winter boat plans

DuckDogTitus · Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 4:27 pm Post subject: winter boat plans

what's everyone doing with their boats this winter? Not just those who are putting them up on storage... but who's going to brave the cold for some camping/fishing?

colobear · Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:45 pm Post subject:

We're on the water now. Poulsbo monday night, quartermaster harbor Tuesday,Dock St. Marina in Tacoma tonight.who knows for tomorrow night. We try to boat regularly over the winter,just pay more attention to weather and make sure the heater works. Smile

DuckDogTitus · Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:55 pm Post subject:

I'm going to get shorepower, a battery tender, etc first of january. I still use the wallas, just sparingly when I'm docked as i'm always afraid of running the batteries dead. I'm going to try to get out and do some more camping this winter too. Quartermaster is a nice calm area. about 2 months ago I anchored up in there during a lightening storm and from the harbor we had very peaceful waters.

I haven't done Paulsbo yet... maybe we'll do that soon.

Dock street is great. very nice marina and my favorite area of Tacoma.

Spike · Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:59 pm Post subject:

Try Blake Island. A whole lot less of a crowd during the fall, winter months. Great place.

digger · Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:20 pm Post subject:

Dustin, I ran the Wallas regularly overnite when in BC on one battery. The wallas is pretty easy on the batteries. I never had a problem. I just switched to the other to start the boat, and then put the switch to both, once the engine was running. Never a problem. You could also carry a portable battery power pak for peace of mind. Ron

DuckDogTitus · Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:25 pm Post subject:

rogerbum · Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 12:00 am Post subject:

I've got a long list of things to do:
Replace the helm seat
Replace a broken pump in one of the fish boxes
Fix a broken trim piece on the dining table
Put a hatch into the sponson below the helm foot area
Add some more rod holders to the cabin roof
Clean the upholstery on the other seats.
Replace the anchor and running lights with LED's
Mount the dive ladder in holders on the transom
Wire in a 3-way 12 V outlet
and many, many more....

Ray · Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 7:46 am Post subject:

What?!?!!? Shocked

I *JUST* got done with LAST winters projects!!!!
We're finally taking our first long weekend out tomorrow after all the work.
Here's what we got done - posts on each to come in the next few months:

Whew!

Sea Wolf · Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:19 am Post subject:

Ray-

That's about a 5 or more -winter long project list for most of us!

What's left ??? Laughing

That's a very nice seat and angled steering bracket installation!

Some C-Brats here might like to know more about the exact seat type and source, etc.!

New helm seat, Attwood Centric™ model. This is the helm seat swiveled to 45 degrees.

The seat and the Teleflex Wedge installs are in the Helm Modifications section of the Catspaw album.

Nice Work!

Joe. Teeth

DuckDogTitus · Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:58 am Post subject:

cool seat and great lists! when I'm boating is about the only time that I'm thankful to 'only' be 5'9" Mr. Green

if I'm being more honest with my winter plans... of course I first want to do some more boating and camping and fishing, but for fun stuff:

a camperback system would be nice in the near future but I'm not sure when it will become a priority. the boat has treated us really well just as it is.

Ray · Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:47 am Post subject:

Hi Joe,

I am glad you posted that photo - it made me go ahead and update that part (at least) of my album. And I want to make an important note here about that seat as a warning:

I WOULD NOT recommend the grey seat above as a helm seat for the C-Dory (even though it looks nice!). This seat is obviously meant for a mounting location that has a SIGNIFICANT backward slope. I put fairly large wedges underneath the seat to try to accommodate, and it STILL felt like I was getting dumped out forward. I was not happy, so that seat went on ebay.

I coughed up the $$ (maybe I should write '$$$$') and bought the one below. It is a Tempress Elite High Back (shows up on Google). It is too large to swivel and does not fold down Sad

, but I figured I'd be spending A LOT of my time there, and I should be comfortable. It IS very comfortable. In my mind, worth the money. I used the same piece of plywood that was under the other one to gain just a bit more height (I'm a short guy).

There is one other photo in my album of this one.

[I hope I haven't confused anyone!!]

colbysmith · Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:49 am Post subject:

Catspaw, how is that white seat for "thigh" room? I hate the factory seat in my 2007 C-22. Feels like I'm going to slide off the front of it. I'm 6' tall, and medium build. I've thought a few times of pulling the back off and just installing a board so as to give me just a bit more length in the seat. I can't go any farther back with the seat, as it's up against the sink now. And I don't really have any more room in front, as I'm as close to the helm as I want to be. So it kind of boils down to finding something that is still comfortable without having such a thick back cushion. Colby

Ray · Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:30 pm Post subject:

Hi Colby,

The Tempress seat seems to have MUCH more length in the thigh area.

I think this is due first to it being a bit longer, but also that the back cushion doesn't go all the way down to the seat level. That lets you scoot back just a bit more than normal and the high-back cushion can come in contact with you mid-back instead of down low.

I am more-than-happy with the seat after sitting on the factory one, and the bass-boat version I tried first.

Just my opinions, of course....

Best Regards,
Ray

Sunbeam · Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:30 pm Post subject:

Ray,

Ooh, can't wait to read some of your write-ups. After reading your Seaweed log through the years, I was so excited to see you bought a C-Dory (selfishly, as I knew I would get so many good ideas for my boat!).

Glad to hear what you had to say about the Centric - I will now cross that off my list. The stock helm seat in my boat has got to go, and to that end, I made an effort on the way here to stop at two different Cabela's stores to try out/look at a Centric or Centric II (as it turns out, they apparently never carry them in any of their stores). I also tried all the other seats they had on display and I was underwhelmed by all of them. I came away thinking "Gee, there has to be something in between these crude things and a Stidd chair!" in price/size/quality. So for now I'm propped up on a throw cushion and "gripping" with my feet to stay in (on) the helm seat Rolling Eyes

dmengland · Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:33 pm Post subject: winter plans for the boat

It is 42 degrees right now in Wisconsin and I am already thinking about Florida. Anybody interested in going to the St. John's River in mid-February? Doug