kfa4303
Banned
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2010
- Messages
- 6,094
Hi all. Here are a couple of neat little DIY projects made from thin walled, 1 1/4" PVC that I've done lately using less than $20 worth of supplies.
The first is a handy little tiller extension. It's only a few feet long, but it makes a world of difference. I even managed to find some color coordinated pipe clamps than work great and don't require a screw driver. After I measured the length of the extension I wanted, I made 4-5 slits the end that would slide over the whole of the factory tiller grip. Note that I drilled a small hole at the end of each slit to prevent cracks or runs. I then found the neat little, handled pipe clamps. I just kind of stumbled across them at the auto parts store one day. They came with red and yellow tabs in the package also. I arranged it such that the the tabs correspond to the "red dot" on the factory handle so I always know the relative position of the throttle. A few twists of the pipe clamp tabs and it slips right off and stows away with ease.
This is a cool, hand powered bilge pump which I wanted/needed, but after pricing the on line I knew there had to be another way. So I went online and found a youtube vid that showed how to make a home made hand pump. I was a little skeptical at first, but believe me when I say it works GREAT!!! It will easily pump several gallons a minute (not that it should ever come to that). I just cut up an old dust pan to make the "piston" and used some rubber hose as the flap/seal thingy. The handle is just a long piece of bamboo available from any nursery. The piston and flap are held in place by a little stainless steel screw twisted into the end of the bamboo at a growth node so the screw could get some bite. It's very sturdy and all of the bits just twist together and break down in no time.
The next is handy little rod holder. I know there are a million variations, but I could never quite find one that would work for my set up. The best part of this rig is that there are no through-hull attachments, just 4 stainless steel sheet metal screws coated in 3M 5200 and mounted on the inner rubrail. It's very strong and has a drainage hole so any water can drain away freely. It sits just above the bench without touching the wood itself. It's very sturdy and only took about 30 min. to make (and another 30 to clean up the 5200 I got everywhere. very gloopy stuff).
The last couple items are just random little problems I hadn't been able to figure out a solution to until lately. They're not the most glamorous solutions, but they were practically free, using only black zip ties and a few slices of a blue pool noodle I had. I have the remnants of an old cable and pulley style steering system that I thought about resurrecting, but ultimately decided against it. However I still had the original factory hardware in place and I didn't want to remove it. I managed to use the port site pulleys and fair lead as anchoring points for some hefty black zip ties. I linked them in such a way that I now have a place to mount my trusty old, extra long canoe paddle. I never leave home without it, but it had always sort of been in the way and rattled around. Now it slides into/out of the zip ties with ease and the slices of pool noodle pad it against the side of the boat so that it makes virtually no noise at all!. I even managed to use the zip ties to help route my fuel line which I lengthened slightly and rerouted in a much more efficient manner.
Any way, just a few fun silly, but surprisingly useful little projects. They are by no means the "best", or most stylish solutions, but they all work great, were fun to make and cost less than a $20 Cheers!
The first is a handy little tiller extension. It's only a few feet long, but it makes a world of difference. I even managed to find some color coordinated pipe clamps than work great and don't require a screw driver. After I measured the length of the extension I wanted, I made 4-5 slits the end that would slide over the whole of the factory tiller grip. Note that I drilled a small hole at the end of each slit to prevent cracks or runs. I then found the neat little, handled pipe clamps. I just kind of stumbled across them at the auto parts store one day. They came with red and yellow tabs in the package also. I arranged it such that the the tabs correspond to the "red dot" on the factory handle so I always know the relative position of the throttle. A few twists of the pipe clamp tabs and it slips right off and stows away with ease.
This is a cool, hand powered bilge pump which I wanted/needed, but after pricing the on line I knew there had to be another way. So I went online and found a youtube vid that showed how to make a home made hand pump. I was a little skeptical at first, but believe me when I say it works GREAT!!! It will easily pump several gallons a minute (not that it should ever come to that). I just cut up an old dust pan to make the "piston" and used some rubber hose as the flap/seal thingy. The handle is just a long piece of bamboo available from any nursery. The piston and flap are held in place by a little stainless steel screw twisted into the end of the bamboo at a growth node so the screw could get some bite. It's very sturdy and all of the bits just twist together and break down in no time.
The next is handy little rod holder. I know there are a million variations, but I could never quite find one that would work for my set up. The best part of this rig is that there are no through-hull attachments, just 4 stainless steel sheet metal screws coated in 3M 5200 and mounted on the inner rubrail. It's very strong and has a drainage hole so any water can drain away freely. It sits just above the bench without touching the wood itself. It's very sturdy and only took about 30 min. to make (and another 30 to clean up the 5200 I got everywhere. very gloopy stuff).
The last couple items are just random little problems I hadn't been able to figure out a solution to until lately. They're not the most glamorous solutions, but they were practically free, using only black zip ties and a few slices of a blue pool noodle I had. I have the remnants of an old cable and pulley style steering system that I thought about resurrecting, but ultimately decided against it. However I still had the original factory hardware in place and I didn't want to remove it. I managed to use the port site pulleys and fair lead as anchoring points for some hefty black zip ties. I linked them in such a way that I now have a place to mount my trusty old, extra long canoe paddle. I never leave home without it, but it had always sort of been in the way and rattled around. Now it slides into/out of the zip ties with ease and the slices of pool noodle pad it against the side of the boat so that it makes virtually no noise at all!. I even managed to use the zip ties to help route my fuel line which I lengthened slightly and rerouted in a much more efficient manner.
Any way, just a few fun silly, but surprisingly useful little projects. They are by no means the "best", or most stylish solutions, but they all work great, were fun to make and cost less than a $20 Cheers!