06-14-2007, 04:43 AM
A while back I made the newbie-tuber pilgrimage to Mecca, I mean the tubatorium (tubedude's garage), where I caught a small glimpse of the PVC vision (or halucination, take your pick). I finally got a chance to sniff some glue again and this is what I came up with. I haven't tried it out on the open seas yet, but even if it turns out to be too much weight and I sink, at least I'll go down in style! [cool]
As you can probably see, many ideas are sniped from others, but I was able to pull off a few stunts of my own. [
]
[inline "Front Diagonal.jpg"]
I made a rigid apron like TD's with tape, drain holes, etc., and I put a 1/2" PVC bar across the top to make it more sturdy.
[inline "Rigid Apron.jpg"]
This, of course, would not make it very convenient to enter and exit the craft, so I didn't glue the pieces on. This makes it so I can just leave one side connected and swivel it up to get in and out.
[inline "Apron Up.jpg"]
As is, the crossbar connected to the apron is too long as I haven't adjusted it to the proper length while on the water yet, but I haven't glued it yet so I can just cut it down to size on my first voyage.
My most anticipated addition is the new extended backrest. Lack of sturdy back support has probably been my biggest complaint about this tube (and most V-tubes, from what I've heard from others). I'm hoping this little setup solves that.
[inline "Back Support - Lower, with Straps Open.jpg"]
I put a couple cross bars and foam on the bottom also because in the ODC the backrest foam would often get pushed over the edge of the bottom seat foam and sink even lower, despite having the straps tightened up as far as they go. This way, the inserted foam keeps the backrest in place and the foam keeps the PVC from digging into the tube material.
I also included a little hook on the back to give myself easy access to my big net (which, unfortunately, I don't use as often as I'd like). But now whenever I need it I can whip it out of its sheath like a samurai warrior!
[inline Rear.jpg]
[inline "Rear - Close Up.jpg"]
While at the tubatorium, TD made me a 3-rod rack which I have now modified and put on my wife's U-boat 2000 and upgraded to the 4-rod model.
[inline "Rod Rack.jpg"]
To get the excess sonar wire out of the way, I wrapped it around the tube that runs from the battery in the back pocket up to the display.
In front of the left pocket, I made a small mount for my lip gripper. It fits pretty snug in the PVC but I've got it tethered to a D-ring just in case. I haven't glued that piece down so it can swivel out of the way of the transducer rig when I need to raise and lower it.
[inline "Lip Grip Mount.jpg"]
Over on the right side I have a tool rack, rear view mirror, worm cup, and floating basket.
[inline "Right Side.jpg"]
For the mirror, I stripped the cord and apparatus out of a goose-neck lamp with a clamp on it that I hook onto my vertical rod rack on that side. I got a styrofoam ball and shaved it down to fit inside the lamp head and glued that in, then found a small round mirror in the auto section of Walmart and glued that onto the foam. It fit perfectly!
[inline "Rear View Mirror.jpg"]
For my tool rack, again I followed TD's latest model with the grooves cut out of the bottom for a snug fit.
[inline Tools.jpg]
Then I made the little extension out to the side where I fit a spinnerbait box and 2 marker buoys. The size fits just right so nothing will fall out.
[inline "Tools with Open Box.jpg"]
When I'm fishing, I don't like putting stuff away when I'm switching bait (too time consuming), so I like to just throw it somewhere. Previously, I would just carry a little plastic box I could throw all that stuff in to organize later, but with this setup and can be even more lazy. I'll just leave the lid open for easy dumping of and access to tackle that I'm using on a specific water. It's also big enough to throw in 2-3 bottles of smelly jelly and this way it doesn't take up any precious pocket space.
Needless to say I'm stoked to get out and about and see how it rides. I'll report my feedback once I get a chance. The only other additions I'm thinking of so far are a tupperware that fits my hand pump that I can secure behind the seat and perhaps a mount on the backrest for a flag I can use to keep myself more visible when the motor patrol is nigh.
