I'll start.. The best inexpensive uprgrade I did last season was a gas tank for my inflatable that mounts to the transom instead of sliding around the floor of the boat. I think it was only $70.00 or so. The other item I really like is a Princeton Tec LED headlamp. I have not yet chandged the batteries and have owned it for over a year!
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LKYusnret...question?
Have you got a pic of this helmsman's seat on your boat to share? I have an aspiring sailor (6 years old). It would be nice to have a "bolster seat" for her. Thanks.
Have you got a pic of this helmsman's seat on your boat to share? I have an aspiring sailor (6 years old). It would be nice to have a "bolster seat" for her. Thanks.
RC? doesnt that kmake your stern even heavier?
I was looking at the bow gas tank that west marine sells,,,that wedges itself into the front v of the inflatable...thought that would even the weight out to plan better..... The least exspensive?...wax and varnish
I was looking at the bow gas tank that west marine sells,,,that wedges itself into the front v of the inflatable...thought that would even the weight out to plan better..... The least exspensive?...wax and varnish
So far...
...it's a 12" Sheet Rack fabbed out of 3/8 ss tubing and 3/4" mahagony that was glued, carved and sanded to final profile. Both items were in the "Save For Later" box = cost unknown. 4 threaded inserts, screws for less than $3 and voila! All sheets hung on the aft cabin wall of the h28.5, out-of-the-way but easily accessible.
...it's a 12" Sheet Rack fabbed out of 3/8 ss tubing and 3/4" mahagony that was glued, carved and sanded to final profile. Both items were in the "Save For Later" box = cost unknown. 4 threaded inserts, screws for less than $3 and voila! All sheets hung on the aft cabin wall of the h28.5, out-of-the-way but easily accessible.
Rob The Tank Is Only..
3 gallons. I have a RIB and the bow tank won't fit. They work nicely of you have an inflatable or hard slat floor but the bow of my boat is like a deep v... My motor won't plane my boat anyway so I don't care but it sure keeps the interior of my inflatable usable and neat..
3 gallons. I have a RIB and the bow tank won't fit. They work nicely of you have an inflatable or hard slat floor but the bow of my boat is like a deep v... My motor won't plane my boat anyway so I don't care but it sure keeps the interior of my inflatable usable and neat..
Outboard tilting lever.
The 8HP extra-long shaft outboard on my boat is really tough to tilt up completely out of the water. Was always straining my arm and shoulder. Not only that, but the lifting handle is built into the top cover, so I broke the top cover latch twice while tilting. I made a simple tilt lever out of a 5-ft. piece of galvanized pipe. I attached a wood block to the pipe. Drilled a hole through the cavitation plate and put in a 3/16" bolt, pointed up. The pipe slips over the bolt, and the wood block is adjusted to align with an "indentation" on the back of the engine lower cover. Now it's an easy job to tilt the engine all the way up! Total cost: Less than $10 Savings on body and frustration: Priceless! Jack
The 8HP extra-long shaft outboard on my boat is really tough to tilt up completely out of the water. Was always straining my arm and shoulder. Not only that, but the lifting handle is built into the top cover, so I broke the top cover latch twice while tilting. I made a simple tilt lever out of a 5-ft. piece of galvanized pipe. I attached a wood block to the pipe. Drilled a hole through the cavitation plate and put in a 3/16" bolt, pointed up. The pipe slips over the bolt, and the wood block is adjusted to align with an "indentation" on the back of the engine lower cover. Now it's an easy job to tilt the engine all the way up! Total cost: Less than $10 Savings on body and frustration: Priceless! Jack
2 cheap upgrades
#1 the Facnor roller furler I got at a nautical rummage sale for $75. #2 the handrail and toerail covers I made out of scraps of Sunbrella (had to purchase an extra yd for $16) and snaps (about $5). Not as cheap as some projects but well worth the money. Jim
#1 the Facnor roller furler I got at a nautical rummage sale for $75. #2 the handrail and toerail covers I made out of scraps of Sunbrella (had to purchase an extra yd for $16) and snaps (about $5). Not as cheap as some projects but well worth the money. Jim
Holding tank gauge?
My holding tank gauge(picture) might be the best for function vs. cost. But then there is the helm instrument pod made from an $8. length of fence rail. I still have six feet left. Several others can be see in the Related Link. Am I cheap? You bet! What picture you say? Cheap and dumb. Try again.
