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DeClutter

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2024
Messages
10
Location
Los Angeles, CA
I have searched and haven't found one on the Forum so I thought I would start one. What is your best modification to your boat, whether it be engine, cosmetic, fishing related, it doesn't matter. Let me know please

Thanks
 
Most of my work so far has been fixing, replacing, repairing and upgrading stuff so far.

But I did install this folding table for grillin' and doing fish.

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Greetings,
Mr./Ms. D. Welcome aboard. We have a 23' Penn Yan sport fish that originally came with an ice box for a fridge. Ice would only last for just over a day, or so. About 3 years ago we added a solar panel and 2-way (12v/110v) fridge. Now we can stay out for days without danger of food spoilage or battery drain. Nope. Not a trawler but we DO cruise with her.
 
When we were looking for our current boat my wife didn’t want our Formula since it has very narrow side decks and a walk through windshield. She is fairly unstable and somewhat tipsy at times. So I told her that if we got the boat I would install bow and stern thrusters so she would not have to go on the bow to handle dock lines. We bought the boat and over the first winter I installed the thrusters. We keep permanent bow dock lines attached to the bow cleats and lead them back to the stern spring cleats. When we are docking she stands by the stern and when we get to the dock she steps off the stern with the stern line and secures it and then walks forward to the bow line and takes it off the stern spring cleat and walks it forward and ties it off on the dock. Best thing we have added to this boat.
 
Welcome to the forum. I've done a bunch of things to the boat. A few of them are actually improvements. Here are two of the best:
  • Timer for the fuel transfer pump. I had a bad habit of turning on the fuel transfer pump to move fuel from one tank to another but then getting distracted and forgetting about it. Fortunately, I was always caught it before I started spilling fuel out of the vent of an overfull tank. I added a timer relay to the circuit so that the pump only runs for 10 minutes which transfers about 20 gallons. FWIW, this "upgrade" was met with profuse (and warranted) disdain and ridicule from the TF brain trust. However, I still stand by it as one of my best modifications. Silly "upgrade" thread
  • Aerator for holding tank. This wasn't my idea but I used great ideas from @Bacchus, @HeadMistress, and others. I added a bait tank aerator to the holding tank which eliminated any odors. DIY Holding Tank aerator.
In general though, ignore most any suggestions I make. Others have much more knowledge and expertise.
 
I replaced the two working electric heads with two marine elegance heads and then changed to fresh water flush.
 
By far, easy answer - got rid of the Norcold marine fridge that was never cold, and replaced it with a high efficiency LG residential fridge with an inverter.
 
I'll have some fun with this.

I installed a high end home BBQ
 

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@DeClutter
Welcome aboard TF. I'll bet you will find lots of ideas here as I have.

@dhays
Thanks for the compliment Dave. Many of my mods have been inspired by others here.

If anyone is interested I've documented many of my mods (including the tank aerator) on my Bacchus website- Projects section.
I haveva hard rime picking a favorite. The aerator certainly solved a terrible problem for us and our MS 34 HT.
The exterior & interior faux teak upgrades are high on our list and I get many comments that folks thought they were factory options.
Charging, batty / loads, switching & battery monitoring have improved my peace of mind re everything 12V
 
I would say as a liveaboard, after true cruising mods which mostly were safety/navigation oriented was the Electroscan waste system. It allowed me to not to have to worry about pumpouts..... which for many liveabords/cruisers becomes a major PIA unless they unlawfully dump (which many do) or have to work their schedule around finding a legal pumpout facility. Plus... it pretty much eliminated any odor problem that I never really had anyhow...except for the bloodhound sniffer capability of a guest or two.

Many improvements seemed pretty minor compared to this. The only other one was engineering the easiest/best dinghy deployment/retrieval system that made anchoring out a pleasure rather than a struggle to enjoy it when it was more than a quick overnight stop.
 
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dhays said:
In general though, ignore most any suggestions I make. Others have much more knowledge and expertise.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't dream of just ignoring suggestions from you or anyone else...'cuz even a blind hog manages to find a truffle once in a while. And you'd be surprised at how often a really dumb idea can be turned into brilliant one by just "rotating it a few degrees."

--Peggie
 
Removed canvas from flybridge and added solar panels instead (cheaper and lasts longer). Added wireless control for SM davit.
 

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DeClutter said:
I have searched and haven't found one on the Forum so I thought I would start one. What is your best modification to your boat, whether it be engine, cosmetic, fishing related, it doesn't matter. Let me know please
Click to expand...

Not a specific mod to a boat...

But one of the best things for me has been to find, join, and participate in a brand-specific owner's forum. When one exists.

Not quite like here -- which I think is more about boating in general, with some brand stuff sprinkled throughout. More like heavy-duty brand-specific fix-it/improve-it focus -- with some general boating stuff interspersed. Varying degrees, of course...

That's been especially useful in the case of defunct brands (our previous case, and Mainship owners here will know what that's like) or in the case where the builder has punted all service- and parts-related questions to dealers... but has no dealers who have a clue about their older boats (our current case).

Lots of insight, help, encouragement, part source info, etc... from other owners who have been there/done that...

And of course some of that eventually graduates from "how to fix it" to "how to improve it" discussions.

-Chris
 
I did a lot of small things. My boat is a 2001 Pacific Trawler and needed a little updating.

1. Changed out the 12v round sockets to USB.
2. Added 2 more Fusion remotes.
3. Added a Li battery bank.
4. The starting battery a 4D, changed that to two group 24s. I made a slid to pull them out since they were in a tight place.
5. Added lighting where needed, engine room, under counters.......
6. Added a motor to the boom that picks up the inflatable.
7. Added cameras that I can web into.
8. Added a small binimi to the stern.

