T-Bag dilemma

[Halfhitch]

I have decided to try a t-bag to stow my PFDs. Having them in the cuddy while underway is too unhandy and asking people to wear one constantly when its 90 degrees and 80% humidity isn't received well here. I have a walk-around so I can fit one wide enough to hold 6 PDFs under the top but all the ones I find that fit 6, have a zipper closure and we all know how zippers get in the gulf salt. C.E. Smith makes good stuff and they make one with Velcro closure but they are for a T-Top and will only hold 4 PFDs. Do any of you guys know who makes a wide one with Velcro instead of zipper?

 

[Ky Grady]

Reach out to Lee at A&J and see if she will make you a custom one. Tell her what you're looking for, she might be able to help. Worth a shot.

 

[glacierbaze]

Can you post a link the the 6 with zipper?

 

[Halfhitch]

I guess I could do that. I also though about buying a zippered one and taking it to a canvas shop and have some flaps with velcro sewed on. Probably gonna double the cost compared to off the shelf. I get a surprise every once in awhile when I open my ditch bag and the zipper is a little ornery, and I lube it often. The next one I get will have a really coarse zipper instead of the one on the ACR bag I have now.

 

[Halfhitch]

Can you post a link the the 6 with zipper?

Here ya go....
https://fishmaster.com/t-top-storage-bag.html

 

[Hookup1]

I keep 2 pillow cases stuffed with 2 life jackets each and a pillow in my cabin. EPIRB in cabin on the wall. PIRB in ditch bag on top of pillows. My 4 offshore jackets are under the V-berth. Make sure your crew knows to get the life saving equipment out while the Captain works the problem. Channeling is the biggest factor in disaster. Everyone has a job.

I suppose you can do it with a t-bag...

 

[glacierbaze]

Here ya go....
https://fishmaster.com/t-top-storage-bag.html

Thanks, but that bag won't attach to my SF hard top, without completely re-doing all the straps.

 

[Blaugrana]

I like the idea of these storage bags, but how do they handle the elements? Do they get mold at the end of the season?

Ive been looking for my 2000 228 and hard to see what could work and whether it’s worth it. Think AJ quotes about 400

 

[PointedRose]

I guess I could do that. I also though about buying a zippered one and taking it to a canvas shop and have some flaps with velcro sewed on. Probably gonna double the cost compared to off the shelf. I get a surprise every once in awhile when I open my ditch bag and the zipper is a little ornery, and I lube it often. The next one I get will have a really coarse zipper instead of the one on the ACR bag I have now.

it wouldn’t be a difficult job to do yourself with a decent sewing machine and some uv resistant thread. Velcro is cheap enough. You probably know someone that could help you. I’ve done some sunbrella projects and it’s easy enough

 

[Halfhitch]

I like the idea of these storage bags, but how do they handle the elements? Do they get mold at the end of the season?

Ive been looking for my 2000 228 and hard to see what could work and whether it’s worth it. Think AJ quotes about 400

I do believe they will be mold makers if you don't unload them periodically, spray everything down and let things dry. I've never owned one but just trying to figure out a better way to deal with PDFs, than strewn around down below.

 

[Blaugrana]

Yep, same here. We usually run enough for who is on board plus an extra. Towards the end of the season, I started putting them on the back of the seats and that seemed to work.

I did buy 2 inflatable ones and now debating on just wearing all the time to get back some space.

 

[Uncle Joe]

Thanks for posting.....I am ordering one right away for my Offshore. I always felt that it would be iffy to try to get in and out of that narrow cabin door to get my life jackets from under the V berths in an emergency. I have a hard top and a full enclosure so everything should stay relatively dry.

 

[Halfhitch]

Yep, same here. We usually run enough for who is on board plus an extra. Towards the end of the season, I started putting them on the back of the seats and that seemed to work.

I did buy 2 inflatable ones and now debating on just wearing all the time to get back some space.

When we lived in the Pacific Northwest, we wore our auto-inflatables all the time but down here in SW Florida it is less desirable. we hang inflatables on the helm chairs but for additional occupants it's harder to keep them handy and out of the way at the same time. On night trips we usually have 30 to 40 miles to run back in the dark, wee hours. I ask everyone to vest up while running fast in the dark.

 

[Fishtales]

Check how GW does it. A simple mesh cover with grommets and a long zipper. Lash thru the grommets and around the hard top pipes. You can take it down and soak the zipper each season and it will last for years.

 

[Dhirsh]

If you do get a t-bag I have a hack that will keep it from sagging. On my previous boat I built an internal frame from 1/2 pvc. Made it fit tight inside the bag and it kept the bag perfectly square. Zipped up on the inside so you couldn’t see the pipes. I also removed the hideous logos on the sides with a heat gun and a plastic scraper. Held 6 tight and 4 with extra room to get them in and out.

 

[glacierbaze]

Check how GW does it. A simple mesh cover with grommets and a long zipper. Lash thru the grommets and around the hard top pipes. You can take it down and soak the zipper each season and it will last for years.

Do you have a picture? Fishmaster is showing the bag on a T Top, with a canvas cover lashed all the way around, and tubing going in both directions for the straps. Plenty of places to attach. On my Seafarer top, the frame is sealed to the underside of the hardtop, so you can’t go around the top frame, except around the verticals at the rear corners. An enclosure further rules that possibility out, not to mention there is not enough room between the back of the frame and the back of the hardtop, so the bag would end up inside the frame, above the helm seats.

 

[Blaugrana]

Do you have a picture? Fishmaster is showing the bag on a T Top, with a canvas cover lashed all the way around, and tubing going in both directions for the straps. Plenty of places to attach. On my Seafarer top, the frame is sealed to the underside of the hardtop, so you can’t go around the top frame, except around the verticals at the rear corners. An enclosure further rules that possibility out, not to mention there is not enough room between the back of the frame and the back of the hardtop, so the bag would end up inside the frame, above the helm seats.
View attachment 19413

Would like to see if any 228s with this hardtop style have a storage bag underneath.

Mine is the similar to yours and we do not have the extra bar going across between the rear and front bars. I need to check though as i thought there was some very small gaps.

 

[glacierbaze]

Even if there were gaps, you can't go around the frame if you have an enclosure. You would have to figure a way to attach to the frame, above the awning track. Maybe drill holes throughthe frame, and use eye bolts, but I try to avoid drilling into my frame any more than absolutely necessary.

 

[PointedRose]

If you don’t want to drill, could probably mount some small pieces of wood or something with epoxy to provide a place to screw into aside from the frame or hardtop. Not a whole lot of weight with PFDs so should hold fine.

 

[PointedRose]

If you do drill into the frame, I think it’s aluminum and screws or rivets probably stainless so use tefgel to prevent galvanic corrosion