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Topics - FishingForTheCure

Pages: 1 2 [3] 4 5 ... 14
31
Craftsmen's Corner / 'Project x' Mutant Trailer (pictures coming SOON)
« on: April 27, 2015, 10:48:58 AM »
What is ‘Project x’ … Nope, not that 2012 Warners Brother movie …  It’s the temporary name of my work-in-progress mutant camping trailer that has been in-works for about a year now but been in the planning stages for the last 16+ years.  Boy does time fly!
If you are a DIY, handy-man, geek out kind of guy like me … then you’ll dig the nuances to this trailer!

History Alert …  I first saw a similar trailer (Conqueror) back around 1999 @ a boat show in the Cow Palace.  That company has come a LONG was since then & their offroad trailers are HELLA expensive now.  That sparked the design fire for mine!  SOMEHOW, I managed to keep a collection of pictures of that one all these years & looked back for creative ideas year after year.

Sourcing & Initial Construction ...  The plan was to build this from (2) Truck Utility Boxes from my dad’s old 1970’s pickup that I had stored back in the weeds.  Time, rain & rust got the best of them so I had to source an alternative truck utility bed as my blank canvas.  Though I wanted to build my own frame, a gem of a utility box popped up for sale on CL in Petaluma.   Took off work the next day & made the drive.  Turned out to be a greater starter for me … an 8-compartment, 8’ utility box mounted on a 1991 Chevy 2500 truck frame that the owner (a welder and DIY handyman) had already cut, welded and added a tongue/jack/hitch onto!  After a little BS’ing, a drink together and a few bucks changing hands I was hitched & on my way home.  Ahhh… nothing like crossing thru the Bay Area at 5:30pm on a workday!

Strip it & Rip It …  After the initial “look” from family members (you know ……  THAT look  :smt011) and some explaining as to what I was doing & what it could become it was Tool time!  Grabbed an assortment of hand tools & starting ripping it apart to its bare bones so I could better see what I had to work with.  I ripped out ALL the existing metal shelving & dividers leaving me with bare openings.  Once it was bare, the next couple weeks was spent staring it down with tape measure in one hand & notebook in the other.  The design evolved as the days, weeks & months progressed.  Some ideas fell off the pages as they just weren’t feasible with the parts I had intended to use (gathered over the past 16 years for this very day) or as new CRAZY ideas came to mind.  As the ‘ol saying goes “leave no stone unturned”.  I soon took ideas from friends & family who jokingly (or so they thought) said “I bet you couldn’t have a ……… put in the trailer”.  Their jokes, my challenge.  So the journey began to stuff anything & everything you’d find in a large RV, into an 8’ Truck Utility bed.

Blood, Burns & More …  A job well done is deserving of blood shed & welding burns!  I’m more than a pencil pusher of design & creativity.  With list of installation “wishes” in hand and NO factory made items that simply bolt-on, the time to build happened.  Working one compartment at a time, I built!  Making, custom, carpet covered interior panels to one-off welded metal brackets to elaborate wiring harnesses it came to life.  After 8+ cans of spray on adhesive, THOUSANDS of stainless steel staples, pounds of stainless hardware & hundreds of feet of marine-grade electrical wire ranging from 16ga to #2, it took form.

