spring projects

[furball]

I completed two of my wish list items for the spring and thought I'd share a couple of photos. Wanted to enclose the rear deck with screen and glass for Eastern Shore nights on the hook in bug infested territories. Rocket launchers for trolling and rod storage. Quick change, sort of, from fishing boat to camper.



Now that the fun items are done, can't wait to put them to use.
I am looking for creative ways to store all the new panels, 7 total. I think I need one of those luggage carriers for the roof
See you on the water,
John

[johnmurray]

Last year I had a very similar all-around canvas enclosure made for my A-30FC. One problem was that the canvas-maker could not seem to get a smooth roof-line in the canvas, just aft of the pilot-house hard top. (There are some photos on this site.) I notice from your photo that you seem to have the same problem. I have a zippered "door" just below that section and when it rained water pooled in that saggy area and then dumped on the back of my neck as I exited the boat. The solution I have developed so far is a sleeve with a sail batten arrangement on the inside of the canvas roof. This stretches the canvas roof into a smoother line that sheds rather than accumulates the rain.
As for canvas storage, I put mine in the aft cabin but that solution wont help you much!
Cheers...John

[furball]

John,
When I first saw the canvas sides up, I was afraid of the same thing. The back needed a few adjustments and wasn't up yet. Once the back panel goes on, it pulls the roof back and tightens it up. The only water I've gotten in during the rain is where the canvas sides jump under the roof edge. I like the idea of having another way to tension the roof but I don't understand how the sleeve/sail batten rig would work. If you ever get a chance to take a photo, I'd love to see it.
Thanks,
John

[johnmurray]

I will take some pictures after our lauch date which (hopefully) will be around 13 May.

[zinbaad]

Looks real nice, limitless on what we can do on our Albins

[RicM]

I'd be looking for secure storage for all them fishin' rods.

[furball]

The nice thing about chasing Chesapeake stripers is you don't need great stuff. I can probably replace 8 rod/reel combos for less than one of those tuna setups. I spend more on my smallmouth fishing gear than my trolling setups. Then again, I don't often put 55lb stripers in the boat.
Can't bring myself to leave anything of value on the boat so all the good stuff makes the trip each weekend.
John

[RicM]

I do have at least 2 major vices I will discuss in public (though Miss K could probably give you a prioritized list), and that is fishing gear and shoes. Shoes, I get from my Mom, who has about 200 pair. I have about 20 pair which I understand is a lot for a straight man, although I find it barely adequate. The second, and more expensive, is good fishing gear. I have finally, this year, pushed aside almost all the junky Penn stuff I bought at the beginning and have replaced all the hardware with Accurate and Avet reels, except for the spinning stuff. That will go next year. The great thing about top quality conventional reels is you can use good 50 pound gear on everything from stripers to tuna if it's spooled with 50 lb super braid with mono backing and top shot. You can put about 400 yds of line on those rigs which will not be too heavy, weight wise, on big stripers, but will handle tuna from school size up to a 200 lb fish on a good day with a mate that can handle the boat reasonably well. The down side is you can't leave it out in the rain. One of the reasons I bought a 28 TE is the quarter berth that will easily hold 16-18 rods securely! Oh, and you need at least one "chump rod" for the occaisional brother-in-law who might drop the rig overboard when the first REAL fish hits. That's were the Penn level wind 109's end up.