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Staying Organized:

The "Rack"


One of the most distinctive things about Toy Boat 2 is its "Luggage Rack". here's an in-depth review of why we need it, how we developed it, what's next

Background   1rst Pass   1rst Pass Results   2nd Pass   What's Next? 

At first, the design seemed like it would be pretty straightforward:
TB2 Luggage Rack-Pass 1
Click for larger image


  • Based on the dimensions of our tackle bags, we came up with vertical shelf spacing of around 14". This would give us enough room for two shelves without exceeding the height of the console

  • The seat on the front of the console dictated the front-to-back distance

  • The distance between the vertical rod holders on the console set the maximum width
We used PVC pipe because it could be easily formed, was pretty strong, and could be glued together quickly. We also figured that if push came to shove, we would be able to use the PVC to help us design a sturdier replacement (wood or stainless steel).

TB2 Luggage Rack-Pass 1 alt view
Click for larger image
One thing we discovered quite a while ago is that boats, even fiberglass boats, are like houses - things are not always square, plumb or true, no matter how good they look. Toy Boat 2 was not as bad as our earlier aluminum hulls, but it did have some things that caught us off-guard:

  • The console rail was not completely square in relation to the seat or the console

  • The front face of the console,  under the seat, tilted very slightly to the rear. This makes sense, as the unit is molded, and would need some relief to make it easier to extract from the mold.
The picture to the left shows the end result. The legs in front are longer because they sit on the deck. the legs in back are short because they sit on the same platform as the console seat.

What did we do to fasten the rack to the boat?
Luggage Rack clamps
Click for larger image
In our estimation, the weight of the tackle would keep the rack on the deck, so all we had to do was somehow attach it to the console to prevent forward and sideways motion.

Luggage Rack clamps
Click for larger image
We wound up using these rubber/velcro tubing holders (not sure what else to call them generically). While it might seem a bit frail, these devices have actually proven to be quite tenacious. We have yet to have the Velcro pull loose, despite falling and pulling on the rack numerous times.

All things considered, the PVC version came together fairly quickly. An afternoon's work with the table saw, a hacksaw and a file, and we were all set to go!

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