Your best project for less than 100 bucks.

[rnummi]

Just a quick thread for all you folks in the snow. What was your best project on your 25/27 in wgich you spent less than 100 bucks? (Smacksman's Walmart Eisenglas!)...

[Sprig1]

A six pack of beer for when I sit and look at the mess I've created and the work to put it back together. Attitude adjustment

[kerrye]

$6 rattle can.

[Beta Don]

I glassed a 'floor' in the anchor locker - Total cost about ten bucks

We had stains on the underside of the Vee berth cushions. A quick inspection showed that ANY water which made it's way into the anchor locker was funneled onto the top of the Vee berth pan! We have a stainless hinged hawse pipe for stowing the anchor rode, but it's lid is by no means water tight. Add to that the need sometimes to stow the rope and chain while it's still wet makes you wonder why Albin thought it was a good idea to funnel this moisture into the boat??

I cut a small block of 3/4 wood, shaped it to very closely fit the bow contour while mating up with the interior trim piece (the one with the door in it which lets you look at your anchor rode without leaving the cabin) and I glassed the wood piece in with epoxy all around. It tilts forward about 30 degrees and I drilled a hole in the bow just above the new floor, under the bow eye for the water to run out - Out the front of the boat as opposed to under the Vee berth cushions

Don

[Beta Don]

Another one - I added a back porch light for use when getting in or out of the dink after dark - Actually, it's just a new use for our super bright LED stern light. It's a programmable time delay relay which uses zero current when not in use. A stainless flush push button switch installed just above the stern light. Push the button and the stern light comes on and automatically goes off 7 minutes later. The switch was about $5, the programmable time delay relay was about $10 and another $10 for some additional wiring. A series diode lights the stern light when the running lights are used so that the relay lights only the stern light and not the running lights too

Don

[Northern Spy]

the best winter project yet was a cheap tarp to cover the cockpit canvas. Man, has it been a wet winter here in the Carolinas!

[smacksman]

The fore and aft cabin doors would bang about under way as we took the wash from passing boats. Drove me mad!
Problem solved making snibs modified from spare rub rail inner section.
Cost nil ; pleasure from use priceless!



Snib open - clear of hatch covers and no rattles.



Snib closed - door secured open with one hand.

ps. - Wallmart 'Isenglass' shower curtain side screens cost more than $100 as the sewing machine cost nearly that!! But does that come under 'tools' so not included in the hundred bucks limit?

[rnummi]

Since a dewalt drill costs.... No, tools not included just materials for the project... i.e. Screening material $x bucks=renewed screens priceless.

[Beta Don]

The fore and aft cabin doors would bang about under way as we took the wash from passing boats. Drove me mad!
Problem solved making snibs modified from spare rub rail inner section.
Cost nil ; pleasure from use priceless!

I used round rare earth magnets for the same purpose. They came with a countersunk hole in the middle for a screw. One magnet on the door, another on the surface you want the door held against. They're very strong and hold the doors securely

Don

[DCatSea]

Rebuilding the drawers in the aft cabin, and finding out that the boat builder about 50 yards from where "Mazboot" is on the blocks had a dumpster darn near FULL of large chunks of 1/2", 3/4" and 1" Marine ply, and not-quite planks of fir. Total cost of rebuild less than $15.00 (and so much MP that I don't quite know what to do with it - yet. I will be keeping a close eye on the dumpster.

[Beta Don]

Rebuilding the drawers in the aft cabin . . . .

That's the best one yet!

Our drawers were in really sad shape too. Somehow, some time they must have got really wet because the drawer bottoms in 2 of them were nearly rotted away and the other two were delaminating. We did replace all 4 of the drawer bottoms but the drawers are still sticky and hard to pull out or push back in and as a result we've only been using them for items we don't need to get to on a daily basis, which is pretty sad - Plus, with about 6 sets of shoes stored under the steps, there's a lot of shuffling things around to even get to the drawers. I *think* with some more sanding on the openings in the frame they may get easier to slide in and out. I envy you having new, functioning drawers. I *thought* there would be tons of spare time during the cruise to tend to these little chores like fixing sticky drawers, but so far they have stayed way down low on my projects llist

A total rebuild of those 4 drawers for $15 is going to be really hard to beat - You won't regret the time you invested there for sure

90% of our clothing is stored in 6 plastic drawers Carolyn found which we fitted under the aft window, centered between the two berths. We left those center cushions at home and I made a thin plywood panel to cover the hatch for the center storage compartment (where the rudder shaft is) and those two Wally World 3 drawer sets fit that center space exactly and provide a ton of storage. I'll post a pic of them one day when the aft cabin is presentable

Don

[Jay Knoll]

IMG_4645.JPG

We had some people out for an evening cruise and during the cocktail hour I realized that we needed a cocktail table. I didn't want to have another piece of gear on board and then I thought about the hatch board.

So, $6 worth of hinges and four brass screws pluse a few hours in the shop and we have a great solution. And the base fits in the cockpit locker.

[Vic K]

Not as fancy as Jay's ( which I really liked and may use) but a modified TV tray has worked.

[tego]

Jay, You da Man! That's one of the best ideas I've seen on this forum! Ben

[Jay Knoll]

Thanks Ben!