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On Boat Storage
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Author:  Scott_nb [ Wed Aug 22, 2012 2:22 pm ]
Post subject:  On Boat Storage
Hi everyone....

So I have only had my boat this summer.. LOVE IT... but hate the fact that there is no storage on it.... I have to carry 7 life jackets (under the front cushions), Carry a battery pack (under front cushions), emergency kit (under back cushion next to battery), tool kit ( under back cushion other side), tow ropes, knee board, bumpers ( ski locker) and it seems that towels ect go in the side compartments... Any buddy have suggestions that work for then to maximize their space??? What if you wanted to bring a BBQ and I know I dont have everything i need.
I was on the Fourwins site and one of the Horizons had a shelf with towels over the motor.. Thought that was super creative...but would get high from the towels...

What works for you????
Author:  ric [ Wed Aug 22, 2012 3:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
Scott_nb wrote:
Hi everyone....

So I have only had my boat this summer.. LOVE IT... but hate the fact that there is no storage on it.... I have to carry 7 life jackets (under the front cushions), Carry a battery pack (under front cushions), emergency kit (under back cushion next to battery), tool kit ( under back cushion other side), tow ropes, knee board, bumpers ( ski locker) and it seems that towels ect go in the side compartments... Any buddy have suggestions that work for then to maximize their space??? What if you wanted to bring a BBQ and I know I dont have everything i need.
I was on the Fourwins site and one of the Horizons had a shelf with towels over the motor.. Thought that was super creative...but would get high from the towels...

What works for you????



Oh my H180? Under the left front cushion = 4 life jackets, some rope, cleaning surprise. I had a maximum rule of 4 people on the boat. It's an 18ft boat with 135hp, if you're loading that thing with 7 people I must salute you, cause I'd be punching someone.
Under the right front cushion = magma grill. The round kettle one fit nicely in there.
Anchor in the anchor locker.
Under the passenger lounger seat = tow rope
Under the passenger rear jump seat = spare prop, small tackle box
Glove box = wet/dry bag with select tools needed ( 3/8 to 3/4 sockets and wrenches, socket wrench, philips/straight screwdriver, pliers, cheap wire tool, some butt connectors, wire, fuses, small firstaid kit, registration paperwork ). Bag total size was around 8in x 8in. Nice and compact didn't really take much room in there.
Passenger size gunnel shoved in the back = 1qt of engine oil, 1qt PS oil just in case, floating prop wrench
Drivers side gunnel = usually a bottle opener, some coozies
The cooler always hung out on the rear facing drivers lounge seat, I got one that fit that perfect.

That's everything you need. Boat always looked clean and uncluttered. Carry what you need, get rid of what you don't need. A full tool kit with 100 pieces is un-needed. Towels usually just hang out on the seats with the person. You don't store towels on a bowrider, they get stank.
Author:  nhprinter [ Wed Aug 22, 2012 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
This isn't going to help you any and I'm not saying you had a choice, but this is the argument for sunsport seating. I could fill a driveway with the stuff I keep on my boat and you never see it. I'll take the storage over the extra floor space.

My only suggestions are that my tool kit is just one of those pouch type things that you zip up. Same with my first aid kit. I'd also find a way to use the wasted space under the port side glove box/cooler. Maybe find a way to enclose it. Sounds far fetched, but it would be great for a little storage area. I also carry a 12v pump so I can deflate all the floats and my towable tube.

Other than that....like Ric said....get rid of anything you don't REALLY need.
Author:  NiagaraChillin [ Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
nhprinter wrote:
but this is the argument for sunsport seating.

I'll see your sunsport seat and rasie you a U-shaped seat. I can store all your stuff and another driveway full too :lol:

I carry pretty much what you and ric listed all in the port side part of the "U". The other side has a few towels, but is mostly empty. I use it for guests to stow their day bags/purses/food/etc.

