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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Where can I buy Starboard?

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/18/2005 : 16:24:31

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me where I can find Starboard? Does West Marine carry it?

Thanks!

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 16:26:32

Yes, West Marine carrys it. So does Boaters World.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 16:31:58

Hi Ben,

What size piece do you need?

I seem to recall that someone (Arlyn?) once commented that Harbor Freight Tools had some cutting boards that were made of Starboard. Of course, they weren't very large, but the price was right ... 'hope I didn't dream that!

Anyway, I hope someone else knows for sure where to buy it ... I'd like to know of a good source for Starboard, too.

edit: Thanks, Tom ... you type faster than I do!

Edited by - Buzz Maring on 03/18/2005 16:36:06

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 17:09:19

I don't need a very big piece. I need some to use as a backing plate on my new motor mount.

Thanks ya'll. Can't wait til splash day!

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 17:19:35

I think I got mine from Defender, with a different trade name There are large cutting boards in the back of SAMs Club in the restaurant area that sure look close to starboard. I would think the UV is the only issue, couldn't hurt to try.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 17:46:01

I checked E-bay for "Starboard" just for the heck of it, and found some. Heres a link to just one of the few pieces listed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4535802941&category=26448

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 17:47:58

I've used some of the Harbor Freight cutting boards... in fact current project was inspired by Tom, a swing out mount... had one built but I was unhappy that the gps didn't front out with the autopilot on the bulk head... the depth field just seemed wrong and so I've made a second.

This one offsets the gps aft about three inches to focal depth it the same as where it was when mounted to the bulkhead and doing so makes a world of difference in readily picking it up. I may have gotten used to it otherwise but I was wanting to make another change anyway, I installed spring and ball bearing stop points rather than using a wing nut. Starboard works very well for this, though the arm is teak.

Here is a drawing though I will update the drawing with dimensions when I get a chance. I also used springs and balls on two sides.

The stops work great.

Edited by - on

ChrisDara
1st Mate

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USA
88 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2005 : 23:08:52

Hey Ben

Just want to be sure. When you say used as a backing plate, do you mean the mount for the main outboard? or is this a stern rail mount for a small dingy engine.

Probably stating the obvious but if it's for the 8-10 hp motor for the C-25 you should purchase the metal backing plate from Catalina Direct. I've heard horror stories of the old wood or "starboard-only retrofit" motor mounts breaking and the motor going for a swim.

Hope that helps.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2005 : 01:03:15

I ordered starboard for my latest project from WM and had it shipped to my office.

We have several cutting boards and none of they are exactly the same as starboard. Starboard seems to have more pigment to it. It also has a different surface texture than any of the cutting boards we have. They could be the same basic plastic just a different resin mix.

I too thought about using starboard for backing material. I did use it for a spacer between the hull and the bracket. One of the properties of plastic is it is ...plastic. That is it is flexible and can bend repeatedly without failure, like the hinges on a little plasic container. I thought flexible was probably not as good for spreading the load as a rigid structure. I scrounged in the scrap bin at the local steel fabricator. I found some pieces of stainless, about 12 or 14 guage. I had them bend them into flat channels that I cut to fit from the deck joint to the bottom of the transom.

Arlyn, I was wondering, since you have a wheel why did you mount the GPS in the companionway and not on the pedistal?

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2005 : 08:53:33

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Arlyn, I was wondering, since you have a wheel why did you mount the GPS in the companionway and not on the pedistal? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Todd, good question and the answer is a bit complicated because of a lot of converging factors. 1st, early 250s did not come with a pedestal guard which I wasn't sure I'd add and the wheelpilot would have required a nav pod so it was mounted in the bulkhead and the gps mounted near it with a single thru bolt so that the gps would mount either in or out by reversing the bolt.

If later, adding a pedestal guard and nav pod, the gps could easily be moved as it wasn't cut into the bulkhead and a remote could be added for the wheelpilot.

