Date: 30 September 2016. Cup-holder Repair.

© janice142
 

One of my first purchases for Seaweed in the line of decadence enhancement was an Attwood Gimbaled Cup-Holder. It was one of those fancy ones that remains level when the boat rocks. My caffeine would be safe while underway. After years of use however it broke. This is how I fixed it.
 

It all started back in 2008 when I bought my home. I knew the importance of staying well hydrated while  on the water. Drinking is important. When running Seaweed I wanted to make sure that my cup did not go flying when the boat rocked.
 

When I rediscovered Pier 17 after so many decades I had to buy something. In addition to my first anchor (a 16 pound Hydro-bubble) I bought a fancy cup-holder. Life was good.
 

The Cup-Holder was great. For a few years it was inside Seaweed and hung by the steps into my forward cabin while underway. Later I moved it into the dinghy Algae.

The cup-holder is behind me and just forward of my left elbow. Affiliate links in blue.

Having a cup holder in the dink was handy. I loved the convenience of having a place to put my glass where it would not spill. Skipper gets enthusiastic when we are riding in Algae. With my cup in the holder I did not worry about going thirsty nor inadvertent spills.
 

One day we spotted a blue crab hanging on an old rope by a piling.

Going slow I have the opportunity to really see the world. It is a beautiful place.
 

There is nothing better than hopping into Algae and turning on the trolling motor for a spin about an anchorage. Electric trolling motors are quiet. Skirting the shore we spot lots of wildlife that would have been scared off by a noisy outboard. It is one of my favorite things to do with Skipper.
 

The cup-holder is not designed for long term use outside.
Eventually the metal basket part failed. The cup-holder lasted three or four years in Algae. That is a salty environment. I should have removed it from the dinghy when not in use. On the other hand I did get my $10's worth from the product.
I went from this ↓	to this ↑

When the basket finally gave up the ghost I was of course disappointed. I should have taken better care of it. I threw away the broken basket and decided to figure out a way to fix it.
 

When I spotted a blue cup floating by the transom of Seaweed I got it out of the water. After cleaning the plastic cup I noted the size looked just about perfect for the cup-holder in Algae.
 

I attached the blue cup to the frame of my cup-holder with nuts and bolts. For those interested, I used short 8x32's. A brief lesson in bolts can be found in the Bolt Sizing Primer vignette.
 

I drilled holes in the sides and back of the cup. Later I realized the one I drilled in the back was unnecessary.

It always pleases me to save money. Though I probably would not have spent another $10 to put a cup holder in Algae I admit I missed it. Skipper and I like going for boat rides and having a place to put my drink is convenient.
 

There are wooden supports around the *gunnels of Algae. The wood is a perfect place to screw stuff. One screw and voila, instant happiness for me. My pint ice tea glass fits perfectly.

*Gunnels are the top edge of the hull. "Over the gunnels" is a bad thing as you're getting water in your boat. 
 

Now I know the sun will deteriorate the plastic and this will be an ongoing repair process. Fortunately it is a simple one. From start to finish the job was completed in about a half hour. That works for me.
 

Best of all, the next cup replacement should not take more than about ten minutes as I have already got the hardware and plan in place.

Have you installed a drink holder in your tender?
Do you use a cup-holder in your main boat?
 

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