Redfish
04-22-2009, 09:01 PM
I’ve been working on this project for a while. It’s not a hard one; it’s just that I’ve had a lot of other stuff going on. It really cleans up some of the clutter in the Skiff, keeps extra rods from getting stepped on, and keeps my “tools” handy when I need them. Here’s how I did it.
I started off with a piece of cutting board, which I purchased at a Sam’s Club. It’s their brand, so it should be easily found, for about $10 a board. Nice stuff to work with: about ½ inch thick, nice texture, and about the right hardness for a project. I used one board for both sets of mounts. You will also need some bungee cord. I used woodworking tools to shape and cut all parts.
I started by ripping three pieces from a new cutting board. The wide piece is about 3” wide and 16” long. I drilled 1 ¼” holes in it first with a forstner bit (works better than a “hole saw” bit). Then I used a band saw to cut from the outer edge into the holes at a 25 degree angle. I used a ¼” round-over bit on my router to round over all the edges that would be exposed (the back edge needs to be left square).
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2804
Notice that I notched the back side of the 3" piece (you will see why later) a few inches from the end. Then I CAREFULLY drilled holes and counter sinks in the two flat pieces (which are about 1 ¼” wide) at the appropriate places and along the centerline of the pieces. I also drilled two 3/8” holes at the top and added a small notch to the bottom of the wide piece to accept a piece of bungee cord. I cut the end off a bungee cord, removed the hooks, and tied a knot in it once it was all threaded through. Use a propane torch to slightly melt the end of the cord after you cut it to keep the nylon cover from unraveling. Here what it looks like all assembled:
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2805
Keep in mind, I did not want to have to drill through the sidewall of my Skiff. So I made each rack with a top-piece that would extend over the top of the gunwales. Here is how it mounted up. I used SS machine bolts and nylon locknuts under the gunwale. Note the notch I cut at the bottom of the rack fits over the little step down in the side of the Skiff. Nice fit, and the top mounts keep it stiffly held in place.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2808
Now, here is the pair I made for the port side: rod holders. Note that you do not get your bungee cord too short and tight or it will distort the racks. You want it just snug enough to stay in place when looped over the bottom notch.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2806
I made this set for the starboard side to hold the “tools”: dipnet, pushpole, and gaff. It is made slightly different, but the basic design is the same.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2807
I made both sets of these out of one sheet of cutting board and four bungee cords. All total, I had less than $12 in both pair.
Here are the plans:
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2811
I started off with a piece of cutting board, which I purchased at a Sam’s Club. It’s their brand, so it should be easily found, for about $10 a board. Nice stuff to work with: about ½ inch thick, nice texture, and about the right hardness for a project. I used one board for both sets of mounts. You will also need some bungee cord. I used woodworking tools to shape and cut all parts.
I started by ripping three pieces from a new cutting board. The wide piece is about 3” wide and 16” long. I drilled 1 ¼” holes in it first with a forstner bit (works better than a “hole saw” bit). Then I used a band saw to cut from the outer edge into the holes at a 25 degree angle. I used a ¼” round-over bit on my router to round over all the edges that would be exposed (the back edge needs to be left square).
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2804
Notice that I notched the back side of the 3" piece (you will see why later) a few inches from the end. Then I CAREFULLY drilled holes and counter sinks in the two flat pieces (which are about 1 ¼” wide) at the appropriate places and along the centerline of the pieces. I also drilled two 3/8” holes at the top and added a small notch to the bottom of the wide piece to accept a piece of bungee cord. I cut the end off a bungee cord, removed the hooks, and tied a knot in it once it was all threaded through. Use a propane torch to slightly melt the end of the cord after you cut it to keep the nylon cover from unraveling. Here what it looks like all assembled:
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2805
Keep in mind, I did not want to have to drill through the sidewall of my Skiff. So I made each rack with a top-piece that would extend over the top of the gunwales. Here is how it mounted up. I used SS machine bolts and nylon locknuts under the gunwale. Note the notch I cut at the bottom of the rack fits over the little step down in the side of the Skiff. Nice fit, and the top mounts keep it stiffly held in place.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2808
Now, here is the pair I made for the port side: rod holders. Note that you do not get your bungee cord too short and tight or it will distort the racks. You want it just snug enough to stay in place when looped over the bottom notch.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2806
I made this set for the starboard side to hold the “tools”: dipnet, pushpole, and gaff. It is made slightly different, but the basic design is the same.
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2807
I made both sets of these out of one sheet of cutting board and four bungee cords. All total, I had less than $12 in both pair.
Here are the plans:
http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2811