What have you done for your boat lately?
- Thread starter _WW_
- Start date
Yep, the one on the right actually has small ones in each corner. I'll do that to the left one as well.
Jeff Dodd
Steelhead
What a pleasant surprise. These jobs you have to prepare yourself for the worse, and if it works out like this, hooray!
Made it easier to load!
It's not as posh as a roller on the tailgate, but way easier to remove or install for all other truck functions. And it definitely makes the hardest part of the pushing the raft in easier, which was the goal. And it was all stuff I already had so the price was right.
My neighbor gave me the cargo bar since he didn't like it for his new Silverado 3500. I had the 1.5" schedule 40 laying around from some home project done years ago.
I had to cut off one end of the cargo bar to install the pipe over that section. And then re-install the end cap, which was easy since they put 2 sets of keeper pin holes in it. I slapped a little duct tape over the jack handle part just as extra protection, but I don't think the raft touches it even with the floor inflated.
No bearings, but the pipe rolls pretty easy on the cargo bar. We'll see how it holds up.
It's not as posh as a roller on the tailgate, but way easier to remove or install for all other truck functions. And it definitely makes the hardest part of the pushing the raft in easier, which was the goal. And it was all stuff I already had so the price was right.
My neighbor gave me the cargo bar since he didn't like it for his new Silverado 3500. I had the 1.5" schedule 40 laying around from some home project done years ago.
I had to cut off one end of the cargo bar to install the pipe over that section. And then re-install the end cap, which was easy since they put 2 sets of keeper pin holes in it. I slapped a little duct tape over the jack handle part just as extra protection, but I don't think the raft touches it even with the floor inflated.
No bearings, but the pipe rolls pretty easy on the cargo bar. We'll see how it holds up.
Finally got some electronics for it! Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv. Now I'll catch some musky right? Right???
I know, I know...should've gone bigger. And I should have a couple in the front too. Well, maybe someday, but probably not.
For now, the 7" with side view feels like a pretty good upgrade compared to...nothing.
I mounted it here instead of upfront for a couple reasons-
One less thing to hook line on up front.
It's a MUCH drier position.
I can watch it while I steer the bow mount and fish from behind the driver's seat. Very muskyish
It allows me to put a guest up front and yell at them when they don't catch musky.
Now the fun of installing the transducer and running the cable.
I know, I know...should've gone bigger. And I should have a couple in the front too. Well, maybe someday, but probably not.
For now, the 7" with side view feels like a pretty good upgrade compared to...nothing.
I mounted it here instead of upfront for a couple reasons-
One less thing to hook line on up front.
It's a MUCH drier position.
I can watch it while I steer the bow mount and fish from behind the driver's seat. Very muskyish
It allows me to put a guest up front and yell at them when they don't catch musky.
Now the fun of installing the transducer and running the cable.
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Looks great!Finally got some electronics for it! Garmin Striker Plus 7sv. Now I'll catch some musky right? Right???
I know, I know...should've gone bigger. And I should have a couple in the front too. Well, maybe someday, but probably not.
For now, the 7" with side view feels like a pretty good upgrade compared to...nothing.
I mounted it here instead of upfront for a couple reasons-
One less thing to hook line on up front.
It's a MUCH drier position.
I can watch it while I steer the bow mount and fish from behind the driver's seat. Very muskyish
It allows me to put a guest up front and yell at them when they don't catch musky.
Now the fun of installing the transducer and running the cable.
View attachment 175653
Drilled 2 holes in it! Seriously. I just wasn't confident about the stern pad sticking since the stern isn't perfectly flat. I should've tested with a block of wood or something before buying the pad. Oh well, I can use the pad somewhere else to mount something. Maybe even use it in the dirt bag chalet. Put some 5200 marine sealant on the 2 new holes as well as the 4 old holes. Not too worried about it.
Anyway, transducer mounted old-school style and powered up. I bought a GoldenMate 12ah LifePo4 waterproof battery off Amazon that I'll mount under the helm, wired to a female quick connect. Garmin will get the male quick connect. Then I can use a male quick connect to charge battery with the Noco Genius 1.
The Garmin package from Amazon also includes a cover so you save a few bucks there as well.
Also discovered the main aluminum runner between the front of the helm and back of dashboard is broken. Just snapped off at the dashboard end. I'm assuming previous owner must've done something to break it. Maybe had the whole helm torn apart and dropped something heavy or fell on it? Maybe pulled on the steering wheel super hard getting up? No clue.
EDIT- figured out it's not actually broken. It's just that the smooth bend end that goes against the back of the dash was kept is place with plaster. 20 years of the elements dried up the plaster I'd guess so the runner came loose.
I'll tackle that when it's warmer.
The good news is you would never know from the outside. And it doesn't seem to be real necessary for the overall structural integrity of the helm. I've definitely helped myself up out of the low captain seat using the wheel and it didn't seem to budge much. Very strange.
