Don't try this at home!
 

Because it's not worth it. Nobody could tell me what was under the starboard side cabin seat so I felt compelled to look. The screws for the seat are in the pleat.

This is a steep portion of the hull (at least on a 29). There is a plywood stringer running through the center. The outer most area is only about 6 inches high and the closer compartment is 10 inches high. They both are about 6 feet long though.

It would be good to store canvas but that is about it. It took about 4 hours and $20 for the bilge paint.

#2

Did you have to cut the decking out for that opening?
Haven't looked at how my 32' is. Maybe there's some hope after all for some storage up front. ;)

I used a RotoZip tool for most of it but a router or sabersaw would work. I followed the contour of the backrest. I notched the center stringer down about an inch because I didn't want to weaken it. I am sure I could have gone deeper but that was a saw blades worth.

Some sanding with those new 3M tiny disks was necessary. Lots of dust in the cabin.

The EASY thing to do would be go in through the side (kick panel?) not under the seat, and snap some canvas over it.

It hardly moves at all but just one small plastic block or rubber foot could be used to stop it from moving in and the other seat keeps it from moving out.

Oh yea, the bottom of the seat had to be upholstered as it raw plywood.

Lots of work for not too much space but maybe you have more room on a 32.

F

Wow, good work man.
Nice to know what's under there.
I kind of wish the wetbar wasn't so bulky & the seating wrapped around more to seat more people comfortably.

Have you done any other mods to your 29?

FC,

You are an industrious dude! I hope my wife doesn't see this or I am in big trouble...she's always moaning about storage space. I actually toyed with the idea of installing a hand held shower "inline" with the fresh water sink. The pump is under the cooler in the cabin and the tank is on the port sidecombing behind a door on my 29. I was going to put a T fitting on the pressure side of the fresh water line and run a tube aft. My last boat had a transom shower and everyone loved it...we boat in salt water and it's nice to have! Just isn't alot of room in the back for the unit and almost looks like I would have to remove the ice chest to get the work done. I think I am too lazy! BTW, you do nice work.

I didn't like the quality of the transom showers I saw so I installed the tee in the water line near the tank. I added 20 feet of reinforced RV water hose and and left the threaded end on with a spray nozzle. I coil the hose up and feed it out through the side vent when I need it.

I fill the tank 1/3 of the way up and then when I am done boating for the day I can hose it off when it's back on the trailer.

The pressure isn't fantastic but about an $8 project.

FC,

I like your idea...if it is not too much trouble I would like to get some details with regard to the shower install. The t-fitting and 20' of RV hose are self explanatory but what type of nossle/showerhead did you use. My last transom shower had a trigger to control the water flow and the only similar thing I have seen in marine stores is a kit with 40" of hose and a hangar for 35 bucks! Also, what diameter RV hose did you use? You put the tee by the water tank in the cockpit area but isn't that up stream of the pump? How do you get the pressure?
Sounds like a good idea all around and with 20' of hose you could use it wash off the salt spray, etc. Do you have any idea how big the fresh water tank is on the 29, I think it is 5 gal.
Thanks in advance and have a good weekend.

G-

Gferdon,

The tee for the hose is on the pressure side of the pump so there is some lag when you hit the pump switch. I's say it is 5/8 RV hose and it is reinforced to hold normal tap water pressure so the 45 lbs from the pump should be OK.

The water tank says 13 gallons in the 2000 Fountain catalog but they might have changed it.

Here is an idea for a foot rest. It is non adjustable because of the angle and uses standard bimini top hadware. Sorry, she wouldn't move!

This is cheap also:

OOPS!

I just added the red rings from Eddie Marine ans some 1-1/4" stainless washers. Now you can acutally use it to get up on the deck without the glovebox cracking.

More from Eddie Marine, red upholstery wahsers to hold the steering wheel on.

Man you're loaded with good ideas!
I like where you mounted your VHF, where's your antenna mounted?
Nice job on the port grabrail & the footrest too.
I also noticed a hardware piece for your bimini top, did you get the topset from Fountain or have one custom made?
Enquiring minds want to know.....

I worked in a canvas shop for a couple years (man what a great summer job). My boat came with the Fountain bimini top and it is a way heavy duty piece. The frame is all stainless tubing. I would have preferred to make one myself but it was already there.

I changed the mounting bracket that is above the rear seat step pad because it sticks up right where someone might get caught on it. Overtons and Cabelas have a neat tear drop shaped one but they are kind of pricey @ $25 each. Powerboat Mag or someone has a new product release on a similar idea but it is not nearly as smooth. I'll get a pix if you want.

The 8' antenna is lying in the starboard side gunwale(?). It doens't work too well but I boat on inland lakes. For Lake Michigan, I use a rail mount on the rear sun pad that comes off in minute. I didn't want anything permanent.