My holding tank gauge(picture) might be the best for function vs. cost. But then there is the helm instrument pod made from an $8. length of fence rail. I still have six feet left. Several others can be see in the Related Link. Am I cheap? You bet! What picture you say? Cheap and dumb. Try again.
Incentive - Inventive
Not an ingineer, but I fabricated a bracket from stainless steel, used a bar-b-que mount to nail it to the aft rail, and made the smallest tiller-pilot steer my ten-ton 38ft schooner by way of the trim-tab; it used milli-volts. The trim-tab then easily steered the vessel, much more effcient than hoking it directly to the tiller. Yes, steered by a large tiller, no wheel. Flyhop, use 5200 to glue velcro to the adjacent tubes, bevel edges of a board, add velcro; vola' and easy bench seat for inflatables.
Not an ingineer, but I fabricated a bracket from stainless steel, used a bar-b-que mount to nail it to the aft rail, and made the smallest tiller-pilot steer my ten-ton 38ft schooner by way of the trim-tab; it used milli-volts. The trim-tab then easily steered the vessel, much more effcient than hoking it directly to the tiller. Yes, steered by a large tiller, no wheel. Flyhop, use 5200 to glue velcro to the adjacent tubes, bevel edges of a board, add velcro; vola' and easy bench seat for inflatables.
tiller cover
I covered the tiller on my Clipper Marine 21 with Duct Tape. It feels real good and looks like chrome!
I covered the tiller on my Clipper Marine 21 with Duct Tape. It feels real good and looks like chrome!
Companionway Screen
I got tired of re-attaching the Velcro strips used by the PO to hold a screen in place on my H34. I laid all the boards on a piece of freezer paper and traced around them to make a pattern for cutting a piece of exterior plywood (3/8" I think)that would fit the companion way. I cut it in half horizontally (so I can store them under the table seat cushions) and cut out the center of each half, leaving about a 2" frame around the preimeter. I stained them and stapled window screen over the openings. Worked very well for us this summer, and much cheaper than the fancy screen doors I priced several years ago at the Atlantic City boat show.
I got tired of re-attaching the Velcro strips used by the PO to hold a screen in place on my H34. I laid all the boards on a piece of freezer paper and traced around them to make a pattern for cutting a piece of exterior plywood (3/8" I think)that would fit the companion way. I cut it in half horizontally (so I can store them under the table seat cushions) and cut out the center of each half, leaving about a 2" frame around the preimeter. I stained them and stapled window screen over the openings. Worked very well for us this summer, and much cheaper than the fancy screen doors I priced several years ago at the Atlantic City boat show.
me too
I did one of those too. Someone had left a 1st aid kit on my boat, so I used the little gauze strips and hooked em all together with Duct tape and then stuck it on the hole you go through to get inside. Works real great, and cheap too!
I did one of those too. Someone had left a 1st aid kit on my boat, so I used the little gauze strips and hooked em all together with Duct tape and then stuck it on the hole you go through to get inside. Works real great, and cheap too!
led head lamp
On a recent trip that included 5 nights sailing, a little led light that straps on your head turned out to be about the most important piece of gear on the boat. 1. has white and red leds with the white twice as bright as the red. White light is bright enough to monitor sail trim from the cockpit and red is just fine for wandering about in the cabin with others sleeping or checking things on deck without losing much night vision. 2. light pivots allowing wide range of light angle. 3. Thing was completely dependable, never failed and never even had to change batteries 4. turned out to be by far the best light around for poking about in the innards of the boat for inspection or repair. 5. always available if you don't forget its strapped to your head.
On a recent trip that included 5 nights sailing, a little led light that straps on your head turned out to be about the most important piece of gear on the boat. 1. has white and red leds with the white twice as bright as the red. White light is bright enough to monitor sail trim from the cockpit and red is just fine for wandering about in the cabin with others sleeping or checking things on deck without losing much night vision. 2. light pivots allowing wide range of light angle. 3. Thing was completely dependable, never failed and never even had to change batteries 4. turned out to be by far the best light around for poking about in the innards of the boat for inspection or repair. 5. always available if you don't forget its strapped to your head.
Stereo with wireless remote - $130
best ever as i can change stations, CDs or MP3s from above in the cockpit! Rob
best ever as i can change stations, CDs or MP3s from above in the cockpit! Rob
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