Sorry for the hijack Scott_nb, I know this doesn't help ya much listening to us brag about OUR space, but like others have said, get rid of stuff ya don't need, and downsize the needed stuff.
Author:  Paul I. [ Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
Install a dual battery system. That would get rid of the battery pack.

Bigger boat, my first was a 19 foot cuddie, now a 26 foot cruiser and still need a bigger boat. Every year we found more and more we can do.
Author:  ric [ Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
Yup. I see myself in a 248 vista by 2014.
Author:  Scott_nb [ Thu Aug 23, 2012 7:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
Love the input everyone.. There is lots of storage for day tripps...but i was just curious how everyone maxed out their storage.

Its cool to see where other people store stuff..And how they do it.

We broke down in the bay on Sunday and a couple guys jumped on board to help us. "Do you have this? " nope "Do you have one of these?" nope... "you really need to have one of these on board" as they jump back on their 37 foot cruiser..lol..... so it got me thinking....where does everyone put this stuff??
Author:  ric [ Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
Well, ya gotta consolidate. There's tools you need, and don't need first off.

You can fix everything you can fix while on the water with a 1/4, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 3/4 sockets in 3/8in drive with one standard extension. Also same size wrenches. A pair of needle nose pliers, side cutters, a good philips and straight blade screwdriver, a leatherman, and a floating prop wrench. Also fuse kit, a prop cotter pin, and if you have standard nav lights, a spare bulb for front/rear, couple feet of wire and butt connectors. That's it. Go to west marine, pickup a small dry bag and shove it all away with a footprint no larger then a shoe.

I just saved you a crap ton of room right there.

They sell the foam boat bumpers (cheaper then what I link to but you get the idea) so you don't have to carry the huge ones
http://www.jmsonline.net/dei-53311f.htm ... 7Qod4xsAfQ

Carry only the life jackets you need at the time, not 7.
Author:  Gresh24 [ Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
This is one time that I really like my back-to-back seating vs. captains chairs in my boat. A lot of room to store things under them. Have plenty of room for everything, including 8 life jackets and all bumpers, lines, tools, etc. Just wish I had a good place for the cooler...
Author:  Scott_nb [ Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
Thanks Ric..... I am working on a tool kit. that gives me a list...

I usually dont have more the 5 people on my boat at a time. but canadain law says you have to have one extra...so i just carry 7, plus two kids ones...

Another reason this was brought up was because I would like to get a small BBQ, but Ric you said you had a kettle one that fit in the front.. So i think I will go with that and just shift stuff around...
I never thought my fold down passanger seat has room under it.. I might put some odd stuff that I will carry (dont use) should have under it in a dry bag... that will definitly help out...

and i really like the smaller bumpers.. that is a great idea..

I wish the fourwinns or another company made a mess screen that fit in the locker to keep everything up out of the channel so the water could flow more freely and stuff would not get as wet...
Author:  Walt [ Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
Back when I had an 18', I would keep anything that could get wet in a mesh back-pack that was secured to the swim deck. That was the tow ropes, and dock lines. Everything dried quickly, and could stay there for the drive back to the house. This freed up about one full storage compartment for other stuff.
Author:  Berger [ Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
I second the idea of a canvas tool box and the 2nd battery in lieu of a battery pack. Both huge space savers.

However, I also used both of these in my FW bowriders that saved a ton of space:

I had 4 of each and they laid flat in one of bow lockers and utilized maybe an 1/8 of the available space.

http://www.amazon.com/Revere-Comfortmax ... fe+jackets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yut8wIg6qRM

Although they are not cheap, I did find them much more reasonable during the winter months. Just keep checking Amazon.com and other sites for deals....

When I sold my 210, the Buyer was so impressed with the space savings, he insisted I include the life jackets and fenders in on the deal. As a result, I was able to get another $250 above my asking price since I really did not want to part with them....
Author:  rtkman [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: On Boat Storage
"I usually dont have more the 5 people on my boat at a time. but canadain law says you have to have one extra."

You actually don't need an extra. You only need one for every person on board. (properly fitting of course) Maybe that will free up some room for you.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/de ... m-1791.htm
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