How/Where to put all your STUFF on a ski boat?

[cpishere]

I recently bought a 21ft Tahoe Q6 ski boat with a max capacity of 9. I've had 6 adults on it & the motor seemed to do fine, but we ran out of room to put all our STUFF. There's very limited space for built-in storage which is basically taken up by the boat equipment - anchor, bumpers, life jackets, etc.

What are some options for increasing storage space on a ski boat, specifically for things like ice chest & bags?

One thing I'm planning to do is add 4 chocks or corners with a mounting kit on top of my engine space so that we can strap an ice chest there, which frees up floor/seating space. I guess I could do a second set of of these with a storage container that I just put our stuff in as well.

Other ideas?

 

[GA_Boater]

How much stuff? What all are you taking with you?

Leave the extra PFDs at home and hang the bumpers over the side.

 

[JASinIL2006]

A big challenge is getting people to limit how much stuff they bring aboard. When we invite guests, it seems everyone wants to bring their own cooler. We combine all the cold stuff into single cooler and leave the others behind. Also, all guests don't need to have their own beach bag (we often have female guests who want to bring a big beach bag and a purse; we try to limit carry-ons to no more than one per person).

It gets even more complicated when you start adding water toys (skis, tubes, wakeboards) to the mix. You have to creatively use any space you have.

The best solution, of course, is to just get a bigger boat!

 

[Scott Danforth]

your capacity is 9 people or 1700#. that could be 1 person from a carnival, or 6 people and a bit of gear.

so if you have 6 adults at 185# each (ISO standard) that leaves you with 590# of total other stuff you can bring on board for ropes, anchors, extra battery, coolers, beer, skis, and the dreaded 3 beach bags per person.

if your skiing, you leave the extra crap on the dock with 3 of the people, or bring a pontoon boat along and put the stuff and extra people on the pontoon boat.

if your not skiing, you put some of the stuff in the ski locker.

my current boat is a 24' cuddy because the cockpit area only fits 6 even though the capacity tag says 12..... so it automatically limits the number of people - all the stuff goes down below and I built 2 55 quart coolers into the floor to hold the 3 cases of beer and one case of water with the 60# of ice so I do not need extra coolers on board to trip over.

 

[cpishere]

A big challenge is getting people to limit how much stuff they bring aboard. When we invite guests, it seems everyone wants to bring their own cooler. We combine all the cold stuff into single cooler and leave the others behind. Also, all guests don't need to have their own beach bag (we often have female guests who want to bring a big beach bag and a purse; we try to limit carry-ons to no more than one per person).

It gets even more complicated when you start adding water toys (skis, tubes, wakeboards) to the mix. You have to creatively use any space you have.

The best solution, of course, is to just get a bigger boat!

LOL, the bigger boat will be a few years away. But this is exactly what we had - 3 ice chests, 3 beach bags, purses, etc. Each couple had all their own stuff!

From now on I will have to tell people not to bring so much as we just don't have room.

 

[harringtondav]

But this is exactly what we had - 3 ice chests, 3 beach bags, purses, etc. Each couple had all their own stuff!

From now on I will have to tell people not to bring so much as we just don't have room.

Good plan. We carry enough towels and sunscreen for everyone. Explain the issue, have everyone screen up at the dock, and have the women folk consolidate their gear into one bag. Don't cast off until they do. They're up to the challenge. Get a single large cooler that will last three hrs. that everyone can charge up. Then it'll be time for a re-beer and a pee break for the women. You're the captain. You set the rules. Use your authority.

 

[ahicks]

Agree with Scott-
"if your skiing, you leave the extra crap on the dock with 3 of the people, or bring a pontoon boat along and put the stuff and extra people on the pontoon boat."

 

[littlerayray]

One thing I find helpful is if we are tubing my 12v tube inflator is awesome. I blow it up at the tubing site and deflate it when everyone's done no mush no fuss it folds up nice and neat. Best part about rebuilding a boat, I can design all the storage I want.

 

[jimmbo]

Get rid of any unneeded ballast. Leave Wife, Kids, Mother-in-Law, especially the Mother-in-Law, ashore, Girlfriends and Mistresses can remain aboard.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, hide 3 or 4 bottles of rum behind the seats, and leave everything but the ice, cola, OJ and the girls on the dock.

You may not ski much, but it will work out.

 

[Tim in TN]

Depending on the year of your boat you should have a built-in cooler. I have a 2006 Q6 and my cooler is under the back bench seat. It came poorly insulated when new but some 3/4" rigid board insulation, cut to fit and glued in place, fixed that nicely. I can't imagine having a separate cooler on board due to space considerations.

 

[Tim in TN]

cpishere, how'd it work out? Were you able to use the built-in cooler?

 

[shrew]

ski boat with a max capacity of 9. I've had 6 adults on it

Capacity of 9 is marketing fluff. The seating design and layout are for comfort and a variety of options. The reality is 9 people on that boat would mean everyone sitting, nobody moving and everyone miserably uncomfortable. IMHO 6 adults is too crowded for a boat that size.

It's a ski boat, it reads like you're trying to use it as a dual purpose RV.

 

[jbcurt00]

cpishere, how'd it work out? Were you able to use the built-in cooler?

CPI posted this the beginning of July and hasnt been back, probably not going to get or reply to your query