winter boat plans

DuckDogTitus

New member
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?
 
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. :)
 
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.
 
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
 
digger":dyelv74r said:
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

That's a great idea. I tend to run it longer and longer each time as I get braver and braver. When I'm alone I don't get too cold, but I love the luxury of the Wallas for whoever my guest on the boat is at the time.


I think we will definitely make a Blake Island trip in the next few weeks. I'm going to pick up a Magma I think and plan some cold weather camping/bbq/hiking.
 
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....
 
What?!?!!? :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
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:

  • New helm seat
    Arch design/fab/install
    Fwd opening portlights
    Vberth storage/paint/hatches
    Vberth storage lighting
    Standard pumpout head removal, plumbing
    Air Head install
    Small outboard mount
    Permatrim
    Additional bow cleats fwd
    Cabinet organize-prop, shorepower, lines
    Anchor locker shelf
    Arch wiring (VHF antenna, anchor light, cockpit floodlight)
    Head and wall clips for exhaust
    USB port timer, 3 USB ports
    Fuel locker air vent
    Repair, finish and install overhead shelf
    Overhead life jacket shelf
    Re-bed hand rails
    Batteries & DC install
    2nd house battery position
    Sounder install
    VHF install
    Chartplotter
    Cabin Fans
    Helm defogger
    Galley storage shelf units
    Battery monitor with shunt
    ACR Combiner
    Helm and passenger footrests
    Propane storage
    LED overhead lights
    Shower mods
    Bow cleat rub strakes
    V-berth cushion riser for Engel
    Forward awning
    Plumbing fixes & manifold
    Fuel line re-routing and aux. outlet
    Backup bilge pump and thruhull
    AutoPilot install
    Genious AC charger
    Cockpit LEDs
    Floor LEDs
    Electrical wiring cleanup
    Engel AC & DC wiring
    Chart light
    Air conditioner, mount, and gaitor
    Engel Hold Downs
    Rebed bow rail & cleats
    Kayak racks
    Gelcoat fixes interior/exterior
    Honda maintenance (fluids, thermostats, filters, etc)
    Curtains and wood mount brackets
    Butane stove/mount/shelf

Whew!
 
Ray-

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

What's left ??? :lol:

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.!

1500p_HelmSeat45Swivel.sized.jpg
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 :thup
 
cool seat and great lists! when I'm boating is about the only time that I'm thankful to 'only' be 5'9" :mrgreen:

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:

  • add LED lighting
    add shore power and battery tender
    add CD/MP3 player and speakers
    add roof rack for crab pots and/or dinghy

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.
 
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 :( , 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).

1024p_DSCN0967.sized.jpg

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

[I hope I haven't confused anyone!!]
 
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
 
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
 
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 :roll:
 
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
 
I'm interested! Unfortunately, there's a school bus load of kids that beg my attention. ;-( I sometimes wish more of the gatherings, Ie, Lake Powell and the PNW, had summer time gatherings. Us semi retired (and I'm sure there are many not so retired parents) would very likely enjoy having some of these events held over the summer months. ;-) BTW, thanks Ray for your comments on the seat. I will have to check it out a little closer. Colby
 
dmengland":725d2x65 said:
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

I haven't yet decided whether or not to trailer my boat east this winter, but if I do, that will be one of the principal reasons - I have been wanting to cruise that area for years (probably in March/April though, when it's a bit warmer but not too warm). Would be fun to meet up with other Brats there, wouldn't it?

One reason in the "for" column is that I need to take care of some non-boat things on the east coast, and I would like to have the boat with me so that I could continue getting things aboard shaped up the way I like them over the winter, not next summer. OTOH, the PNW keeps tempting me and that would be a big back and forth. Of course that is the reason for the trailer :D Still... not sure yet.
 
It 's warmer in the Florida Keys and the fishing is good there too. We will be lucky enough to be spending the month of Febuary down there.
DD.
 
Ray,
Looking more at that seat, I was about ready to hit the add to cart button on my Amazon account. However, I'm wondering about that arm on the chair. Seems to me that might be hard to slide by when getting in the seat. Just out of curiosity, how tall are you? Also, looking at one of the other Tempress seats (http://www.amazon.com/Tempress-NaviStyl ... m_sbs_sg_1), I'm wondering if the NaviStyle High Back would be just as comfortable, but easier to slide in to? Colby
 
How about a few more pictures in the old photo album.

Like to see what others come up with.

Oops, forgot this thred is about getting out and doing a little winter boating.




Ray":45nnkxd9 said:
What?!?!!? :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
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:

  • New helm seat
    Arch design/fab/install
    Fwd opening portlights
    Vberth storage/paint/hatches
    Vberth storage lighting
    Standard pumpout head removal, plumbing
    Air Head install
    Small outboard mount
    Permatrim
    Additional bow cleats fwd
    Cabinet organize-prop, shorepower, lines
    Anchor locker shelf
    Arch wiring (VHF antenna, anchor light, cockpit floodlight)
    Head and wall clips for exhaust
    USB port timer, 3 USB ports
    Fuel locker air vent
    Repair, finish and install overhead shelf
    Overhead life jacket shelf
    Re-bed hand rails
    Batteries & DC install
    2nd house battery position
    Sounder install
    VHF install
    Chartplotter
    Cabin Fans
    Helm defogger
    Galley storage shelf units
    Battery monitor with shunt
    ACR Combiner
    Helm and passenger footrests
    Propane storage
    LED overhead lights
    Shower mods
    Bow cleat rub strakes
    V-berth cushion riser for Engel
    Forward awning
    Plumbing fixes & manifold
    Fuel line re-routing and aux. outlet
    Backup bilge pump and thruhull
    AutoPilot install
    Genious AC charger
    Cockpit LEDs
    Floor LEDs
    Electrical wiring cleanup
    Engel AC & DC wiring
    Chart light
    Air conditioner, mount, and gaitor
    Engel Hold Downs
    Rebed bow rail & cleats
    Kayak racks
    Gelcoat fixes interior/exterior
    Honda maintenance (fluids, thermostats, filters, etc)
    Curtains and wood mount brackets
    Butane stove/mount/shelf

Whew!
:D :D :D
 
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