Date: 30 September 2016. Cup-holder Repair.
© janice142
One of my first purchases for
Seaweed in the line of decadence enhancement was a 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.
In Jacksonville there is a store
called Pier 17. I'd been in that same business many times fifty-plus
years ago. Visiting Pier 17 was a given each time we came through
Jacksonville on our 40'er. Daddy and I would go and I'd wander around. The owner
and Daddy would smoke their pipes and solve all the world's
problems.
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.

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 didn't worry about 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's 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.
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The cup-holder is not designed for long term use outside. |
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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.
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I went from this ↓
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to this ↑ |
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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.
In the meantime I always follow
the *SSCA mantra of "Leave a clean wake". That means I
keep whatever is in my vicinity pristine. Trash does not float by Seaweed! I
retrieve it for disposal ashore. |
*SSCA: The Seven Seas Cruising
Association [http://ssca.org]
From their website, "Founded in 1952, SSCA is one of the oldest and
largest organizations of cruisers in the world. The goals of the
original six founders are still the goals of SSCA today: to share
cruising information and camaraderie with fellow cruisers, and to
leave a clean wake for those who follow."
Milk jug in weeds→
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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.

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Things to
know before you start. |
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#1) The screws cannot
protrude too far into the cup or your glass won't fit. Check
the size of the screw heads before you start.
#2) Be sure to flip the
cup upside down when not in use or it will fill with water
when it rains.
Side Note: I chose not
to drill holes in the bottom of the cup. In an emergency I
could use the cup for a bailer. Also it would work as a
drinking cup for my Skipper or me if needed.
#3) Here in the south
figure on replacing the cup every four months. The sun will
dry out the plastic. The plastic will crack. A better quality
cup should last longer. For me Good Enough is quite
sufficient. Plus the cup was free which is the perfect price. |
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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 shouldn't take more than about ten minutes as I've
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?
COMMENTS:
© 2016
Categories:
Boat Talk,
Gear,
Locations,
Pets,
Wild Things,
Fast Window Curtains (a thrift store
recycle)
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