This is an antenna mount I made a couple yrs ago for my Fever. I also don't like any of the store bought mounts, nor anything that required drilling holes to mount. Made this from Alum. The antenna half just slides into the mount which clamps onto the rear railing. I made it so that it fits between the rail and the hatchpad. Also is below the rail, so the cockpit cover does not rub on it. Best part is that it is vertually unnoticable.

2

3

Thanks for the insight, I wanted the factory Fountain canvas but overlooked it on the order form. I was nervous as is :) I guess I can order one once I get a balance back in the savings account.....
I would like to mount the VHF antenna on the transom rail, I have a stainless Shakespeare antenna, a small steel car-style antenna that I think supposed to go on a sailboat mast but I like the looks & it works well. Prob is the cockpit cover goes snug around the transom rail & limits mounting anything there such as an antenna or a flag. I too don't want anything perm. Hmmnnn, still trying to sort that one out.

I was typing while you posted those pics US1, that is the exact antenna I have, that is one AWESOME bracket you made, as I am trying to not have the cover interfere.
Again, so you made that bracket???

Thanks!
Yep, made it all. One of the purks for being a tool and die maker. ;) I've made more "one of" custom peices than I can remember.
The top half is all one peice. It incorperates the thread for the antenna to screw on. I just lay it inside the engine compartment when not in use. To use: raise hatch, slide the upper into the lower, close hatch! 10 seconds.
I want to make another one out of SS, just never got around to it.

US1,

That looks really good! I think I saw that on an other post and tried to make on out of store bought parts. I found a 1"x 28(?) stainless adapter but after I added up all the parts, the plastic rail mount seemed like a good idea for a lot less $$.

I wish I had a lathe and mill and knew how to use it! We used to make CNC mill retrofit kits and got out of the business. You think they would have sold me one cheap but no, we re- retrofited them back to manual and sold them off.

F

US1, you let me know if you ever feel the need to make another one, I will buy it from you!
I don't care about the cost at the Marine supply shops, just seems that there is nothing that is easily taken off the rail when the cover goes on. I don't want to have to bust out the wrench for things like that.
I had the set up on my last boat, the SeaRay but the cover didn't go over the rail.

FC,

Thanks for the input on the plumbing for the shower, I am off today and the weather is nice but quite windy...I may tackle that project today to keep myself busy. Let you know how I make out. From all the replies, this has turned out to be one hell of a thread! I did not get the bimini from the factory and am sorry about that choice. I had called a few local canvas folks and told them what I wanted, essentially the factory setup, and they all said around two grand...not too bad. When they came to actually look at the boat and heard I wanted top quality stainless, etc., the price went up to three to four grand! So it goes. I may wait until mid-winter and see if anyone is a bit more hungry and less busy. Thanks again for all the info. BTW, is that cup holder an Eddie Marine unit? It appears to be color matched and on a gimbal...yes? I sure could use a couple of holders up front. The footrest is a nice touch, had one on my '01 26' Powerquest and everyone loved it. Later...

The drink holder is from BCSystems. They have many different models but the plastic ones like mine are $29. The cool red billet ones are $129.

Try bcsystems.ws

or 866.456.9322

I am not authorized!?

Try this one.

http://www.off-road.com/jeep/reviews/bcs/

Hey FC...Did you take apart everything when you were a kid just to see what you could do to make it better??? If so it definetely worked!!! Nice work:)

FC, I agree with 105...you are the guy everyone who's looking for the "perfect" used boat wants to find! I bet when you are ready to trade up, your 29 goes in a flash. Thanks again for the input and ideas.

GF

Thanks!

That's what everybody tells me. "Let me know when you want to sell this". Yeah Right!

I had to let my last boat, a 26' Envision bow rider (it is me and my family in their brochure) for next to nothing. It had a 454/454 that I built. All the canvas you could ever want, decent stereo and lots of "fine tuning". I don't have any pix but it was probably the best all around family boat out there. Solid as a rock!

This one will be for sale when I can afford a 38 with staggered 525's and the TALL windshield. That ought to generate some controversy!

I just got my Teague strainer today. I have read every thread about where to put it and it seem as low as possible would be best.

Anything lower than the pump seems like it is going to syphon out anyway.

Doe this look near the factory location?

FC,

You probably should start dedicated thread for this answer. I personally know nothing about sea strainers, I assumed you had a Bravo drive with the customary sea pump...is a strainer used with that system? Good luck.

G-

Too late, its already in. As soon as it warms up to 60 today, I'll go out and try it. It was alot harder than it looked to install because that hose doesn't bend much.

I recommend trying cheap brass fittings until you get it all sorted out and then switch to the stainless if you want.

There is no way currently to drain the strainer itself so I have to figure that out. CP has a 90 with a plug that might work.

I'll post the results.

FC

ttt

One more cabin "adjustment". Does the flush handle on the porta pottie not clear the door? This is $7.00 worth of teak and the lid is still below the covering cushion.