The only way to remove by yourself is to take each pad off individually and the f/glass tray is light.

Have fun not dropping screws down into the bilge! There's only about a hundred.

Have fun not dropping screws down into the bilge! There's only about a hundred.

BTW - my ladder had hit the prop (by the previous owner), and was pretty screwed. I replaced it with another Formula ladder, but shortened it so if it swung down it can't hit the drive.

CMG - just got the boat down here this week, haven't even had time to open the canvas and look inside. All the work is done, but I haven't had time to really test it out due to the move. Looking forward to many warm winter days of boating

Talked to Gordon this week - I guess he needs neck / back surgery and was out of work a while - possibly why he didn't shrink wrap your boat???

Forget that shrinky-dink crap anyways. I just used a couple of sawhorses and tarps (industrial quality, not the blue crap) to cover my boat. I would use 2 2x4's for the center beam (one for the bow, one for the rear), and screw them together at an v-angle, right above the windshield - that way the snow (ha, ha! ) can roll of the bow and the stern without piling up. Also built a foot to go from the floor up to the center beam for extra support. Use bungy cords to hold the tarps down to the trailer - then you can get in there in the winter to work if need be, also allows for give for cold windy blustery days . All these materials should cost probably around $100 bucks, and can be re-used every year. No recurring costs, and no waiting in line at a marina.

Good luck preparing your 311 for a cold winter's nap Mine's just waking up!

Thanks jaybird, too bad for Gordon though he could have returned one of my five vocie mails. thanks for the advice with the saw horses, I went to H/D, they only had the blue tarps (hate blue, looks like a shanty town) do you rememebr wher you got the better quality tarp around here?

CMG - I think I bought the tarps at Amesbury Industrial supply. The tarps had green on one side and black on the other, and was at least twice as thick. Plus green looked better in the back yard than a huge blue blob. I think they could order a larger size too. I had this setup from a previous smaller boat. Give them a call over there, and see what they can get.

You probably could find tarps online somewhere and order one as well. Good luck.

"Jay" I noticed your posting at four am. And I thought I had a problem being addicted to OSO....

Mike,

Removed the ladder off my 311 years ago. Never used it anyway. It used to rattle pretty bad with the engines running. Much quieter and also a cleaner look.

Exactly! My 311 hatch was really heavy, too. When I took it apart to repanel a few worn out sections, both the foam and plywood were soaked.

The "new" Formulas have a foam that actually repels water away, and instead of plywood, they use a new fiber material that is stronger and lighter. I dried out the plywood sections before reassembly, and had them open up all the panels and restuff them with the new water resistant foam, too.

The "new" hatch was MUCH lighter. I was even able to lift it up onto the boat and reinstall it by myself.

Oh boy, another project.