Advice on some boat setup alteration please

[Croolis]

Ello folks, hope everyone keeping well. That time of year again, getting set up.

This year I am putting a bow canopy on my setup, a luxury I've wanted for a while but they don't come cheap. Was going to fabricate my own but I got a bit of spare cash so I'm buying a Boatworld one (if dear old Donald doesn't cause my firm to go bust lmao, let's hope Charles does a self-sacrificing sudden betraying sword attack during dinner, ancient samurai style ).

That's the easy bit. What I also want to do is glue on some D-ring pads in the bow so I can tie down the bow bag properly, which I keep my anchor in (previously in a bucket. I am looking at keeping it in a padded bag that will go in the bow bag instead of the bucket). I'm always concerned that, on a bit of swell, the anchor is going to come leaping out across the boat, and I'm not doing a great job of securing it. Always swaying and banging around in there. I sometimes wish I had a hard deck so I could bolt it down.

Boat is a 3.2m air deck PVC.

So I have this bow bag, it's an ebay cheapie but it's the standard looking SIB bow bag. I have no rings on the tubes at the front (or anywhere for that matter besides teh normal low down ones at the waterline on the bow for towing etc.), just the standard strap handles. I'm thinking I'll glue on four rings on top of the tubes, one for each corner of the top of the bag, and see if it's possible to suspend the bag from them so it doesn't actually touch the floor. Possibly do two more rings at the bottom of the tubes inside the boat, just above the air deck, and have taut lines from the bottom of the bag going to them as well.

Do we think that wil work? What do you do?

Second, I'm buying a couple fishing rod holders to glue/bolt on as well. I'm sick of the rods bouncing around in the boat with us while we move. I see folks going along with the rods secured, pointing upwards at the back on either side of the engine so I guess they've bolted them to the transom. I'd rather avoid drilling the transom again so I'm thinking glue the holders to the inside of teh tubes right at the back. Any thoughts?

Thx for replies .

[Fenlander]

Your bow bag attchment plan is much like the OE setup the Aerotec comes with. That bow bag stays above the floor. Re the rod holders never fear drilling the transom, it’s what it’s there for. Many folks are happy with a bit of plumbing waste pipe and the clips to match for fishing rods.

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by Croolis

I'd rather avoid drilling the transom again so I'm thinking glue the holders to the inside of teh tubes right at the back. Any thoughts?

I would consider glue far more permanent than a few screws into the transom. The transom can be repaired and no one could probably ever tell, but glue will always leave residue.

Gluing on D-rings is no biggie, but if you leave them under a load over long periods of time in hot weather they could pull off. Not talking days, but weeks. It is not hard to unload the bag though when not in use.

FWIW I used a crate to hold my anchor in my SIB. As I used a Danforth style anchor it had the two metal parts sticking out that happened to slide perfectly into the holes of the crate therefore keeping it in place. The crate was bungee'd down which kept everything in place.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

........Gluing on D-rings is no biggie, but if you leave them under a load over long periods of time in hot weather they could pull off. Not talking days, but weeks. ...........

Peter, remember this is the UK we are talking about. We may have had our hottest day of the year last month!

Did you have a good holiday when you came over here?

[Steve509926]

Hi Croolis,
When you affix your D rings use 2 part (polymarine) adhesive.
I've just fixed a Borika mount, 2 D rings and reglued two studs, I used a 75 ml bottle and still had a little left over. Don't over order as it doesn't keep.
100% with Fenlander re: plumbing waste pipe and clips for a rod holder. There are YouTube clips that show them in use.

[Croolis]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Your bow bag attchment plan is much like the OE setup the Aerotec comes with. That bow bag stays above the floor. Re the rod holders never fear drilling the transom, it’s what it’s there for. Many folks are happy with a bit of plumbing waste pipe and the clips to match for fishing rods.

Tell me fella - do you ever just put self tapping screws into the transom or do you always go straight through and put nuts and washers on or something? I assume it's marine ply in there (its covered with a laminate) so it should be OK to hold a small self-tapper (appropriate for the weight that will go on it), but I always wonder about the bang bang bang impactful and vibratory use we put our boats through, so I'm asking.

Even if it's OK to do that, I'll probably put a small bolt through on each side anyway as well as self tappers so I can put shackle hoop type thing on the outside to help strap the boat down on trailer.

[Fenlander]

I've only ever used self tappers for an alloy makers data plate and a holder for a small hand held compass. Everything else I've bolted through. My transoms over the years have mostly been wood. I was more cautious with the laminate over timber core re self-tappers making sure they were plenty long enough to get right into the core.

[Croolis]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I've only ever used self tappers for an alloy makers data plate and a holder for a small hand held compass. Everything else I've bolted through. My transoms over the years have mostly been wood. I was more cautious with the laminate over timber core re self-tappers making sure they were plenty long enough to get right into the core.

Cool, ta. I guess what I've just said will work, combo of through bolts and self tappers.

Going to buy these, as they are inexpensive and have moulded fitting points in them and bolts, so easier than plumbing pipe.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176333627900