What are your winter projects?

[Germaine Marine]

Man, I should grab 575 and find a night or 2. We would love to night surf. It’s been the forbidden fruit up here!


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Ill have this 3 or maybe something else and I can assure you it will be completely lit up. So plan it.

[Dandy]

My winter project list:
1: Remove tribal decals from the sides and Tige sticker from the rear
2: Wet Sand/Buff/Whatever needs to be done to get the finish to be even from the decals being removed
3: FINALLY install the Chromax decals that I have had for a few years.
4: Install the new onboard charger that I bought from Mike last year
5: New head unit, new remotes, 1 amp replacement and possibly in-boat speaker upgrades
6: Hoping to remove the carpet and do a DIY installation of Deckedence Flooring while removing the carpeted trim pieced on the seat bases and hoping to put GatorSetp or something similar in its place.

I really wanted to replace the tower this season with a Roswell Aviator, but a few cars got in the way of my budget. My fingers are crossed that my wife will allow me the budget to get the above items completed (stereo may have to wait). She has a small to-do list she wants on her car. I have to get a few things done on these as well.
1969 VW Squareback
VW Square.jpg
1979 Mini Cooper
Mini.jpg

The 1996 Buick Roadmaster Wagon in the background will be for sale in the Spring if anyone is looking for a LT-1 V8 Powered Wagon.

[freeheel4life]

In my mind buying the Buick would be like buying a lightsaber. Sure it would be cool to have but I would have no idea what to do with it and kinda unrealistic lol.

Some pretty neat toys you have though

[bsreid]

Hey dandy. There’s a Roswell aviator tower for 1800 on planet Nautique.

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...r-narrow-tower

[JohnnieMo]

Please document your GSA install for us. I'd love to watch.

As for me I'm intending to switch my Alpha Z racks to orient up and down rather than sideways. I saw those Triton racks and thought it was cool. (but the price was not). I'm also planning to integrate a GoPro boom mount on it. Still not sure what that will look like.

I think I'll also be building a new floating suck gate. If money permits I'll add some deckadence.

I have a 2006 Duramax I am giving a refresh to that is taking most of my time and money this off season.

As I alluded to back in the fall I finally started on my Alpha Z board rack modification.

I intend to create new brackets such that the racks are oriented vertically like these Roswell Triton racks.



I'm too cheap to spend $1600 USD on the nice ones so I'll build my own.

My thought is a bracket should do the trick. I tried with wood for starters.













It will need some more complex angles to be perfect but the proof of concept is there.

I also intend to build a boom mount for my GoPro. But that will be step 2. For now it's time to buy some metal and break out the welder.

As a side note I also pulled out my observer seat for re-skinning.

[bsreid]

My question is why do you want vertical board racks? I see no advantage, if anything the rail of your board is going to get beaten up from not having enough padding.

Years back fly high(I think...) sold vertical clamping ones for cheaper.

[JohnnieMo]

My question is why do you want vertical board racks? I see no advantage, if anything the rail of your board is going to get beaten up from not having enough padding.

Years back fly high(I think...) sold vertical clamping ones for cheaper.

A few reasons actually.

As for damage I believe the opposite that you do. When you are bouncing down the lake the horizontal tines put more stress on the board. Since the tines are maybe 10" and the board is 24", you end up with most of the board weight hitting the tip of the tine. It creates a depression in the board. If they are completely vertical the weight of the board is resting on the strongest part; the rail.

Secondly if board is vertical it drains better and prevents water from draining into the boat.

Thirdly and most importantly, it is far easier to put the boards away and retrieve them. I absolutely hate the stock racks for that. Making them vertical works better for leaving the racks in the outer position or pivoted inwards.

Lastly I can build a GoPro boom mount. I can't easily do that as is.

[bsreid]

I see what you mean but I would still be a little hesitant. Maybe take some 1/2” weather stripping and out it along the bottom to protect the rail. But then again, my high end board of mine is gonna see a bunge rack.

[JohnnieMo]

I see what you mean but I would still be a little hesitant. Maybe take some 1/2” weather stripping and out it along the bottom to protect the rail. But then again, my high end board of mine is gonna see a bunge rack.

Agreed there. Typically my nicest boards live in the bimini pockets.

Part of the reason I do what I do is just to try.

[JohnnieMo]

So I finally got down to manufacturing my new vertical board racks. From above you can see I made a wood template back in March. Kinda sad that it took till June to get to the real thing.

I started by purchasing an assortment of steel stock in various sizes to see what would work. I ended up using a 5/16" steel that is 5" wide. Bending it was a problem as I'm not well setup as a machine shop. Nonetheless after a lot of pain I got it formed the way I wanted it. It's a bit of a complex angle in order to orient flat. I ended up doing most of it in the vice with a couple backing plates stolen from my 4 post lift.

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Next I drilled out the holes to match the existing Alpha Z rack holders. They have a large hole in the middle with a 1/2" stainless bolt. Then there are two aligning pins on either side. Getting those to line up was a nuisance. Fine motor work is not my forte. Holes also drilled in the bottom for the rack itself.

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And here it is with a board in it. Pretty vertical. The key is keeping it upright to prevent banging around. It's designed so that you can still pivot the racks inside the boat.

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And then here is an idea of how the Go Pro boom is going to mount. For now it is just clamped on, but I have an idea how to make a pressure release mount for it that is easily removable. You'll just have to wait and see!

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It is still pretty bouncy when you put the boards in there. The boom itself isn't too bad. I have to reinforce the steel plus I'm going to add a bump stop to the back for support of the boom. It might work... might not. But that is part of the fun!

Given how late I'm starting this, I figure I might only have the goofy side ready for the Tige Owners gathering in two weeks. That sorta sucks, but what can you do. I guess I should have started on the port side.

And here it is after I added some catches for the bungee ropes. I've always hated trying to wrap around the bottom, so I made new ones.

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Next step is welding some braces and building the boom mount. As you can tell, my machining skills are questionable and my welding skills are worse. So this may be a bit of a Frankenstein before I'm done.

[UNSTUCK]

Maybe your skills aren't the best, but the point is you're doing it yourself, and although 5/16 is WAY overkill, it's going to work. This may come as a shock to a lot of boaters, but you don't have to bust out another thousand every time.

Nice work!

[JohnnieMo]

What are your winter projects?

This may come as a shock to a lot of boaters, but you don't have to bust out another thousand every time.

Nice work!

Well you certainly haven't shopped at metal supermarkets then!

Thanks for the support. The 5/16 is looking a bit too intense. But it's what I've got so I'll use it. The whole thing is still a bit bouncy but I think I can mitigate.

I'm saving my money for a new surf board (after I built a woody last year).

[Jetdriver]

Well you certainly haven't shopped at metal supermarkets then!

Thanks for the support. The 5/16 is looking a bit too intense. But it's what I've got so I'll use it. The whole thing is still a bit bouncy but I think I can mitigate.

I'm saving my money for a new surf board (after I built a woody last year).

How’d the woody work out for you?

[Jetdriver]

Wow, that sounded horrible! I meant to say nice woody! Hahaha
I want to build a board but have no clue where to start shaping wise. I’d just be taking shots in the dark.

[freeheel4life]

I'm sure Johnnie will post links, but he posted build videos of that beauty on YouTube. Super informative and a good watch for DIY types. I think possibly his channel is the same name as his forum name if you peeped YT, but I'm sure he will post the link.