Roll your own!

[stickinthemud57]

Faced with the realization that I should roll certain sails when not in use, I have put together a cheap device to make that easier. It also serves to support the sail during transport.

I used two large pool noodles and a cheap piece of 8 foot 1x2 pine. It's hard to find a straight piece of this material, but the edges are rounded, making it easier to insert into the noodles. I had to clamp the 1x2 in a vice to get it fully in place.

The photos tell the rest of the story.

 

[Timm R Oday25]

That's a most excellant idea...cost effective as well.

 

[rgranger]

Nice life hack...

From the title... I thought you might be heading in a different direction...

 

[stickinthemud57]

Nice life hack...

From the title... I thought you might be heading in a different direction...

What? Me? No, never!!!

 

[Rich Stidger]

For those of you that have a Groco raw water strainer on your engine, generator, A/C systems, here is an easy way to flush with fresh water for winter layup. It is not necessary to disconnect any hoses and can be done in the water or on the hard. If you have a different type of strainer and can get a replaceable top to which you can connect a hose, you can do the same thing.

Buy a threaded bushings that will thread into the strainer and will connect to a garden hose. Make a short piece of hose with a connection to the strainer bushing and put it into a bucket of water that is fed from another hose. Run the engine or A/C system and let it pull the fresh water from the bucket and flush itself. Keep the bucket filled. When you are done flushing, empty the water out of the bucket and add antifreeze. Then start the engine or system and let it pull the antifreeze from the bucket.

I have done freeze point measurements on the antifreeze that is expelled so I know exactly how much antifreeze to draw through the systems to achieve the level of freeze protection that I need. Mark the inside of the bucket in 1/2 gallon increments so you know how much you are drawing.

I perform this procedure in the water before hauling. After hauling I open the sea-cocks and let the hoses drain. The strainer itself will be filled with antifreeze, so it is not necessary to drain the strainer.

If you store in the water, after adding antifreeze to the engine, use a drill pump to push antifreeze out the sea-cock to protect it. Shut the sea-cock before stopping the pump.

.

 

[WayneH]

3" PVC fenderboard. Shown at Berwick, LA. The right side fender is above a two inch long 3/4" bolt holding the dock to the piling.




When not in use, I store the beach umbrella in it to protect the fabric and keep it from winding up in the bottom of the quarter deck locker.

 

[stickinthemud57]

Another take on the sail roller, slightly larger diameter. This one even allows for storage!

This is not PVC pipe, rather a more lightweight, thin-walled plastic pipe used for underground drainage. Available at your favorite big box store. Comes in 10' lengths, but 5" of that is a bell for connection pipes that needs to trim off if you want to put caps on it. All came out to about $30.

 

[stickinthemud57]

3" PVC fenderboard. Shown at Berwick, LA. The right side fender is above a two inch long 3/4" bolt holding the dock to the piling.
View attachment 219902

View attachment 219903

When not in use, I store the beach umbrella in it to protect the fabric and keep it from winding up in the bottom of the quarter deck locker.

You might want to look into using lightweight landscape drainage pipe (like in my previous post) for those applications. As a fender, it would compress and act more as a cushion than standard PVC sanitary pipe would. It is much more lightweight, and has a bit more inside diameter than PVC pipe of the same size. It takes the same size caps, so would be easy to close up. Some also comes perforated so that it will allow for ventilation and prevent mold and mildew.

 

[PaulK]

3" PVC fenderboard. Shown at Berwick, LA. The right side fender is above a two inch long 3/4" bolt holding the dock to the piling.
View attachment 219902

View attachment 219903

When not in use, I store the beach umbrella in it to protect the fabric and keep it from winding up in the bottom of the quarter deck locker.

Is the PVC tough enough to take having a powerboat wake bang the boat against the dock, or is it just there to hold the two bumpers in place? Our fenderboards are 2x8's that we hang outboard of the fenders so that they take the abuse from any pilings, steel bulkheads or stone piers instead of the fenders getting trashed.

 

[WayneH]

Is the PVC tough enough to take having a powerboat wake bang the boat against the dock, or is it just there to hold the two bumpers in place? Our fenderboards are 2x8's that we hang outboard of the fenders so that they take the abuse from any pilings, steel bulkheads or stone piers instead of the fenders getting trashed.

There are gouges in the PVC from all the tug traffic coming down the Atchafalaya River. I needed something sturdy to take a pounding. I wanted something lighter and multipurpose than a fender board. The picture was taken at the Southwest Reef Lighthouse in Berwick, LA. Google Maps on satellite view will give you an idea of how much traffic is in the area. Not as much as the Sabine or Mississippi Rivers but enough to keep you aware.

 

[DArcy]

I like the pool noodle rollers, great idea.

I made a sail tube out of PVC pipe to transport my daughter's Opti sail. It fits two sails. I 3D printed the rounds to attach the strap and then sewed up the strap from some seat belt I had lying around. I made it waterproof so I could keep it on the roof rack when driving to regattas but it was also great for bringing the sail on airplanes for events further away.

 

[stickinthemud57]

Once you have rolled your own, you will need a cover, right? I can't seem to find anyone who makes them, and even used regular bags are a bit pricey. Since I like DIY projects, I'm thinking one of these "waving tube men" could be converted to a simple tube bag without too much fuss. Comes in a huge variety of sizes:

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[stickinthemud57]

I like the pool noodle rollers, great idea.

I made a sail tube out of PVC pipe to transport my daughter's Opti sail... it was also great for bringing the sail on airplanes for events further away.

This scenario confuses me. Transporting the sail on an airplane, OK. How does the boat get there?

 

[DArcy]

How does the boat get there?

When going to distant regattas we charter boats but take our own sails. Sails are the most important part of one design racing and they always sail with the same sail number. Some bring their own foils as well.

 

[stickinthemud57]

When going to distant regattas we charter boats but take our own sails. Sails are the most important part of one design racing and they always sail with the same sail number. Some bring their own foils as well.

Ah! Makes sense now. I admit I had to Google "Opti foils". My the rabbit holes that we sailors go down. Been down several myself...

 

[DArcy]

I wondered after I posted if that would make sense. I was an Opti dad for so long I just slip into the vernacular.