It has WHAT in it? …  The basic list of goodies crammed into functional work “cubicles” includes:
(2) Group 27 Batteries, Power Center/Panel/Breakers/Fuse Box, Lowrance Fishfinder testing center with WiFi & NMEA 2000 backbone, RAM Mounts, 110V Power Inlet/Outlets, 12 Power Outlets, USB Charging Centers, Tool tray storage, 1000w Inverter/Charger, 1000 Honda Generator, COMPLETE BAR & sink (a NCKA MUST HAVE), TV/DVD/VHF, large BBQ/Grill/ with offset smoker firebox, Propane Oven, Propane Stove/Grill, Blender, Rice Cooker & “sashimi station” (love ya Mooch!), complete Pantry, 11# Propane Tank, dimmable LED interior lighting, 20 Gallon Freshwater Tank with 12v water pump, Outdoor Shower system, outdoor survival tools, 5000# air bag suspension, spare tire, 2” Hitch Receiver (for bike rack, bumper dumper, portable striper pole or ???), under frame lighting (coming soon), 8’ rod lockers (in process), kayak racks (coming soon) and a host of other small touches that I still have room/plans for after this initial shakedown run.  The 4’x8’ utility bed has a number of flush 2000# tie downs & an adjustable unistrut gear rack allowing for LOTS of gear to be hauled; kayaks, misc. camping gear, motorcycle or ????  LED tail/turn/brake/marker lights & completely new, custom made wiring harness.  The Tepui tent (as previously seen atop my truck at LRC 2014 @ Anchor Bay last year) tops off the rack atop the trailer! 

Encouragement …  A few NCKA members stopped by along the way to see how it was going & got to peek under its skirt.

The 11th Hour; More like 2am …  With an opportunity to debut it at the unSCruz (A Burning Man Regional event) coming up this coming weekend, the challenge was thrown down to have it ready enough to make the 3-day event.  The final pushes came at 2am this weekend when I was still grinding, sanding & laying down coats of roll-on bed liner.  I managed to hitch it up to the truck … the first time on the road again in almost a year!  It rolled out of the garage with less than 1” of clearance on its way out the door.  Quick bath & mounting of the Tepui Tent to the top rack.  Finally looked ….. uh ….. smaller than I remember it looking.  Guess it shrunk when I washed it?!?!

First Impressions …  Rolling down the road & into the shop at work for my co-workers & fellow “Burners” (aka Burning Man folk) to see it for the first time.  They caught mere glimpses in pictures from my phone but never the “whole picture” till today.  Mind you, it’s not DONE but ready for a trial shakedown!  Plans for Albion … I have a spot …  Burning Man in Black Rock, NV if I get a ticket this year … LRC 2015 @ Anchor Bay … I have a spot …  Other NCKA events coming soon!!!!  Glen ... the BBQ/Smoker will be ready for a little THROWDOWN once I get it seasoned.  Anyone with some meat or fish is welcomed to come "season" it for me  :smt003

Pictures coming soon!  Have to gather them all up from my camera, phone, laptop, work computer & create a little slideshow somehow.

32
Craftsmen's Corner / Safety First
« on: April 20, 2015, 02:30:29 PM »
<steps up to the soapbox>

   Safety First ...

Great to preach but ONLY effective if put into use!  This hold true for most aspects of life ...  We talk a LOT about safety on the water & while driving to/from events but rarely touch base on safety while working on various projects ... such as rigging on your kayak (& such).

WEAR EYE PROTECTION!  I've been working with metal, wood & plastics/fiberglass since I was ~5 years old growing up in my grandparents furniture refinishing business in Salinas.  Safety First was taught, but never REALLY practiced (by me at least).  The years of eye protection on being for those who wear regular glasses & gloves for those who have "sissy hands".  I've had some close calls with things being kicked up in my face & eyes followed by "well, that was a close call".

This weekend proved the nail in the coffin.  Just finished a weld & promptly grabbed the grinder to make a quick touch up/prep followed right up with another weld.  Didn't reach for the safety glasses thinking "its just a quick grind".  Well....  managed to kick a, nearly red hot, spark right into my left eyeball where it promptly "melted" into place.  Another couple mm to the left & it would have been dead center BULLSEYE & that would have, or could have been all she wrote for left eye vision.  Managed to get it taken out & hopefully no long term effects but a hard lesson to learn.

Out of all the protection I'm becoming a stickler for eye & ear & gloves when handling chemicals NOW.  I can't fix the past but I CAN preach for those who have yet to repeat my mistakes!