I have to say, the owner before me did a lot too.

He added a step on each side as you enter the helm from the outside. Otherwise you could get hurt stepping in. Also added a cabinet with doors on the starboard side of the galley. Newer counter tops. Washer and dryer combo unit that the cabinet needed to be modified.
 
We’ve done a lot of repairs and upgrades, but I think the complete re-wire of the 120 volt system with new isolation transformers and panels, (everything actually) made our boat so much safer and user friendly.
 
SteveK said:
I replaced the two working electric heads with two marine elegance heads and then changed to fresh water flush.
Click to expand...
I have done this too. The head smells are gone. Happy dance time!!!
 
I built this boarding ladder that completely changed getting on and off my boat at the dock. Previous to this my boat was a bit of a struggle to climb on and off of for us, and virtually impossible for older people with mobility issues, such as stiff knee's or hips. The ladder also stores nicely In place when not in use, which brings me great pleasure.
 

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What is your best modification to your boat,
Click to expand...

I'll use 2 words because I installed it on 2 boats.
Auto Pilot.
Hands down a must for any slow boat if it is used. We travelled a lot in ours and it freed the slave (me) so I named them "Abe".
Also nice for those days when we both cruise while sitting on the bow with a wired controller at my side.
Other notable mods:
Adding second anchor on the bow and dividing the rode locker
Converting seawater heads to freshwater and glassing up old thru-hulls
Installing larger intake thru hulls for engine and generator (eliminated jellyfish clogging for generator).
Adding length to swim platform (Albin trawler) so we could stand straight on it.
Repowering with bigger engine for better speed and efficiency (Mainship 34)
 
Another non-boat boating improvement:

Full duplex headsets.

In the past, we could communicate with each other at normal volume, and/or by hand signals when we could at least see each other... but as flying bridges became enclosed and bridge characteristics eliminated line-of-site... headsets gave us back an easy way to communicate with each other, at normal volume, easy...

Prior to arriving at a headset solution, we experimented with phones, phones with Bluetooth ear buds, family radios, family radios with VOX headmics/earpieces... some more workable than others... but those all failed for various reasons.

Full duplex headsets.

-Chris
 
1) Added the Cielo wifi AC interface for the Marinaire AC unit. The Marinaire thermostat isnt very good and hard to read. But the Cielo interfaces with it and its going through my wifi. So I can turn on the AC before I leave for the boat and its cool when I get there.

2) added these Chinese Zumimal wifi cameras inside and out. They can be panned and zoomed and were very cheap. And they work great. I have one topside, one in the cabin and I will mount another in the engine room next week. Monitor the entire boat from home and record and talk and turn a light on etc.

3) Complete Victron inverter charger, Cerbo GX and Epoch lithium. Can monitor boat electric usage, temps, fridge temps with the Victron VRM. Its also how I confirm the AC really is on when I turn it on with the Cielo prior to arrival.

4) Bilge B Dry dry bilge. Better than my old home made timer unit. App controlled and way quieter. Bilge is dusty dry hours after the rain stops.
 
Removed the old vinyl wallpaper, laminate countertop and stainless sink. Livened it up with a Mexican vibe. Put a smile on the wife's face.

20240901_212638668_iOS.jpg
 
DeClutter said:
I have searched and haven't found one on the Forum so I thought I would start one. What is your best modification to your boat, whether it be engine, cosmetic, fishing related, it doesn't matter. Let me know please

Thanks
Click to expand...
Solar! 2 Renogy 175 flex panels with a 40 amp MPPT controller. Made all the difference on our mooring in Avalon!
 

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I listed my BBQ addition as a kinda different thing, but...

In reality the largest single improvement I made to my boat was the addition of rolling chocks.

In my opinion, in the recreational market, Rolling Chocks are highly underrated. When you mention them as a stabilizing method, you get almost dismissed.

Rolling chocks can dramatically reduce the magnitude of roll, while keeping approximantly the same roll period. This reduction in magnitude directly corresponds with a reduction in the acceleration and deceleration which is what people feel in a roll.

Best $20K I ever spent on a boat.
 
ranger58sb said:
Not a specific mod to a boat...

But one of the best things for me has been to find, join, and participate in a brand-specific owner's forum. When one exists.

--Chris
Click to expand...
There are a number of brand-specific forums on Facebook...I'm a member of one of them (Mainship), invited aboard to help with sanitation system issues.

--Peggie
 
Snapdragon III said:
I built this boarding ladder that completely changed getting on and off my boat at the dock.
Click to expand...

Wow, that is one of the nicest looking custom boarding ladders I've seen. Do you sell the plans? :giggle:

I think the best modification we've done from a liveaboard perspective is a tie between installing a Wallas forced air diesel heater and replacing one of our Vacuflush toilets with a Marine Elegance. Life aboard is way better with both!
 
I am the fifth owner of my 37 year old boat. Many improvements were added before me likely the ZF controls being the most valued? I love them!

I have continued up grades with some passion. Big ones are a new genset, hardtop over cockpit with enclosure, solar panels, auto pilot, all new electronics, water maker, increase storage via cutting hatches into floor and transom, curtains, upholstery and new flooring throughout, BRNCL security system, modern ice maker along with dozens of minor upgrades. Last but not least Eartec (marriage savers).

All of these improvements were worth the money but if I had not done any of them but were thinking of which I would do first would be the auto-pilot, water maker & Eartec head sets. They all made the five months of cruising we do the the Pacific North West much more pleasurable.
 
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