife is correct not to want a TV on board. If they want to see what's under the surface, get them a mask, snorkel and a set of fins. If they're still bored, have them clean or polish something. Instead of TV, how about reading? If that doesn't work, teach them how to fish. At some point, they may even provide dinner. ;^) Lastly, you should be encouraging them to be active sailing participants. Conversely, if you try to ignore them ,you won't be creating an atmosphere where they'll want to bond with you. ~ Happy sails to you ~
Your wife is correct not to want a TV on board. If they want to see what's under the surface, get them a mask, snorkel and a set of fins. If they're still bored, have them clean or polish something. Instead of TV, how about reading? If that doesn't work, teach them how to fish. At some point, they may even provide dinner. ;^) Lastly, you should be encouraging them to be active sailing participants. Conversely, if you try to ignore them ,you won't be creating an atmosphere where they'll want to bond with you. ~ Happy sails to you ~
games
Our children liked to play games while at anchor. By far "Risk" was the most popular. Actively helping sail the boat or navigate made the day more interesting. The girls seemed content to talk with each other while the boys liked something more active. Fishing was a mess but the boys really liked fishing when they were biting. But as they got older their friends became more important and they had social activities that made them very reluctant to go to the boat. They would come if a friend came along and we stopped so they could swim etc. But both boys played football and that ruined one of the best sailing seasons. After about the age of 11 or 12 it's hard to get kids to stay on a boat for a weekend.
Our children liked to play games while at anchor. By far "Risk" was the most popular. Actively helping sail the boat or navigate made the day more interesting. The girls seemed content to talk with each other while the boys liked something more active. Fishing was a mess but the boys really liked fishing when they were biting. But as they got older their friends became more important and they had social activities that made them very reluctant to go to the boat. They would come if a friend came along and we stopped so they could swim etc. But both boys played football and that ruined one of the best sailing seasons. After about the age of 11 or 12 it's hard to get kids to stay on a boat for a weekend.
Child entertainment
I dont like tv's and dvd's and all that on a rocking boat. unless you have a really big boat and the weather is calm. I let them bring their game boys and play video games. They really like using the personal service radios to talk to each other from different parts of the boat. Whe the weather is warm they like to drag behing the boat on the 100 foot line off the stern. In cooler weather they still like to drag but they do it from a raft or canoe instead of a bathing suit. At night we play board games and eat lots of elaborate snacks that we have to make on the boat.
I dont like tv's and dvd's and all that on a rocking boat. unless you have a really big boat and the weather is calm. I let them bring their game boys and play video games. They really like using the personal service radios to talk to each other from different parts of the boat. Whe the weather is warm they like to drag behing the boat on the 100 foot line off the stern. In cooler weather they still like to drag but they do it from a raft or canoe instead of a bathing suit. At night we play board games and eat lots of elaborate snacks that we have to make on the boat.
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