Making Life Easier - What do you do

[smallribber]

Thinking about my light board thread I thought it might be useful if people shared little things, ideas and systems for making their boating easier and less faff or hassle.

So to start off

1) Fix plug socket to light board so you can leave the wire on

2) Fix number plates with strong Velcro so you can use over several trailers

3) Strap down with short ratchet straps to towing eyes on transom

[smallribber]

Use a quick release eye (like is used on towables) on your safety chain connection at the winch eye connection.

This makes removing and reinstalling the safety chain a 2 second job. (Assuming you use a safety chain and don't just rely on the winch clicker)

[smallribber]

For simple anchoring at a beech when perhaps stopping for a short while

Have a thick bag filled with stone or shingle in the bow so this can be chucked out and clipped to your winch bow eye. This saves the faff of getting out the anchor that is usually in a bow locked or similar in a tangle of rope and chain.

This bag method is not suitable for unattended anchoring where a very strong hold is needed but it is a very good and faff free alternative in the situation I suggest which happens quite offten.

[GuyC]

Does divorce count?

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Does divorce count?

I would think so

[willk]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Does divorce count?

Oh! That reminds me - Missus willk was complaining about the frumpy facecoverings on offer locally - I said I had seen something perfect online for her....

[Poly]

Originally Posted by smallribber

Use a quick release eye (like is used on towables) on your safety chain connection at the winch eye connection.

This makes removing and reinstalling the safety chain a 2 second job. (Assuming you use a safety chain and don't just rely on the winch clicker)

Presumably if you had the long thin line on it as per the towable use, you could leave it on, fed back to the helmsman and then when ready and the engine is warmed up etc he could trip the line without faffing around hanging over the bow or the car driver having to do it and getting wet feet. I currently switch to using the bowline slipped around the winch post - but it would save doing that.