Re: [OMC-Boats] Continuing Boat Guide Project

if you don't mind saying, what did it end up costing for fabrication
and materials on those?

On Nov 27, 2009, at 10:55 PM, Don Mandelas wrote:

> I think your boat guides look very good and I'm looking forward to
> seeing the finished set up!
>
> Don.
>
> Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:09:52 -0800
> From: bldfw@...
> To: omc-boats@...
> Subject: [OMC-Boats] Continuing Boat Guide Project
>
> Hey guys,
>
> A little post holiday sharing......
>
> After spending a fair amount of time this late summer trying to get
> my boat back on it's trailer (somewhat unsuccessfully) I opted to
> eliminate that future source of post boating frustration and install
> a guides. I want to be able to load and unload by myself without
> assistance......or the agony.
>
> At first I tried 3" PVC guide posts but that didn't work too well as
> they were too easily broken off so I decided to go with the full
> length side type. I came up with an idea for the support arms and
> drafted out a set of plans after measuring about 20 times. A buddy
> works for a metal fabrication plant so I contracted with them to do
> the work. I could have taken the boat somewhere and had a set
> permanently welded on but I wanted to be able to remove them so my
> idea was to bolt them in place over the frame. The metal company
> fabricated a sample piece for fitting and after finding that it fit
> perfectly, I authorized them to go ahead.
>
> I'm pretty impressed with them. At 16lbs each, they're a bit
> heftier than expected but at least they won't be flexing around
> while running down the road and I can't break them off like I did my
> PVC version.
>
> They're designed to sandwich the I-beam and bolt tight at the
> bottom. That way they can be removed if desired. I still have to
> paint them and add the 2x6 carpeted side guides but thought I'd
> share some pics of one of the support arms. Hopefully the pics
> aren't too big to download.
>
> Each support arm has two holes at the top for the 2x6 guide and one
> at the bottom to slide a bolt through so it can be tighted down over
> the frame. They also have a threaded hole on each side of the upper
> part where it slips over the I-beam so that it could be snugged down
> inside the upper I-beam. It's likely I might have to install a set
> of upright post guides at the rear so that they can keep the boat
> centered on first approach but we'll see about that later. I'll
> send some more pics later after I get the sides mounted.
>
> I'm looking forward to my first try out with them! ;-)
>
> -Bill
> Dallas, TX
> 1970 Evinrude Explorer - 155 Buick V6 - OMC Sterndrive
> http://www.photobucket.com/evinrude_explorer
>
> Windows 7: I wanted simpler, now it's simpler. I'm a rock star.
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Received on Saturday, 28 November 2009