We will be taking a 4 week trip this summer around Long Island Sound and maybe out to Cape Cod on our 376. We will have 5 on board and would love to take 5 bicycles along. But where to store them on the boat? Lash them to the rail and let them take the salt spray? One more question, we plan to hang the outboard on the rail, but how to we store the gas can. In the dingy or on the boat? Where on the boat? Thanks again Russell Egge "Allie Kat"
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In Dink
We store our gas in the stern of the dink. I just ensure that it's tied to something so it doesn't fly out. Five bikes is quite cumbersome to have on board for that amount of time. Seriously assess where and how often you will use the bikes and if it'll be worth taking them. They can be rented in many places. Also assess how you will get them ashore if you anchor. I'm from your area and from the same family of marinas. I've made that trip a few times. If you want some ideas about where you can visit on your itinerary, drop me an email. My email address is in the owner's forum.
We store our gas in the stern of the dink. I just ensure that it's tied to something so it doesn't fly out. Five bikes is quite cumbersome to have on board for that amount of time. Seriously assess where and how often you will use the bikes and if it'll be worth taking them. They can be rented in many places. Also assess how you will get them ashore if you anchor. I'm from your area and from the same family of marinas. I've made that trip a few times. If you want some ideas about where you can visit on your itinerary, drop me an email. My email address is in the owner's forum.
Salt Air Corrosion Concern
Gas storage - certainly somewhere outside the boat where the fumes won't settle down inside and away from any forced air heater exhaust. We lash ours to the toe rail (aluminum peforated rail). Bikes - my concern here would be to protect them from corrosion. We had a beautiful Honda 650 generator which I stored under the center seat behind the wheel for a month and it got serious corriosion, even the aluminum parts. Bikes, on the other hand, are somewhat designed to resist corrosion; however, salt air is going to be really rough on them. To make them fit in a smaller space, consider taking the wheels off (quick release?), and seats (ditto?), and storing the parts where they'll fit. Anything stored on deck would hold up better if fully covered, say with canvas or plastic tarp. Spray metal parts with Boeshield or similar??? Five is a lot, maybe just take a couple and take turns or rent like the previous post said. Unfortunately, a fine scratch on a ferous metal frame will no doubt turn into a rust streak no mater what happens but a bike on vaccation is a fun thing to have.
Gas storage - certainly somewhere outside the boat where the fumes won't settle down inside and away from any forced air heater exhaust. We lash ours to the toe rail (aluminum peforated rail). Bikes - my concern here would be to protect them from corrosion. We had a beautiful Honda 650 generator which I stored under the center seat behind the wheel for a month and it got serious corriosion, even the aluminum parts. Bikes, on the other hand, are somewhat designed to resist corrosion; however, salt air is going to be really rough on them. To make them fit in a smaller space, consider taking the wheels off (quick release?), and seats (ditto?), and storing the parts where they'll fit. Anything stored on deck would hold up better if fully covered, say with canvas or plastic tarp. Spray metal parts with Boeshield or similar??? Five is a lot, maybe just take a couple and take turns or rent like the previous post said. Unfortunately, a fine scratch on a ferous metal frame will no doubt turn into a rust streak no mater what happens but a bike on vaccation is a fun thing to have.
bike stuff.
We have adapted Yakima bike mounts (just the fork mount) to fit onto the rails on the aft "cocktail seats." The bikes ride vertically, with the rear wheel lashed to the lazarette lids via nylon webbing. The system works well, even offshore, and next summer I'm going to have permanent mounts fabricated out of welded stainless. We beat the rust problem by switching to carbon-fiber frames, although I'm certain that aluminum would work just as well. Both of our bikes have Campagnolo components, which are impervious to rust. What a difference it makes, have a mode of transportation, not to mention exercise, available at each port of call.
We have adapted Yakima bike mounts (just the fork mount) to fit onto the rails on the aft "cocktail seats." The bikes ride vertically, with the rear wheel lashed to the lazarette lids via nylon webbing. The system works well, even offshore, and next summer I'm going to have permanent mounts fabricated out of welded stainless. We beat the rust problem by switching to carbon-fiber frames, although I'm certain that aluminum would work just as well. Both of our bikes have Campagnolo components, which are impervious to rust. What a difference it makes, have a mode of transportation, not to mention exercise, available at each port of call.
Additional Protection
On top of a corrosion preventative, you can put a good coat of ScotchGuard on all surfaces of the bicycles. It makes any water drip right off and prolongs the life of the protectant. Storage? What type of dinghy are you using? I've not seen davits on a 376 but I guess thats possible. If you are towing, you could probably put a couple of the bikes in the dink was long as you protected the dink from the bikes. A good wrap of the bicycles would also be required though which would increase the amount of time to actual dink somewhere. Plus, you'd want to greatly increase the size line and bridle used making sure the dink could handle it. If you have davits, you could rig a bar across them to hang the bikes and still tow the dinghy. Depending on placement of jib leads and the ability to walk over the cabin top to get to the foredeck, you could put two bikes per side on the inside of the lifelines near the shrouds, then tie the fifth to the transom. I still think renting is the best suggestion. Five people on a 376 for 4 weeks will be ...uh... a fine display or test of mental fortitude; it'll be cramped after the first week????? Using up deck space or having something in the way all the time can be a pain to deal with. Will you spend more time on the water or using the bikes? Outboard gas storage: You can make a carrier for a 5 gal. jerry-jug to fit on the OUTSIDE of the stern rails. Very similar to fender holders, Horseshoe PFD holders, etc. Definitely want SS big enough to handle the 35-40 lbs.
On top of a corrosion preventative, you can put a good coat of ScotchGuard on all surfaces of the bicycles. It makes any water drip right off and prolongs the life of the protectant. Storage? What type of dinghy are you using? I've not seen davits on a 376 but I guess thats possible. If you are towing, you could probably put a couple of the bikes in the dink was long as you protected the dink from the bikes. A good wrap of the bicycles would also be required though which would increase the amount of time to actual dink somewhere. Plus, you'd want to greatly increase the size line and bridle used making sure the dink could handle it. If you have davits, you could rig a bar across them to hang the bikes and still tow the dinghy. Depending on placement of jib leads and the ability to walk over the cabin top to get to the foredeck, you could put two bikes per side on the inside of the lifelines near the shrouds, then tie the fifth to the transom. I still think renting is the best suggestion. Five people on a 376 for 4 weeks will be ...uh... a fine display or test of mental fortitude; it'll be cramped after the first week????? Using up deck space or having something in the way all the time can be a pain to deal with. Will you spend more time on the water or using the bikes? Outboard gas storage: You can make a carrier for a 5 gal. jerry-jug to fit on the OUTSIDE of the stern rails. Very similar to fender holders, Horseshoe PFD holders, etc. Definitely want SS big enough to handle the 35-40 lbs.
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