Don't do as I have done! :smt001

33
General Talk / unSCruz 2015
« on: April 13, 2015, 01:07:35 PM »
Join us as we bring the spirit of Burning Man to Santa Cruz County through radical self expression and radical inclusion. Get ready for three fun-filled DAYS of art, performance, music, costuming, DJs, mutant vehicles and more!

May 1-3, 2015 @ Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds - Watsonville

http://www.unscruz.com/  ~ A Regional Burning Man Event

A limited number of tickets are still available!  Got mine!  Got yours?  If all goes well, I'll be debuting my 'Project X' trailer (more to come, separate thread).  I've attended some volunteer meetings & its looking like it will be an awesome gathering!  From DJ's like 'Dancing Mandy' to bands like 'Groovity' to Dancers like 'The Do-Rights Burlesque' to Theme Camps like 'Miso Horny', 'Dirty Bodies Dirty Minds' & 'Pornj Palace' .... WHAT"S NOT TO LIKE?!?!?!?!?!?!  I'll be part of a Theme Camp.

34
For Sale
NEW IN BOX (still sealed)
GE EV DuraStation Indoor/Outdoor Level-@ Wall Mounted Charging Station w/ 18' Cord/Plug.  240V, 30A

The EV Charger Indoor/Outdoor DuraStation Wall Mount from GE offers level 2 charging at an affordable price. This unique unit can be used either inside or outside while operating the same as many higher priced options. It delivers maximum power of 7.2 kW and is capable of providing 10–20 miles per hour of charging depending on the vehicle.
Designed for wall mount application
18 ft. cord wraps conveniently around unit, keeping it organized and off the ground
Components are housed inside a NEMA 3R (outdoor) nonmetallic enclosure
Green charging light illuminates to signal that vehicle is charging, switching to red in the event of a fault
Meets all of the following standards: SAE J1772; NEC625; UL2231, 2251 and 2594; CUL 2594 and 2231; and is ETL and cETL listed

GE Model # EVDSWGH-CP01  Retail $450

NCKA $350 OBO

35
General Talk / Monterey Coast Guard Ramp
« on: March 30, 2015, 03:25:50 PM »
As of yesterday (3/29/2015) the launch ramp at Coast Guard Wharf was CLOSED OFF due to the seal population ... they were absolutely COVERING the entire ramp area and all docks there despite the wooden boards they put up to block it off.  I found several of their "wooden barricades" floating in different parts of the harbor yesterday near the CG launch AND the main wharf near the party boat landing at the end of the wharf.

If you plan is to launch at C.G. on salmon opener, be sure to check the 'Open/Closed' status ahead of time.

36
General Talk / Monterey Harbor ~ ... a 3 hour tour
« on: March 30, 2015, 03:18:28 PM »
Ok, so it was a little more than a 3 hour tour :smt002

   I was asked to "survey" a portion of the Monterey Harbor using my Lowrance setup on my 18' pontoon boat & Insight Genesis .... back in December.  Needless to say, it's been a busy year and I was faced with opening of Rock fish & Salmon in a few days so I forced myself to splash the boat yesterday to get this done.

   Splashed the boat a little after 7am by myself since SOMEONE on here didn't check his text messages to take a ride along  :smt002  Promptly cruised out of the inner harbor & swing to the right towards Wharf #2.  For those not familiar with Lowrance Insight Genesis, it takes sonar recordings & allows the user to overlay this data with existing maps to create your own custom map chip with user select-able detail & depth contours down to 1'.  Normally I can run a little faster; around 10-12mph.  Being in a harbor, it was going to be a long day at ~3-5mph "mowing the lawn" in 40' passes/grid.  I'm uploading my data now & hope to have my electronic chart in a matter of hours.

   Till then ... here's a few screenshots of my "lawn mowing path".  Took me 17.7 miles to cover the harbor in about 98% coverage ... a few of the areas I couldn't reach because of low tide.  Near miss of ~2' from hitting a very large, submerged rock hear the shoreline that was less than 1' under the surface.  Pulled the boat to find the prop thoroughly wrapped in 50# PowerPro & a Sabiki rig.