Several years ago I did add the pedestal guard, but made no changes to the gps because of a discovery about cruising and crew. All of my crews have loved getting involved in the navigation. This may be in part because of the cockpit charts that are produced for each cruise, I'm not sure. I just know that they enjoy doing it so I'm hesitant to take the gps out of their world. I've really done all the navigation back in the winter months, choosing waypoints that provide safe rhumb lines for all legs. The crew is given the job of running the gps, activating the pre planned routes and monitoring the progress. Again they love it and it keeps them more interested in sailing, especially when many of our cruising days are long ones.

Is it inconvenient to the helmsperson? Yes, but not enough to warrant taking away the crews involvment. Plus, my crew helm a lot too and I can monitor the gps while they are at the wheel.

Also, my gps is a combo sounder, when gunkholing or searching for the anchor location, the crew can monitor the sounder depth and contour and and I can keep my eyes on what is happening with the boat in relationship to other boats or visual hazards.

For these reasons, it was decided not to put it at the pedestal though a full autopilot remote is mounted at the pedestal. The remote has a liquid cyrstal display that will repeat most of the gps information with the exception that it doesn't pick up the depth sounder language. The remote, unfortunately does not allow operation of the gps. A remote to the gps would be ideal and any gps change barring failure of the current one... will have a remote, though I don't even know if they are made.

The gps/sounder could in fact be movable between the two locatons if three more feet are added to the dc/data cable. The remote antenna and sounder cables are plenty long enough. I might try that for the Lake Superior cruise this summer, but if making the move, I would want the mount to be rotational so that the crew can easily monitor. I don't want to deicate it to the pedestal however, because there are times of foul weather where I hunker below and sail/power under autopilot.

I understand that many readers may not grasp the crew involvement issue fully and I struggle for words to explain. I think it has to do with the North Channel cruising waters, requiring so many waypoints and so much navigation. For example, in So Cal, when sailing to Catalina, one sails out to a single large island. No doubts about what it is... whereas in the North Channel, there are hundreds of small islands and hundreds of rocks slightly awash. Sailing crews simply enjoy getting involved identifying islands, fouls, and monitoring progress. Without question, the greatest tool making that happen is the cockpit chart book which is produced for each cruise and crew involvement with the gps becomes a part of that.

Whew...long answer to a short question

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2005 : 01:20:36

Ah, I see. I knew that there would be a good reason. It makes sense for my situation as well. My navigation is not as complex, but keeping the crew involved is always a good thing. My son loves to master any new technology. I will have to try it. I can rotate my GPS on the pedistal so he can access it from which ever tack we are on. And he will be next to me so I can monitor what he is doing. I like the cockpit chart book idea too. Next week we are taking a trip up the Napa River. With chart in hand the kids can follow along and help pick out the bends in the river. I think my eyes will be on the depth sounder among other things. Just got the GPS and an just learning how to use it. Just entered a set of waypoints on Angel Island for a treasure hunt. Never been geocaching before but it sounds like a nice way to keep the kids interested in hiking about the island. Printed out a "treasure map" for the kids and gave my son my old handheld GPS and a printout with coordinates and clues for each cache.

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2005 : 07:26:06

Thanks ya'll for your answers and your thoughts. I did find a sheet of starboard at West Marine, the last one they had in stock. Boy, that stuff is not cheap. Anyway, I am using it as a spacer on the outside of the transom, and also as a backer board on the inside of the transom. While I agree that there probably is some built-in flexibility in "plastic", this stuff if 1/2 inch thick and is pretty stiff. I suspect it is more than up to the job of serving as a backer board.

Thanks again,

Edited by - on

Sid
Navigator

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129 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2005 : 15:05:27

Ben,
I may be too late to help you but for anyone else looking for starboard you can usually pick it up at a plastic supply for about half what WM charges for it. Ask for high density polyethylene(HDPE).

Sid

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2005 : 08:33:53

That's good to know, Sid. Thanks for the heads-up, but you're right. It's too late for me, at least on this project. I purchased a 24"x24" sheet of 1/2 inch board at WM for almost $50.00.

I didn't realize the stuff was so expensive.

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