Top Racks

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captd

New member
C-Brats,
We are in the process of having the top rack designed for the Hunky Dory. I want it to be used for carrying extra gear as well as sight fishing.
So far the plan is to have a 8 inch rail around the outer edge of a platform, with a pin seat about in the middle. Around the pin seat , a waist high ring (rail,I call crows nest) open to the back. I think the boarding ladder will work on the back of the cabin to get on the roof. If the crows nest is pinned down with removeable pins, it can be taken down and carried in the cockpit.
If anyone has any ideas or has done anything along these lines, I would appreciate the input. Job starts on the 11th of Oct. Machinest has convinced me to do it all in stainless. with rocket launchers simileir to Snoopy-c's. They look great. Boy ! You get some good ideas off this site.
Capt D
 
CaptD: Sounds like a fun project! I've never heard of anyone doing that or really putting that much weight up there on the roof. It's strong enough, but I'm wondering about the center of gravity and how the boat would pitch and roll with the load. Before I'd invest that amount of money in such a project, I'd get up there with my weight and someone else at the helm and ride the boat around in the kind of conditions you expect to use it in. With a boat the size of a CD-22, it might be a real E-Ticket Ride in much other than pretty calm conditions! Dramamine, Anyone? Check it out and let us know! You've got my curiosity up now. Stainless would be the only way to go. Have Fun, that's why we have these boats! Joe.
 
CaptD- Just an afterthought: They had a CD-26 Pro Angler (custom) down here at Gunther's Outboards in Bodega Bay/Sebastapol for well over a year with a Flying Bridge on it. Steve from Gunther's told me they were going to take it back to the factory in Kent, remove the F.B., and re-market it. He said the problem was two-fold with the boat: 1.) Base price of about $75,000, and 2.) the F.B. made the boat roll and pitch a lot. That's on a 26 footer that probably weighs 5000++ lbs. Of course, the fiberglass of the F.B. probably weighs more than any person alone. But what the hey, give it a shot, you may invent the hottest new add-on since the Barber Chair!!!
 
Capt D, Could you get away with a standing fish sighting position? I have thought of this for sight fishing in puget sound. Could you stand on the bow and have a stanchion built some what like you would find on a fly fishing drift boat, but maybe built a bit higher? This would put you at almost the same eye height as a sitting position on the roof. Maybe it would even work on the roof. You can find some pictures at http://www.fishcraft.com. Go to hard drift boats, and closer views under optional features. Just a thought. Robbi

Are you sight fishing in the flats? or the wide open deep blue?
 
I constructed for my boat, Sunset Ride, a rack that covers the roof of my CD 22, which I use for carrying extra gear when I go for three of four day trips or more. I can really notice the difference in rolling motion when I have a hundred or so lbs there, I am fearful that 250 lbs of gear or human would be approaching a dangerous situation in rough seas. The extra storage is great though.
 
C-Brats,
Heres my thinking.....1st I need a low rack to carry a light plastic raft. and maybe a couple other bulky, but light items when we go to the Bahamas this winter. Rough seas would mean , carry the items in the cock pit. The crows nest will be small and detachable. It would be used in the Gulf of Mexico in fairly smooth seas. Sight fishing for Cobia is useally close in. The higher you are the better to see these fun fighting fish. It should be good for Red fish as well. In the bahamas, when you anchor for the night it will be a good place to get things out of the cockpit. Living space is at a premium on a 22 ft'er . As soon as we figure out what the deck will be made of , we will be able to get an estimate of the weight. Red fox has a rack toward the back, It would be helpful to know what additional weight it added. and what all can be carried up there. In the process of walking around the cabin to get to the bow. I feel it is stable enough for the rack. There will be no helm up there and the crows nest which should weigh no more than ten to twenty lbs, will be detachable with three or four pins. and used only for inshore sight fishing or picking my way around coral heads in flat water.
I have a friend that used 1/4" diamond plate aluminum for his rack. We hope to find a new light weight plastic. Anyone have ideas on that?
Captd
 
Regarding light weight plastic question: I just cleaned out the garage and bought five plastic storage shelves from Lowes that fit together with poles. The shelves are extremely light but very strong. I believe the key is in the way they are molded with lots of triangular bracing within their 2 inch thickness. You might want to browse the shelves at your local Lowes or Home Depot for some ideas.
 
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