Since I started using a puller, I have struggled with positioning and support on my RIB. Initially, I placed a 1 x 6 across the top of the tubes, held in place by the strap handles that adorn the tops of the tubes, tied on with string. Though terribly inelegant, this solution worked well, when the tubes are inflated hard, and looked OK when the cedar board in use was new. More recently though, its appearance has deteriorated to the point that I was motivated to make a more permanent base.
I have looked at dozens of differing approaches taken by others. I have even seen an identical RIB fitted out with a very good solution. The major difficulty was its positioning. The best built supports are mostly made of 1" SS tubing, bent to get the base up and over the tubes, with a bolt on stanchion base attachment or two to fasten it onto a portion of the Rigid part of the RIB. Many of those would interfere with seating, many more would be awkwardly behind the steering seat, out of the way, but hard to use.
My approach is pictured:
The base is 3/8 aluminum on a pair of 1.5" square section posts attached to the middle seat support, with a spacer to allow the seat top (battery access) to flip up without removing the cushion. Positioning allows the PP to be easily accessed while sitting in the steering position, where the chart/sounder can be viewed, and where the line can be easily coiled on the floor. In the local Marine Construction shop, scraps were found that kept the overall cost to $10 for the aluminum and another $10 or so for bolts.
A side issue is the quality of SS bolts available. I used 1/8" SS bolts, but found that I could tighten them by hand enough to strip the threads on the bolts. The nuts survived well, but I had to be careful to avoid over-tightening. I may have to take the assembled base in and get it welded, should any of the present fastenings come loose.
I have looked at dozens of differing approaches taken by others. I have even seen an identical RIB fitted out with a very good solution. The major difficulty was its positioning. The best built supports are mostly made of 1" SS tubing, bent to get the base up and over the tubes, with a bolt on stanchion base attachment or two to fasten it onto a portion of the Rigid part of the RIB. Many of those would interfere with seating, many more would be awkwardly behind the steering seat, out of the way, but hard to use.
My approach is pictured:
The base is 3/8 aluminum on a pair of 1.5" square section posts attached to the middle seat support, with a spacer to allow the seat top (battery access) to flip up without removing the cushion. Positioning allows the PP to be easily accessed while sitting in the steering position, where the chart/sounder can be viewed, and where the line can be easily coiled on the floor. In the local Marine Construction shop, scraps were found that kept the overall cost to $10 for the aluminum and another $10 or so for bolts.
A side issue is the quality of SS bolts available. I used 1/8" SS bolts, but found that I could tighten them by hand enough to strip the threads on the bolts. The nuts survived well, but I had to be careful to avoid over-tightening. I may have to take the assembled base in and get it welded, should any of the present fastenings come loose.
