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Fender storage in helm compartment

Andy S

Jetboaters Admiral
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Location
Chapin, SC 29036
Boat Make
Cobalt
Year
2016
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
25
In addition to adding mooring line holders in the helm compartment, https://jetboaters.net/threads/dock-line-holder.2463/ see 8th post, I added fender storage and a light in my helm compartment.

The light is tapped of the courtesy light circuit. I purchased an 8 led white only light from west marine, http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--surface-mount-led-dome-lights--P009_276_005_518 and screwed it to the ridge in the roof the helm compartment.

20140704_095303[1].jpg

The fender holder is made of a piece of flat aluminum about 2" tall and 29" long. The hooks are chromed coat hooks from Lowe's and are space about 8" inches apart, my fenders are 7" diameter. There is a 1" long piece of 1.5" PVC pipe as a spacer between the aluminum bar and forward helm wall. The mounting hardware is 1/4" x 20 bolts 2" long with nylock nuts. On the end of the fender without a line attached I put a small strip of velcro and created a hanging loop, this is what attaches to the coat hook, and stays on the fender when using to protect the boat.

I first used this on fender holder was on the trip to Bimini and I found out that the fenders don't always stay on the holders when the boat hits a wave. The problem is that both sides of the PVC spacers are currently cut at 90 degree which due to the angle of the forward helm wall causes the aluminum bar to angle downwards. The fix is to cut new spacers with one side of the spacer cut at an angle to result in the aluminum bar being vertical.

I do have to admit, the outside fender is tough to store or retrieve the fender. I am 5' 11'' and it is a stretch for me. Luckily it is rare I need all 4 fenders at once.

20140704_095253[1].jpg

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Bruce

Jetboaters Fleet Admiral 1*
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Royal, AR
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Yamaha
Year
2007
Boat Model
SX
Boat Length
23
Nice work Andy. I have been meaning to organize that compartment. Ours is normally stuffed with life jackets. We stacked a shopping cart of gatorade in there for Bimini.
 
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