Shared ideas to make boating better

[Original Wing Nut]

Over the years we have all come accross things that have made life in the boat easier. I have a couple, the first is a rubbermaid garbage bucket that just tucks behind the drivers seat also a sunscreen bucket that fits just to the side of the drivers seat. Both are out of the way yet convienant.

[Original Wing Nut]

Another idea is a container for wet jackets. I have used a large rubbermaid container and taken the lid and modified it to fit in the bottem with holes to allow the water to drain below the jackets. At the end of the day pull the jackets and drain, it catches the majority of the water and keeps the rear compartments almost dry.

[Original Wing Nut]

here is the bucket in the back with jackets. I can usually fit 4-5 jackets and we just rotate the dry out and the wet in.

[Original Wing Nut]

Last idea for now. This is from bfrank and improved maybe. I have the 5 gallon bucket to winterize with fake a lake. I have also attatched a Y hose so when the thermostat open I just turn off the hose and fill the bucket with pink antifreeze. With the Y hose I don't have to get back under the boat with all the water under there. It seemed to work great I prefer the antifreeze method over pulling plugs and draining. I think over the years each time you drain, the residual water has to leave at least some hard water build up and over time creates corrosion

[chpthril]

great idea for a thread

I tied a loop in all of my fenders just large enough to fit over the cleat and hang just below the rubrail. That way, it doesn't take a Boy Scout to put on a fender as we approach the dock. There is still plenty of line left to tie on for unusual cases. We also keep all the fenders and lines in one storage compartment for easy access.

[Moki]

Originally posted by Original Wing Nut
Last idea for now. This is from bfrank and improved maybe. I have the 5 gallon bucket to winterize with fake a lake. I have also attatched a Y hose so when the thermostat open I just turn off the hose and fill the bucket with pink antifreeze. With the Y hose I don't have to get back under the boat with all the water under there. It seemed to work great I prefer the antifreeze method over pulling plugs and draining. I think over the years each time you drain, the residual water has to leave at least some hard water build up and over time creates corrosion

That's pretty cool. I bought one from my previous Four Winns dealer for $70. I will show a picture when it ships. So with the Y hose, do you run water until you see your temperature drop and then know that the thermostat is open. After that, do you just turn off the wather and then pour the pink antifreeze in the bucket and and start it again. What keeps the antifreeze from coming out the other hose, do you have a switch for it"?

[Moki]

I always keep siphon hose on the boat for siphoning gas from a friend if I run out. I also keep a battery pack for jump starting mine or somebody else's boat. Lastly, I always have a spot light that plugs in the battery charger of 12volt receptacle in case I am caught out after dark. Next year, I am going to keep a mask in the boat in case I need to get rope off of the propeller.

[dogbert]

Re: Shared ideas to make boating better

Originally posted by Original Wing Nut
Over the years we have all come accross things that have made life in the boat easier. I have a couple, the first is a rubbermaid garbage bucket that just tucks behind the drivers seat also a sunscreen bucket that fits just to the side of the drivers seat. Both are out of the way yet convienant.

I use a similar rubbermaid container that's just shallow enough to fit under the seat in the compartment right behind where you keep the garbage. I put the anchor in it. This keeps that area dry and also keeps the sand/mud that maybe on the anchor out of my boat. The container is larger than the opening, so you have to slide it in towards the front from the rear hatch on my V-Drive.

[chpthril]

Originally posted by Moki
I always keep siphon hose on the boat for siphoning gas from a friend if I run out.

It all makes sense now, That's why I kept seeing your boat parked next to a different boat through out the day Sat.

[Original Wing Nut]

Originally posted by Moki
That's pretty cool. I bought one from my previous Four Winns dealer for $70. I will show a picture when it ships. So with the Y hose, do you run water until you see your temperature drop and then know that the thermostat is open. After that, do you just turn off the wather and then pour the pink antifreeze in the bucket and and start it again. What keeps the antifreeze from coming out the other hose, do you have a switch for it"?

There is a back flow preventer on the hose bib on my house. So no worries about antifreeze coming back through the hose. I wait for the temp to drop turn off the hose and start the engine and fill bucket with antifreeze

[chpthril]

I keep a plastic tub with: small tool kit, flares, first-aid, corkscrew, picnic stuff. It's stuff you don't use all the time but it's nice to have it all together when you do need something

[Moki]

Originally posted by chpthril
It all makes sense now, That's why I kept seeing your boat parked next to a different boat through out the day Sat.

Yes, its amazing how everybody was getting such poor gas mileage but my boat's tank seemed to remain full

PS I encourage all of you who go boating with me to use a high quality grade and preferably a gas stabilizer

[Coach]

For trash I have found that the collapable laundry hampers work great with a trash bag liner inside. You can fold it up when you don't use it. We open it up and it fits in the rear storage locker and we use a bunge to keep the bag attached to the hamper.

[Wake Havasu]

Telescoping Boat Hook

[dogbert]

For anchor rope: