Upgrades!

P

prosimedia

New member
Hi Brats,

It's been awhile since I posted, but just wanted to share the progress I made on the boat this last week:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _album.php

These forums proved so helpful this past week. Thanks to many great posts I: replaced the factory leaking hatches, rewired my battery switch and batteries, built a PVC roof rack from 1" PVC, mounted a new crab cooker, bbq and stove, and installed a hawse pipe for my new anchor (7.5 kg bruce), chain (20' of 1,4") and rode (200' of 1/2"). I also had to raise the bottom of my anchor locker so the drain would be useful (I used two part epoxy). My anchor drain didn't have any core or voids - straight fiberglass - so I didn't redo the drain.

Now the boat is all set to take off up the sunshine coast this weekend - my first overnight trip on my C-Dory. Now all she needs is a name...
 
Love the roof rack! I've been trying to re-jig a set of old thule bars for my boat, but I think I'll copy your design (and pass on the credit :wink: ). Did you put any rubber around the stainless bars to keep the pvc from sliding fore or aft? Or are the hose clamps tight enough to keep things stationary?

Thanks,
Grazer

P.S. Good work on all the other mods as well. Enjoy yourself and your boat.
 
Looking good! Just be sure that the bar aqua is not near a fuel vent-- I doubt that it is...just not sure. Is the mount in PVC or other material, aft of the transom.

Good luck on that first overnighter!
 
thataway":1jrzfuon said:
Looking good! Just be sure that the bar aqua is not near a fuel vent-- I doubt that it is...just not sure. Is the mount in PVC or other material, aft of the transom?

Good luck on that first overnighter!
Click to expand...
 
I first bought a set of thule roof racks but hated how they looked. I made the PVC rack in a couple hours and returned the thule for a savings of $250. The hose clamps are more than ample to hold it in place. Feels pretty sturdy actually, but still lightweight and easily modified or removed. I like how the dinghy overhangs above the entrance to act as a bit of a dodger.

The BBQ is mounted with a magma single flush mount:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... U1dI7sQBOg

It is far enough away from any of the fuel vents I think, but thanks for the heads up. The propane tank (1lb) hangs overboard and I can use the new hatch as a prep station.

Thanks for the feedback.
Simon
 
If the purpose of the rack was to mount a soft dinghy, I'm curious why you just didn't lay the dinghy on the roof and strap it to the stainless rails. That is what I do. If I was carrying bicycles or some other hard point thing, I suppose I'd do the roof rack with a plywood floor on top of the rack.

Just curious what brought you to want the rack in the first place.
 
Looks like you got a lot done - cool! I have an old Sea Cook and keep wishing I could find a place to mount it in the cabin so that it could serve double duty (with two mounting brackets) for cooking inside and in the cockpit, but..... there really isn't a good inside spot (that I've found, anyway). Should be slick where you have it mounted though :thup

The PVC rack looks really nice too. I don't really know anything about its strength properties over a span... I take it it's strong enough? Or do you have something inside it to assist such as a dowel, or? Is it any special "schedule" of pipe or just the usual (schedule 40?)

Thanks for posting the commentary and photos.

Sunbeam
 
It's one of my favorite things to scan on The C-Brats. IMPROVEMENTS. That's what I call them. The C-dory is an awesome boat out of the factory. But, there are many things a person can do to make them even better. Thanks for keeping us updated on your projects. :D

Hambone
 
Sunbeam - the span between the railing is around 42" and with the 1" pvc there is not a lot of flexion at that distance. I didn't use any dowel cause I wanted to keep it light. It just so happens that the bulk of the dinghy rest on the pvc "T" junction so that bears most the weight. I wanted a rack because the first time I put the dinghy up there I knew I was going to scratch my roof up bad after repeated use. Also, I wanted to get the bow of the dinghy higher so my head would clear it in the cockpit.

Thanks for the feedback.

simon
 
Have you fitted a cutting board to the top of the hatch cover? I would be cautious about cutting bait directly on the hatch cover itself.

We have bringing soft dinghies over the sides of boats for many years and never noticed any significant scratching of the gel coat. The gel coat is harder than the "rubber" of the dinghy. As we bring the dinghy aboard, we get on each side of it, --one hand for the ship (on the hand rail, and the other on the dinghy, and bring it up over the side of the cabin, to the cabin top, pretty much in two motions.
 
Hi Bob,

No, I haven't fitted a cutting board, I just have a plastic one that I can use on the nice flat surface provided by the hatch.

Since I was storing my dinghy upside down with the oars in place, the first time I put it up there I could the see the oarlocks might scratch the gelcoat (or at least my wax). Also, I was thinking if any sand was left on the dinghy from beaching, with the vibrations of the boat it could scratch. This way, I can pull the dinghy towards me into the cockpit and the whole time it slides on the pvc rather than my gelcoat - same going up. But, also I wanted the additional height the racks provided because of my radar, I knew there was going to be some overhang into the cockpit.

Simon
 
The difference, is that we always have a Bimini, and bring the dinghy over the side of the boat. We generally have light weight dinghies--and in the past I could bring several of them onto the cabin top single handed. We store the boat bottom down--(but have flipped it over a could of times--and even put it over the radar on several boats). We have never had a sand problem--and generally take the oars out when putting on the boat--but I understand your reasons.
 
I bought the same Magma BBQ last Fall when it was on special. I have not used or mounted it yet. I am a little apprehensive about your preferred location so close to the engines and gas.
I'm planning on making a portable mount (like some other brats have done) so that I can move it around if I want to. I'm also anal about drilling new holes.
Kerri On gave me a good tip. Rubber stoppers for the bottom of chair legs fit nicely over the gas vents. But don't forget to remove them when back under way!

Martin.
 
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