Nominations for the worst designed bits of boat gear

[mrming]

The transom of a Laser - catches the mainsheet on every gybe unless you are very careful / lucky.

This.

 

[LittleSister]

The bermudan/gaff/junk - sloop/ketch/yawl/schooner sail rig*.

Fin/long/bilge/lifting keels*.



(* delete according to taste )

 

[nimbusgb]

Engine compartments on modern plastic boats. Engines need maintenance so they apparently mould the engine in!

Heaven help you if you need to remove the thing!

 

[Seajet]

Engine compartments on modern plastic boats. Engines need maintenance so they apparently mould the engine in!

Heaven help you if you need to remove the thing!

Working on it may disrupt a modern boat's treble aft cabins; having done that and requiring engine replacement it just requires grp surgery having first looked to find what waterproof sole hatches are available, then a mechanic's crane; how one deals with the level up in the air re the keel height I don't remember, but I guess yards and possibly marinas are used to it.

Might be a chance to revert to a sensible layout with real cockpit lockers.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Not sure how cockpit lockers come in to it, my experience of modern boats is the engine is under the (removable) companionway steps. If the engine needs to be removed it is hoisted straight out through the main hatch.

 

[Seajet]

In what I suppose may now be called traditional boats, one could access the engine via side panels in the quarter berths etc.

I have been on boats with aft cabins and found they couldn't even take fenders in the shallow cockpit lockers, fenders had to go in the anchor well or be hung off the back like an unseamanlike Mobo.

Even on my 22' the cockpit lockers are big enough for a person to get into, and easily take all my large fenders as I take them in or out, handed to me by crew while I steer into or out of a port, there are also lines, sea anchor, kedge anchor, boom tent and so on in there and more to the point we have a deep cockpit to be sheltered in when big waves appear.

Try that with a new FAB 31 etc with aft cabins !

 

[Lucky Duck]

My last two boats have had similar arrangements in the aft cabin giving access to the rear of the engine so you can check the gearbox oil level and the like.

 

[Seajet]

I'm sorry to hear you have yet to find a boat you're happy with.

Apart from disrupting the ' aft cabin ' how about the cockpit lockers, are you able to stow fenders and lines in a handy place or do you have to send crew on a sortie to get them ?

 

[Lucky Duck]

Two lazarette lockers and one traditional cockpit locker on the starboard side. Plenty of space of the dinghy, fenders and like.

One nice feature is the hanging locker for oilskins can be accessed both from the rear of the heads compartment or the cockpit locker so you don't need to go down below if the weather means you want to out your oils skins on in a hurry. There is also a outlet for the heater there so they are nice and dry for next time.

 

[maxi]

Tubular plastic radar reflectors, even a rubber knife would work better.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Those thingies to make toast on the gas hob

Is there one that works?

 

[alahol2]

Is there one that works?

These are the only type that really work properly, but only one slice at a time... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunncamp-AC46801-Folding-Stainless-Toaster/dp/B00CFRS9PO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1421585551&sr=8-9&keywords=camping+toaster

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Is there one that works?

Yes! I am happy to say that I have finally managed to find one that is similar to what we used to have before electric tasters spoiled the taste of a proper toast. I had almost given up and was resigned to getting used to no toast when at anchor. One day I was at Homemate and asked one of the older girls if they had any. She said "Right there" and pointed behind me at a low shelf that was no more than a couple of metres away, along with a lot of 'tat'.

It is in the form of a square shallow 'dish' with a handle and a top of perforated sheet, all of which is made in stainless steel. The total depth is not more than 12mm and it makes a beautiful toast. Evidently made in China, it cost me less than €2.

 

[Greenheart]

Very interesting, how many views reflect justifiable dissatisfaction with products which combine different metals, and whose lifespan is thereby very limited in a briny zone.

Tempting to start a name & shame thread, to warn contributors about new & existing products constructed this way. As has been said, the saving to the manufacturer can't easily justify the risk to their reputation...and whether or not manufacturers were thereby encouraged to build things properly (DOUBTFUL!), we here could avoid purchases of 2nd-rate kit.

 

[bryeomans]

How about the idiot who designed Aqua Signal LED nav lights with a permanent very thin dual core connecting wire - that cannot be changed. You cannot connect it to anything because it has no physical strength so crimp connectors or ring terminals are out, and a solder joint with your head stuck into the aft lazarette is a nightmare. Why not follow the ABYC guidelines and use a (minimum) 18AWG wire? For a £75 light to have such an inadequate connection is unbelievable, especially as the tail is only about 100cms so may not reach as far as the boat interior???

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Is there one that works?

Tada...

 

[Applescruffs]

Fried bread....even simpler.....mmmmm.....nummmy.....soaked in egg natch!

 

[alahol2]

Fried bread....even simpler.....mmmmm.....nummmy.....soaked in egg natch!

That's eggy bread more formally known as gypsy toast.

 

[emnick]

ANY Ultra LED

 

[ronsurf]

The stupid fiddly way of adjusting the webbing to make life jackets fit

Oooh, +1 on that