Commissioning: Day 6 - Rack Em Up

Saturday morning at 9:00 AM we arrived to find a crew detailing the boat from top to bottom.  While we were there we made final decisions about art and towel bar placements.

We left at 10:00 as Paul began the process of removing the protective floor covering from the main deck was starting.  Note: We were politely told to stay away so that we would not distract the crew.  We complied.

At last we can see the teak floor

Our goal, today, was to find a permanent solution for securing the bikes.  You will recall that we were thrilled to report that the bikes fit easily through the lazarette access door on the transom.  This meant that the bikes would not be outside as they had been on the 48.

Bikes in place as of yesterday

Now the question of how the bikes would be secured came into play.  In the photo above you can see four red bungee cords holding the bikes in place.  The bungee cords are clipped to handles on either side of the davit's hydraulic system.  If you look real close you can see a piece of Styrofoam packing protecting the bulkhead covering the auxiliary tank.  Perfect solution?  Far from it.

The bungee cord/Styrofoam (Plan A) is far from perfect.  Here's why.  The moment the boat hits a seaway the bikes are going to move.  In fact, as the sea builds the problem worsens.  A roll to starboard will cause the bikes to slide to starboard and move downward.  The roll back to port will cause some part of the bike closest to the bulkhead to rub against it as it moves in and up.  The problem is exacerbated in a heavy sea, which could cause the bikes to break loose.  Not good.  In a head see, with the boat pitching up and down, the bikes will move backward and forward.  Again not good.

Background: I've been down this road before.  We dealt with a similar issue on the 48.  How to secure the bikes to the rail so that they would not move when underway?  Simple problem, right?  Not quite.  West Marine did not have an off-the-shelf solution and neither did any of the bike shops.  I was very surprised.  Surely we were not the first people to deal with this issue.  Fast forward.  On a return trip to West Marine a salesperson suggested I use a product made by Ram to mount electronics on small boats.

http://www.rammount.com/marineelectronics.htm

Essentially, I fashioned our mounting system from RAM components; four 1" balls, two secured to the bike and two secured to the rail by clamp straps and what Ram calls a double socket arm to enable us to clip the bike securely to the rail.  This solution worked 98% of the time.  However, in a big sea (6' or more) the bikes moved.  Fortunately not very far (but it did leave black tire marks on the deck).

Back to the 63.  Plan B, which was discarded immediately, was to hang them from the ceiling.  Great in a garage (which does not pitch and roll) lousy for a boat.  What was Plan C you ask?  Well it was to return to West Marine and local bike shops to see what they had for our new situation.

Nothing had changed at West Marine.  They had nothing.  However, unlike 2006, I had my I pad and the above photo.  I showed the salesperson the photo and asked what hardware I might use to hold the wheels in place.  The salesperson suggested a pad eye secured to the floor with Velcro ties securing the wheels to the pad eye.  So I dubbed the "bungee cord/Styrofoam protector/pad eye/Velcro tie" Plan C, bought two versions of the hardware and proceeded to a bike shop.

Bike shop: I showed the salesperson the photo and asked "what do you have?"  They had a few floor stands, which I rejected, and nothing that would permanently mount to the floor.  Then the salesman said "wait a minute, I think I have something that might work." 

Thule 990XT Doubletrack mounted bike

Enter Plan D.  The salesperson showed me a Thule 990XT Double Track "Hitch Mount Bike Rack," a product designed for a SUV.

Thule 990XT Doubletrack

Below is manufacturer's description" and a video link.

"The Thule 990XT Doubletrack is a lightweight platform hitch rack with an adjustable center mast design that applies pressure to the bike frame. The Thule 990XT Doubletrack can transport two bikes regardless of frame design, suspension, or wheel size."

http://www.rackoutfitters.com/thule-990xt-doubletrack-2-bike-rack-for-2-or-1-1-4-inch-hitch/

I immediately saw the possibilities.  The trailer hitch mount can be unbolted and discarded. The lower support bar can be u-bolted to the floor.  Wood blocks can be placed at the end of each of the "tracks" to make the structure completely stable.  Bingo.  The bikes literally become part of the boat.  They will not move under any conditions. 

Me: "What's the price?"
Salesperson: "$319." 
Me: "I'll take it." 
Salesperson: "Sorry, this one's sold and there are no more in stock." 
Me: "Sh-t."

What would I do without an Ipad?  Five minutes later I located one in Miami (for $265), put it on hold and went to the boat to confer with Captain Randy.  We discussed plans C and D and immediately decided on the Thule 990XT.  A short (well sort of) trip to Miami and I had the unit in hand.  It is sitting on the boat awaiting installation.  Problem solved.

Photos taken at 5:00PM as a I dropped off Plan D.

Throw ring with name properly mounted

Thule 990XT Doubletrack on the aft deck

 

Stay tuned.

Written by Les.