ajsemtb wrote:
perfect, called them, 101.50 for a 12" Piece, 154 for a 14' piece of 15"... If you redid yours, would you still use the 12" or would 15" give you more space? I have 2 sets of sails and usually carry 4-6 pfds... And I usually disassemble rudder assy, cuz the lake I like is about 45 minute drive from here. now that I say that, the 15" sounds like it'd be better... Any thoughts?
I would really need to think about that.
I can easily carry two sets of sails (with/booms- I have a spare boom) by lashing the second set to the underside of the lid half of the tube. However, there really isn't enough space for all the PFDs, trap harnesses, righting bag, etc. and other stuff I usually carry in my aft compartment. 15" would provide more space, but as heavy as the 12" is, 15" would be more so. You also need to check if you have enough vertical clearance between the trailer and tramp frame to get your arms and hands in there to open a clamshell 15" tube- it requires 22 1/2" minimum of vertical clearance for the tube alone. When layed open the tube needs 30" of horizontal clearance so a closed tube would need to be mounted further from the center.
Another thing to consider with the clamshell design is that it can get water in it when you launch if you back in to where the end of the tube is submerged like I do often. It is lesser of a problem if you slide the tube farther forward. I added a drain hole to the aft compartment, however. Of course that is not a problem if you empty the lower half of the tube before you launch. Despite these shortcomings, I still prefer the clamshell over loading and unloading from the end of the tube.
I have actually been looking for a storage sphere (Webber grill?) to carry PFDs etc. that I would mount near the front of my trailer. In keeping with my theme, I would paint it gray or black and decorate it with short protrusions to look like an old underwater contact mine.