37
For Sale / VIRTUAL YARD SALE ___Update on Page 1___
« on: March 17, 2015, 03:38:17 PM »
UPDATE ~ UPDATE ~ UPDATE ~ UPDATE ~ UPDATEMain list of items available will be on the FIRST POSTING ... further details of the item somewhere in the rest of the thread.  All prices OBO or OBT (or best trade  :smt002)  PM for further details/Pictures if needed

Abrasive Blast Cabinet $50
28 Gallon Gas Caddy $Offer?
Ryobi 18V Battery Chargers (multiple available)  $Offer? [each or all]
Excel Gas Powered Pressure Washer (good motor, pump froze up) $Offer?
Trailex Trailer for Hobie AI w/ Cradles $900 http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=63315.msg710646#msg710646
Electric Motors; assorted sizes; AC ... DC $Offer?  PM for details of what you might need
Hydraulic Cylinders; assorted sizes/conditions  $Offer?  PM for details of what you might need
Stick Welding Rod; Assorted Sizes (MANY sealed metal tin's FULL)  $Offer?
Belsaw Wood Planer/Molder $300 (see details below)
Yakima Roof Racks w/ Cross Bars (round) & (2) Bike Troughs; from 1991 Toyota Camry $Offer?
DeWalt DS carrier Cart $80 <pending Sailfish>


More items to be added daily!  Upcoming stuff includes more tools, hardware, boating stuff & MAYBE some fishing related goodies  :smt001




For Sale
Abrasive Blast Cabinet
Almost New ... used to shoot ground up walnut shell media.  Measures ~28" tall x ~26" wide x ~18" deep.  Abrasive Capacity 30#'s.  Large viewing window, sealed door, long gloves & dust collection ready.  No blast gun included.  Regular price was $169.  I stole the gun for my other cabinet & been using a $15 "hopper" gun in this cabinet because it worked better with the super lite media.  I think H.F. & Tractor Supply have the guns for one.  Would also make a cool spray booth for small stuff like lures & hobby/craft items.  I can deliver to Bay Area this weekend if I make the trip up there otherwise pickup locally; ~15 minutes South of Gilroy off Hwy 101.

$50

38
For Sale / SOLD Lowrance Nautic Insight HD v14 Chart Chip
« on: March 12, 2015, 08:18:30 PM »
Will work in Lowrance, Simrad & B&G units.  Lowrance Elite HDI units or HDS units because it is graphic intensive & full of good info.  I have it posted on CL as well ... Here's the link with more info

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bpo/4929654733.html

Was my spare & I Dont think I have used it ever. 

39
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Transducer Fitment by Kayak Brand/Model
« on: March 06, 2015, 08:32:53 AM »
Hello:

   There are a number of separate threads & topics on transducer fit and more are sure to follow now that kayak manufacturers are taking note of the NEED for an easy way for consumers to mount transducers.  First we have the OK boats with the thru-hull mount specific to one model H-Bird ducer.  Hobie now that the 'Lowrance Ready' transducer mount in most of its kayaks.  Next came Wilderness Systems Ride & Thresher models with a removeable pod (I really like this one!).

   Soo....   The question comes about quite often:  'Does this transducer fit this brand/model boat?'

   As we all find links, photos or just do it ourselves, let's share our ability to fit/rig.  Please be sure to include the Brand/Model/Year of the kayak and info on the Brand/Model/Transducer used.

Thanks!

Bill :smt006

40
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Lowrance Video Library
« on: March 03, 2015, 02:39:31 PM »
Here's a link to the 'Lowrance Video Library'.  This is a GREAT collection of "how to" info all in one place!  This collection will just about make me obsolete  :smt005

http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Support/Video-Library/

Some of the key video's I think you will find helpful include:
kayak scupper transducer mounting, how to interpret downscan imaging, CHIRP basics, setup wizard, software update & the ever so elusive sensitivity settings! I will be using some of these videos in my presentations throughout the year ... no sense in reinventing the wheel!