[inline Front.jpg]
Let me know what you think! [cool]
[signature]
As you can probably see, many ideas are sniped from others, but I was able to pull off a few stunts of my own. [
] [inline "Front Diagonal.jpg"]
I made a rigid apron like TD's with tape, drain holes, etc., and I put a 1/2" PVC bar across the top to make it more sturdy.
[inline "Rigid Apron.jpg"]
This, of course, would not make it very convenient to enter and exit the craft, so I didn't glue the pieces on. This makes it so I can just leave one side connected and swivel it up to get in and out.
[inline "Apron Up.jpg"]
As is, the crossbar connected to the apron is too long as I haven't adjusted it to the proper length while on the water yet, but I haven't glued it yet so I can just cut it down to size on my first voyage.
My most anticipated addition is the new extended backrest. Lack of sturdy back support has probably been my biggest complaint about this tube (and most V-tubes, from what I've heard from others). I'm hoping this little setup solves that.
[inline "Back Support - Lower, with Straps Open.jpg"]
I put a couple cross bars and foam on the bottom also because in the ODC the backrest foam would often get pushed over the edge of the bottom seat foam and sink even lower, despite having the straps tightened up as far as they go. This way, the inserted foam keeps the backrest in place and the foam keeps the PVC from digging into the tube material.
I also included a little hook on the back to give myself easy access to my big net (which, unfortunately, I don't use as often as I'd like). But now whenever I need it I can whip it out of its sheath like a samurai warrior!
[inline Rear.jpg]
[inline "Rear - Close Up.jpg"]
While at the tubatorium, TD made me a 3-rod rack which I have now modified and put on my wife's U-boat 2000 and upgraded to the 4-rod model.
[inline "Rod Rack.jpg"]
To get the excess sonar wire out of the way, I wrapped it around the tube that runs from the battery in the back pocket up to the display.
In front of the left pocket, I made a small mount for my lip gripper. It fits pretty snug in the PVC but I've got it tethered to a D-ring just in case. I haven't glued that piece down so it can swivel out of the way of the transducer rig when I need to raise and lower it.
[inline "Lip Grip Mount.jpg"]
Over on the right side I have a tool rack, rear view mirror, worm cup, and floating basket.
[inline "Right Side.jpg"]
For the mirror, I stripped the cord and apparatus out of a goose-neck lamp with a clamp on it that I hook onto my vertical rod rack on that side. I got a styrofoam ball and shaved it down to fit inside the lamp head and glued that in, then found a small round mirror in the auto section of Walmart and glued that onto the foam. It fit perfectly!
[inline "Rear View Mirror.jpg"]
For my tool rack, again I followed TD's latest model with the grooves cut out of the bottom for a snug fit.
[inline Tools.jpg]
Then I made the little extension out to the side where I fit a spinnerbait box and 2 marker buoys. The size fits just right so nothing will fall out.
[inline "Tools with Open Box.jpg"]
When I'm fishing, I don't like putting stuff away when I'm switching bait (too time consuming), so I like to just throw it somewhere. Previously, I would just carry a little plastic box I could throw all that stuff in to organize later, but with this setup and can be even more lazy. I'll just leave the lid open for easy dumping of and access to tackle that I'm using on a specific water. It's also big enough to throw in 2-3 bottles of smelly jelly and this way it doesn't take up any precious pocket space.
Needless to say I'm stoked to get out and about and see how it rides. I'll report my feedback once I get a chance. The only other additions I'm thinking of so far are a tupperware that fits my hand pump that I can secure behind the seat and perhaps a mount on the backrest for a flag I can use to keep myself more visible when the motor patrol is nigh.
[inline Front.jpg]
Let me know what you think! [cool]
[signature]
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truth is that all things are driven by market and potential profitability. It costs a fortune just to run something through the patent process, making prototypes, tooling up and acquiring materials. Then, you have costs of marketing and distribution before you ever sell your first unit. And, sometimes your first unit is all you sell...and you are out a ton of time and money..all for a dream.[/#0000ff]