Fitting the Hobie mast tube

So I went around trying to find a fit for the mast hole to build a finder mount, but the tube is an odd size  So just when I was about to give up, I found the answer. I was in the salvage yard looking all around and just when I was about to give up.... Ah ha! crutches!!! The tube they use to extend the length of the crutches was the perfect diameter. It even had a button on it to make it snap in if you want. All you have to do is drill a hole through the tube on the boat and your in. For now I'm not using the button. It fits so well and snug I just push it in and it's good to go. Takes all of 5 seconds to put in or remove  I stow the connectors in the well when not being used in transport.

Great idea. Gonna hit the thrift store right after work

OK I found a pair of crutches in the shed and you are SOOOOOOO right!! PERFECT fit!! Thanks for the info. Great discovery.

 

That is a great idea... I was just about to order a ram mount.
I will give that a try, and it just so happens I have crutches in stock. 
One other thing I was gonna try, is to use 2 walkers as a stand if I need to work on it. They also make a good sawhorse.
I have one, need to get one more. Hopefully not the hard way.

Yer welcome boyz. My motto, neccessity truely is the mother of invention. I riveted a pvc pipe T on the top. Cut it off flat on top so I could bolt on a plastic plate to mount the finder on. Hooks up in a matter of seconds, is up out of the way and is solid. 

Yer welcome boyz. My motto, neccessity truely is the mother of invention. I riveted a pvc pipe T on the top. Cut it off flat on top so I could bolt on a plastic plate to mount the finder on. Hooks up in a matter of seconds, is up out of the way and is solid. 

That just answered my next question... 

Yer welcome boyz. My motto, neccessity truely is the mother of invention. I riveted a pvc pipe T on the top. Cut it off flat on top so I could bolt on a plastic plate to mount the finder on. Hooks up in a matter of seconds, is up out of the way and is solid. 

So where's the pics???

Ahhhh, I spent the money on a Hobie  I bought a new Optima about a month and a half ago and I lost it second time out... Still kinda bumming about it. Not quite ready to pony up for another one yet, but when I do, I'll post it up.

I made a low budget version with a piece of 1/2 schedule 40 PVC and one lap of duct tape at each end of the PVC section that goes into the mast tube.  I made this to mount my camera for solo photo ops. 

I just received my RAM mast hole/ff mount and rocket tube rod holder for my Adventure. The mast hole ball mount worked great and is very compact. I'm not sure where to put the rod holder. I may put the rod holder on my Tarpon130 or Cobra Triple.

So I went around trying to find a fit for the mast hole to build a finder mount, but the tube is an odd size  So just when I was about to give up, I found the answer. I was in the salvage yard looking all around and just when I was about to give up.... Ah ha! crutches!!! The tube they use to extend the length of the crutches was the perfect diameter. It even had a button on it to make it snap in if you want. All you have to do is drill a hole through the tube on the boat and your in. For now I'm not using the button. It fits so well and snug I just push it in and it's good to go. Takes all of 5 seconds to put in or remove  I stow the connectors in the well when not being used in transport.

Do you have any photos? Thanks.

Just found this after Reading a Recent article by PaL and found it for sale at

  " Hook One "

  http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/ProductImageGallery.asp?ProductID=226&GalleryItem=1

I finished making the mount for my FF, using Jonesz idea.
It worked great!
When I get a chance, I will try... key word there, try...
to post a pic. 
Tomatoecity, I have an extra crutch, if you want it, it is yours.
Hopefully I will not need it. I also have some extra plastic plate if you need that too.
Thanks for all the great ideas.
LD

I tried using a pair of walkers for a stand BTW, bad idea, too top heavy.

One extra thing I did was to drill a hole on one  side of the mast tube so the pop up button from the crutch fits there. This locks the FF in place and is easily removeable with a press of the button.