41
For Sale / SOLD Kokatat Drysuit XL Grey/Black (Super Nova?)
« on: February 26, 2015, 10:22:34 AM »
For Sale

Kokatat Dry Suit (Super Nova I think, I'll verify tonight)
Size XL
Grey/Black
Cuffs have NOT been stretched to fit yet
Used 5-6x

Never peed in :smt005  I bought brand new from Dan @ Headwaters in Lodi.

   Going with a different brand for 2015

PM me an offer!

42
For Sale / Trailex Trailer for Hobie AI
« on: February 25, 2015, 03:54:15 PM »
I am opting to sell the trailer out from under the yak!  VERY lite weight.  Made of extruded aluminum for corrosion resistance.  Ready to go!  All tie down locations are in place for fast securing/un-securing.  Trailer is lite enough, I'm told you can hand launch if the ramp or terrain isn't too steep.

Here's the NCKA link I bought it from:
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=45609.msg505005#msg505005

I have since used it ~5 times & put only a few hundred miles on it in all.  I have a brand new spare tire/rim mounted on the trailer.  Other than that, it is as you see it in the pictures .... correction ... I took the trailer almost all the way apart & assembled it to the correct axle/cradle location dimensions right after I bought it.  Cradles are available online for Hobie PA as well.  Currently registered.

$950


43
For Sale / Sold
« on: February 22, 2015, 10:45:46 PM »
Sold

44
General Talk / Toyota Tundra Towing
« on: February 19, 2015, 06:52:20 PM »
I know a few of you to some larger loads & such do I'm reaching of for supplemental info on towing.  I've towed trailers before I had a license and my largest loads have been 26' cat hull boats.  I'm now looking to get a travel trailer and weighing out the pro/con of 5th wheel vs. bumper pull.  Here's some info on my truck for help...

2000 Toyota Tundra V8, auto trans, SR5 155k miles, 2000# air bags(air ride) in the rear.  Just installed a NICE trailer brake system.  Hitch already so I can bumper tow OK as-is.

Should I or could I go 5th wheel????  Go 5th wheel trailer or bumper pull? 

Thanks!

Bill

45
Wanted To Buy / WTB Toy Hauler Trailer
« on: February 16, 2015, 10:30:10 AM »
UPDATE 5/7/2015:

Changing gears to searching for a 'Toy Hauler' style of trailer.  This will allow me to haul "Mutant Vehicles" to Burning Man OR the wife/kids/toys out for a weekend of camping.  Not their (the wife/kids) first choice for a trailer but I win! :smt003

Haven't looked for trailers in a month+ & sort of gave up on it till next year but the spark has re-ignited for a possible need for one in the next month or so!


Original Post:

Looking to buy a travel trailer in the 18-21/22' range.  Few stipulations put forth by the wife & ME:

No "projects"  (this was the wifes #1 & only stipulation)
Minor Fixer-Upper ok within reason
No Leaks/Clean
Ability to sleep 4-5 people
~2000 & newer
No 5th Wheel .... Must be a pull trailer
Roadworthy w/ maybe some minor repairs needed
Towable by my V8 Tundra

   You'd be surprised how many on CL miss some of these qualifications ... especially the road-worthiness.  I looked at THOUSANDS of CL add this past weekend.  From Sacramento to Mohave.  Found less than a dozen that would have qualified.  Out of the dozen, I visited one (a bust) & called 3-4 more with never a return call or e-mail :smt012  More frustrating is they have re-listed since I left a call/e-mail ... can we say :spam1::smt011

   Made a 4+ hour round trip drive this past weekend to look at one in Stockton only to find it was FAR off the Craigslist add in length, options AND condition .... missed every mark! :smt013 

   Figured I'd cast a line to my NCKA peeps in the event they have a lead on one.

Thanks! :smt006

Bill

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