What have you done for your boat lately?

[Tallguy]

The time to sand and finish just slays me for a project like your road vault. That's at least a week there, just sanding, I would guess.

My dad was a carpenter, so I grew up on job sites too, and worked construction quite a bit until I was done school. I do like building in wood because of that, but not so much for the projects that take all your free time for quite awhile. Everything nice takes time, and often time away from other things.

I am building a fly rod tube rack for my gear closet out of some scrap walnut that was used to make the shipping case for some hardwood furniture I bought, but I have spent SO MUCH time sanding because everything is odd sized, or I am rough cutting one good section out of a bowed and junky board. Even for that little simple project, basic design made with great wood, it will be in the 10-20 hrs timescale, working to get all these odd pieces uniform and fitted.

 

[Kfish]

Nearly finished the matching rod vault.

View attachment 105844View attachment 105846View attachment 105845

Impressive work! Is this for home use? or on top of your car?

 

[Jake Watrous]

The time to sand and finish just slays me for a project like your road vault. That's at least a week there, just sanding, I would guess.

My dad was a carpenter, so I grew up on job sites too, and worked construction quite a bit until I was done school. I do like building in wood because of that, but not so much for the projects that take all your free time for quite awhile. Everything nice takes time, and often time away from other things.

I am building a fly rod tube rack for my gear closet out of some scrap walnut that was used to make the shipping case for some hardwood furniture I bought, but I have spent SO MUCH time sanding because everything is odd sized, or I am rough cutting one good section out of a bowed and junky board. Even for that little simple project, basic design made with great wood, it will be in the 10-20 hrs timescale, working to get all these odd pieces uniform and fitted.

Would love to see the rack you made.

It does take time, which severely impacted my fishing time these past few months, but what it didn't take too much of was money. I have wanted a rod vault for a long time but could never justify the $500-1000 they cost--especially since they don't quite fit my needs (length, side- vs rear- entry, etc). EDIT: It probably didn't need to end up as time-intensive as it did. I must admit to some scope-creep. Here's the rod vault I saw that inspired me to make my own.

 

[Jake Watrous]

Impressive work! Is this for home use? or on top of your car?

Thanks! It's going to live on top of the car pretty much 24/7 like any other rod vault. Not pictured is the Yakima SKS locking system which took a bit of head-scratching to cobble together and is not quite finished yet.

 

[ffb]

This was a case of "I should have just coughed up the dough the first time".

The $20 Amazon knuckle buster:

Edson Power Knob:



This was an alcohol fueled purchase from eBay. I cannot believe how much these things cost, but I at least found a new/open box for almost half of what these cost from West Marine. It might actually be worth it as it is light years nicer than the cheap Amazon version.

 

[Eastside]

Upgraded my boat trailer wheel jack, a DuraDuty Trailer Mule with 9” rubber wheel. Maneuvering my boat in and out of the garage is so much easier now.

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Thanks! I’m going to get one for my 16 ft Smokercraft. Looks like a better option.

 

[Jake Watrous]

Finished the rod vault. Thought I was just using up scrap, then I had to buy more wood, now I have scrap to use up. The cycle continues.

Matches the canoe fairly well.

 

[Kfish]

This was a case of "I should have just coughed up the dough the first time".

The $20 Amazon knuckle buster: View attachment 108337

Edson Power Knob:

View attachment 108338

This was an alcohol fueled purchase from eBay. I cannot believe how much these things cost, but I at least found a new/open box for almost half of what these cost from West Marine. It might actually be worth it as it is light years nicer than the cheap Amazon version.

I’ve had that Edson knob on my boat for ten years now and it’s still smooth as day one.

 

[jasmillo]

This was a case of "I should have just coughed up the dough the first time".

The $20 Amazon knuckle buster: View attachment 108337

Edson Power Knob:

View attachment 108338

This was an alcohol fueled purchase from eBay. I cannot believe how much these things cost, but I at least found a new/open box for almost half of what these cost from West Marine. It might actually be worth it as it is light years nicer than the cheap Amazon version.

I made the exact same purchase and after one trip with it, will be making the same upgrade. Not sure what I was thinking, save a few dollars on a hunk of metal that will outlive me most likely..ha.

 

[Scudley Do Right]

Fresh out of the box. Just need to find a fuel tank with a top carry handle.

 

[SurfnFish]

View attachment 109041
Fresh out of the box. Just need to find a fuel tank with a top carry handle.

sweet little Hi-Laker!

 

[Paul_]

Working on a rod holder system for the drift boat (for lakes only).

 

[maverick7898]

View attachment 109041
Fresh out of the box. Just need to find a fuel tank with a top carry handle.

Love the Hi Laker

 

[ffb]

Decided to clean up the top of the console on the Montauk. I forgot to take a before pic but this gives you an idea.

I got rid of the vhf marine radio and 3ft antenna that kept getting in my way and replaced it with a New Horizon handheld unit.

I've seen a few different ways of covering the multitude of holes on the top of the console. I'm the end I decided to go with the EVA foam boat flooring. I'll be curious to see how it holds up, but it looks good for now!

 

[Zak]

I'm proud of myself for a repair I did today, because I'm not very handy and as soon as I pick up tools there is a decent chance I'm going to make the thing worse.

The wooden seat on my dory has a thin long rectangle of wood tacked on edge on the underside of the long seat pieces, to brace them against flexing. It's tacked in with nails with ridges on them. About once a season, my fat ass flexes the seat and those ridged nails pop out.

I got some SS wood screws, waterproof wood glue, and advice from my local Ace Hardware. Some sanding, a bead of wood glue, and I tacked the nails back in. Then I drilled pilot holes and put the wood screws in. The glue is drying now. It looks like a permanent fix. Yay me!

 

[Jake Watrous]

I'm proud of myself for a repair I did today, because I'm not very handy and as soon as I pick up tools there is a decent chance I'm going to make the thing worse.

The wooden seat on my dory has a thin long rectangle of wood tacked on edge on the underside of the long seat pieces, to brace them against flexing. It's tacked in with nails with ridges on them. About once a season, my fat ass flexes the seat and those ridged nails pop out.

I got some SS wood screws, waterproof wood glue, and advice from my local Ace Hardware. Some sanding, a bead of wood glue, and I tacked the nails back in. Then I drilled pilot holes and put the wood screws in. The glue is drying now. It looks like a permanent fix. Yay me!

Let’s see some photos, man!

 

[Zak]

Let’s see some photos, man!

I didn't think to take a before photo. Here it is drying.

 

[Doublebluff]

I finally set up a ceiling mount for storing my pontoon. I used a couple of Home Depot bike lifts.

 

[Fourbtgait]

I finally set up a ceiling mount for storing my pontoon. I used a couple of Home Depot bike racks.


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View attachment 110722

Wait. I really like that more than my system. Now wondering if I can adapt it for a raft

 

[Peyton00]

I have a leaking cone on a toon.

I ordered the adhesive.
She is gonna be up and floating tall next week.