Project Seafari Tuna-fication

[Bushwacker]

Bill - nothing wrong with a little overkill! We used the belt & suspenders approach on Pratt engines a lot! Here's another example of structural overkillThe VHF and bimini brace photos I promised to send.)




The bimini braces really stiffen it up, so the bows can be used as handholds when going around stbd side to front deck. When I want to fold the bimini, just pull the screw out of jaw fitting on bimini frame.

On the VHF antenna (a 9'9" Phelps-Dodge 9 db gain unit, mounted so tip is flush w/transom when laid down), I fg'd a wood block and a couple of pad eyes to a 1" ID x 33" schedule 40 PVC pipe and slid it down over the antenna. Attached the 2 ss turnbuckles to windshield frame with pad eyes/pins and used fastpins at antenna end. The turnbuckles pull the wood block up snug against the bimini brace, so the whole deal is fairly rigid. When antenna is lowered, I just connect the turnbuckle ends with one of the pins, and that locks them out away from the glass. Looks a little ratty because the 20 year old paint is peeling off, but it works well - it's a soft enough support at the antenna to allow it to move a little and avoid a concentrated stress, but it takes most of the cantilever bending load off the deck. Mount scheme would probably work on a Scepter also.