Seriously. I just wasn't confident about the stern pad sticking since the stern isn't perfectly flat. I should've tested with a block of wood or something before buying the pad. Oh well, I can use the pad somewhere else to mount something. Maybe even use it in the dirt bag chalet. Put some 5200 marine sealant on the 2 new holes as well as the 4 old holes. Not too worried about it.Anyway, transducer mounted old-school style and powered up. I bought a GoldenMate 12ah LifePo4 waterproof battery off Amazon that I'll mount under the helm, wired to a female quick connect. Garmin will get the male quick connect. Then I can use a male quick connect to charge battery with the Noco Genius 1.
The Garmin package from Amazon also includes a cover so you save a few bucks there as well.
Also discovered the main aluminum runner between the front of the helm and back of dashboard is broken. Just snapped off at the dashboard end. I'm assuming previous owner must've done something to break it. Maybe had the whole helm torn apart and dropped something heavy or fell on it? Maybe pulled on the steering wheel super hard getting up? No clue.
EDIT- figured out it's not actually broken. It's just that the smooth bend end that goes against the back of the dash was kept is place with plaster. 20 years of the elements dried up the plaster I'd guess so the runner came loose.
I'll tackle that when it's warmer.
The good news is you would never know from the outside. And it doesn't seem to be real necessary for the overall structural integrity of the helm. I've definitely helped myself up out of the low captain seat using the wheel and it didn't seem to budge much. Very strange.
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She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy
No, I didn't spend a gazillion dollars on a new Kubota. My dad won this Orca 40 cooler in some Kubota drawing. He did buy a used 1997 Kubota to prepare their 5 acres from raw land into a nice homesite. Dad's pretty handy like that.
He wasn't using the cooler because, as he said "It's too heavy!". It's about 27# so similar to a Yeti 45. Thanks Dad!
I'll use it for truck camping, in the boat and as the front angler's seat in the Saturn. Now I have to decide if my buddies deserve a pad installed on it and cover that beautiful branding.
No, I didn't spend a gazillion dollars on a new Kubota. My dad won this Orca 40 cooler in some Kubota drawing. He did buy a used 1997 Kubota to prepare their 5 acres from raw land into a nice homesite. Dad's pretty handy like that.
He wasn't using the cooler because, as he said "It's too heavy!". It's about 27# so similar to a Yeti 45. Thanks Dad!
I'll use it for truck camping, in the boat and as the front angler's seat in the Saturn. Now I have to decide if my buddies deserve a pad installed on it and cover that beautiful branding.
pads are nice - if the seat is used more than half a day. maybe use some velcro to help insure the pad does not go flying down the river.She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy
View attachment 176402
No, I didn't spend a gazillion dollars on a new Kubota. My dad won this Orca 40 cooler in some Kubota drawing. He did buy a used 1997 Kubota to prepare their 5 acres from raw land into a nice homesite. Dad's pretty handy like that.
He wasn't using the cooler because, as he said "It's too heavy!". It's about 27# so similar to a Yeti 45. Thanks Dad!
I'll use it for truck camping, in the boat and as the front angler's seat in the Saturn. Now I have to decide if my buddies deserve a pad installed on it and cover that beautiful branding.
Since I wasn't actively shopping for a beefy cooler I wasn't aware that Orca has gone out of business. Seems the company that owned them stopped funding. Probably got tired of competing with Yeti and Canyon. It's too bad since they were made in the USA and seemed to have a decent following.
The good news for me is I was able to find a Orca 40 specific Seadek pad on closeout for $22. They permanently adhere to the cooler so no flying away. Only 6mm of padding, but if they're up front they should be standing up fishing most of the time.
For swing floats we can probably use a throwable PFD as an extra pad.So for anyone with an Orca cooler that has always wanted a pad, but didn't want to spend the $$, go directly to Seadek's website. They have pads for the popular Orca 58 for only $25 & $28 right now.
Brian in OR.
Life of the Party
BriGuy
Life of the Party
You really just used AI to remove the leaf litter from the picture, didn't you?
Oh wait... wrong thread.
That would have taken me longer than the actual leaf removal, I'm all about low labor economy.
you have a little mildew on the siding, u can now get too
That would be for a different thread. "What have you done for your siding lately?"you have a little mildew on the siding, u can now get too
Added a higher and more comfortable "bobber watcher" seat to the Commander. Have to keep the ass dry in that 40 degree water during the March opener.
Taking it back to 1993 baby!
It almost matches my 90s Sage Guide Line bag that just keeps on truckin. I mean, it wouldn't be true to the 90s if it actually matched.
Not water tested yet. Maybe this Sunday if it's not too crappy out.
Taking it back to 1993 baby!
It almost matches my 90s Sage Guide Line bag that just keeps on truckin. I mean, it wouldn't be true to the 90s if it actually matched.
Not water tested yet. Maybe this Sunday if it's not too crappy out.