One person's daily setup SIB outfit (Aerotec) - Page 2

Fenlander · 05 August 2020, 23:19

>>> thought someone found a mat that didn’t leave a black stain on the white floor?

Yep Max had that problem with his staining... after a small fuel spill I think?

I don't use a mat and am lucky to have the later wipe clean floor but this is what I'd go for if I wanted a mat...

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clar...-foam-matting/

I don't think the grey would transfer any colour??

Max... · 06 August 2020, 07:56

I'm sure there are lots of alternatives made of different material (ie not rubber!).

Northman · 08 August 2020, 00:38

Great info Fenlander, thanks! I have a couple of follow up questions:

How do you seal the transom holes for the outboard bolts and keep them removable?

Whats the advantage of leaving the transom wheels behind?

Ta, NM.

Fenlander · 08 August 2020, 01:27

I drill the holes a little oversize and then use varnish or paint to seal the exposed surfaces of the drill hole internally. OK so it may wear off a bit with the action of inserting the bolts but seems to keep the timber protected and I redo it most seasons.

To be honest I've flipped from one type to the other over the years but finally settled to the removable ones because.... I never liked the look of mickey mouse ears when transom wheels are in the up position... just a personal thing. Plus they are extra weight and bulk where you least need it and there is always the long shot of losing one at sea... it has happened to a guy here in the past. I accept I'm in the minority with this view.

Northman · 08 August 2020, 12:23

Thanks Fenlander. I was hoping to do the same on my sib, but wasn't sure how you stopped water ingress into the boat. On my RIB its full of sikaflex, but thats not practical for regular removal. I was thinking rubber washers would be enough... or am I over thinking it?

Wheels - cool that makes sense, thank you.

Fenlander · 08 August 2020, 12:27

>>> but wasn't sure how you stopped water ingress into the boat.

If you mean through the outboard bolt-on holes they are well above the water line and the clamping of the nuts/bolts/washers seals them from splash.

Northman · 08 August 2020, 12:29

Ahhh perfect, thank you!

Fenlander · 03 July 2021, 11:56

Well it's something of a case of "as you were" and back to concentrating on the Aerotec to minimise hassle moving and setting up which was the main thrust of the attempted change to an Elling.

By design the Elling is packed away and carried with the air floor out which helps size and weight of the pack. For five years I've always packed the Aerotec with its floor in because there was no need to take it out and that's usually how it's done. But I took the floor out yesterday and weighed it... 8kg and with it removed the Aerotec weighs just 0.5kg more than the Elling with the floor out so that's a worthwhile saving and how I will carry it in future. Admittedly the Aerotec has the nuisance of eight floor straps to do up compared to the Elling floor having none but a small price to pay for lighter weight.

I've long grumbled the Aerotec bag is too big and the straps can't be tightened down fully. With the slimmer pack having no floor in it was stupidly loose but all I had to do was scalpel the stitches away between strap and bag for an extra 25cm to allow the bag flaps to overlap and straps pull in tight.

This gets it down to a neat 108x56x30 with the floor in a separate bag.

Fenlander · 03 July 2021, 12:00

A small job I'd never got round to was making up an eye bolt/eye nut arrangement to pop in the transom leg upper fitting holes should we ever need to tow someone/thing in an emergency.

Fenlander · 03 July 2021, 12:09

Of course the biggest change since the start of this thread was the (HP wise) downgrade to a Tohatsu 9.8 2-stroke. This has proved life changing in that compared even to the lightish Yamaha 15 2-stroke I can easily carry the Tohatsu single handed without looking for an assistant or trolley.

Like all my previous 2-strokes it is proving an easy start and even tempered runner.

Sibfisher · 04 July 2021, 13:50

Very good and interesting write up from start to finish, its good to see how an experience boater sets his boat and and the mods you have done.

Sorry sorry the Kb 350 did not work out for you, the good thing is you have still got your Aerotec to enjoy your boating.

Fenlander · 05 July 2021, 16:18

Thanks. I titled this "One person's daily setup" because it is just one of many ways to equip your SIB but one that is evolving ever more to suit us.

MEK, glue and some oddments arrived today. There's a job I've been meaning to do for a while on the Aerotec floor attachments.... I'm sure another Aerotec owner on here had the same idea and reported on his mods a while back and I'll use a similar method.

The buckles that hold the HP floor to a tight V were in the position as shown in the left side of the second image below on earlier Aerotecs. With the strap pulling from the joint between floor and tube the floor was nicely anchored.

On the later Aerotecs like mine they moved the strap posn glued to the outer floor as shown on the right side image so when you pull the buckles down to tighten the HP floor rather than the HP floor pulling down nicely the strap just pulls the outer hull fabric up. Our 2014 floor has never fitted as well as the previous 1998 model.

The simple solution I'm using is to glue the straps back about 3cm until they pull from the tube-floor joint at the point indicated by the arrow. I've also bought some seam reinforcing tape and I'll overlay with that for about 10cm fore/aft to make a stronger job.

Fenlander · 05 July 2021, 16:29

Another glue job is to fix oar attachment Velcro patches somewhere on the inside of the tubes probably lower down (same posn as on the Elling which were perfect).

I've never liked the twist to lock telescoping paddles supplied new with Aerotecs. A couple of years back I dropped across a nice small pair of oars which make far better paddles, depth probes or defenders against piracy and shark attack. But they have always been stowed loose and are a bit of a pain rattling about the floor sometimes so seeing the Elling Velcro oar holders encouraged this mod.

Fenlander · 05 July 2021, 16:42

Final glue job for now will be to fix a second seat near the transom for me plus I've ordered a chunky cushion for Mrs F's standard fitted seat. If it's any good I'll get one too.

Looked at all the seat attachment methods and went for one similar to the Elling sliding arrangement to give me just a bit of fore & aft flexibility. Not having had a aft seat on an Aerotec before I really wont know the ideal posn until I've tried it on the water and hopefully I'll have glued it so that posn comes within its range of slide.

Best seat choice for me (and as their cushions look great too) was from these Bengar guys in Germany...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4p9rcSaRHA&t=102s

Fenlander · 05 July 2021, 17:00

It's certainly true that every day is a school day. Even brief Elling ownership demonstrated the benefit of packing up with the air floor out, the sliding seat rail, comfort of nice seat cushions and useful Velcro oar stowage straps.

MustRib · 05 July 2021, 18:58

Interesting thread and thanks for posting.
How do you manage with the smell of petrol in the car?
When I used to carry my Sib in the car - it got pretty nausea inducing after about 30 minutes.
I always found despite the best plans and prep and clean up, the car still stank of petrol inside
if the fuel tank was inside the car.
This of course had a knock on effect with the kids who had far less capacity for petrol fumes and travel sickness.
Eventually got the trailer and the problem went away.
Do people have other techniques for managing this?

Max... · 05 July 2021, 22:06

Just keep the tank vent closed while travelling.

MustRib · 05 July 2021, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max...

Just keep the tank vent closed while travelling.

yep - if only that was the answer.
have always found the smell seeps out.

Fenlander · 06 July 2021, 01:10

We honestly never see it as a problem. I have developed a way of packing the car so the tank/s go in last and if the car is packed the night before I don't put the tanks in until a few minutes before travelling.

With modern constant flow climate control systems there is never a smell to trouble us.

MustRib · 06 July 2021, 04:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

We honestly never see it as a problem. I have developed a way of packing the car so the tank/s go in last and if the car is packed the night before I don't put the tanks in until a few minutes before travelling.

With modern constant flow climate control systems there is never a smell to trouble us.

Maybe your just a smoother driver than I am.