| BELLY UP TO THE BAR-
The NEW deck is a bar construction, which affords me loads of mounting space for equipment and gear, the versatility of moving the gear mounts to change configuration and it's now a permanent bolted on fixture! |
| MATERIAL-
-PVC electrical conduit for the main frame (1,3 & 4)
-1 inch round aluminum tubing (2) for the crossmembers
-Conduit clamp for securing to boat (5)
-Conduit hanger (6) for gear mounts
-PVC cleaner & cement (7)
-Krylon Fusion spray paint (8)
all from your local home improvement store! |
| FRAME LAYOUT-
Glue up the elbow with the straight length first (A), one for each side, you don't have to worry about alignment with these pieces. Glue the second elbow to the previous assembly(s). Lay it on a flat suface to ensure it's level and scribe a line on the joint before cementing (B). Take care not to remove the mark while cleaning. Quickly align marks after cementing!
Join the two assemblies with a coupler (item 4,above). |
| CROSSMEMBERS-
After spray painting with Krylon Fusion (specially formulated for plastics), cut aluminum tubing to length for the two crossmembers. |
| CROSSMEMBER ATTACHMENT--
Drill through the frame and through the bottom side of the tubing to attach it to the frame with a stainless steel bolt from the bottom up, with a nut inside the tubing. Locktite the threads to prevent the nut from loosening. |
| SIDE MOUNTS--
Attach the completed frame/bar assembly to each side of the cockpit with conduit clamps. SS bolt through clamp, frame, and kayak deck to secure it. "Dry fit", measure, and scribe everything at least 42 times to ensure correct placement, before you drill!!! |
| FRONT MOUNTS--
2 upside down clamps secure the bar, and provide a base for a rod holder mount on the bow of the boat. 2 SS bolts secure each clamp, with nylon spacers on the front bolts adding additional stability and also protection from the shockcord fraying on the otherwise exposed threads. "Dry fit", measure, and scribe everything at least 41 times to ensure correct placement, before you drill!!!
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| GEAR MOUNT--
A conduit hanger secures a "ram mount" bracket to the bar.
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| FINISHING TOUCHES--
Rubber "cane tips" provide the finish to to the aluminum bars, along with a "ruler sticker" on the lower bar. |
