New To Us RT 31 - Where do you store ...

[jacrider]

Good morning. Our purchase of a RT 31 closed this week, and we are looking forward to getting her going.

We have been on a few 31's during our search for a boat to buy. We ended up buying a Luxury Edition, so the storage area behind the engine has the generator installed.

As we get ready, I wonder if any owners can help me understand where you store some of the following gear:

1. Bumpers
2. Tools
3. Engine/Generator spares (filters, fluids, etc)
4. BBQ
5. Chart books and cruising guides? I don't think there's a bookcase anywhere.
6. For those with a dinghy outboard that has an external fuel tank, where do you store the tank?

Many thanks. I'm sure I'll be back with lots more questions as we get closer to getting going.

Andrew.

 

[Rauguthj]

Andrew:

We use these to stow fenders when not in use. Also have a couple of large inflatable fenders stored in the port lazarette.

Amazon.com : KEMIMOTO Boat Fender Holders, Folding Fender Rack with Stainless Steel Tube Clamp Fit for Boat Bumper Below 10 Inches : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : KEMIMOTO Boat Fender Holders, Folding Fender Rack with Stainless Steel Tube Clamp Fit for Boat Bumper Below 10 Inches : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com

For tool storage we use soft tool bags from Harbor Freight. We keep one bag for “quick fix” tools in the quarter berth buy the step down in the small area under the back of the AC panel. These are the basic tools to tighten, loosen or adjust things. Rest of the tools are in the forward storage area under the V berth. Bags for electrical, power tools, and tools not routinely needed. In small bags tape and glue, canvas repair, shock cord and grommets, and miscellaneous hardware. My tools on board started with the Ranger Tugs tool list.

Spares are kept in the same area as the tools.

BBQ (Magma Newport) is up on the port side of the command bridge. Up there because we have a cockpit enclosure that covers the swim deck as well.

Charts, cruising guides, log books, boat documents are stored in a plastic bin in the quarter berth, and are pulled out when in use. We use bins to store lots of “stuff” in that area.

We have a Highfield dingy, and the gas tank stays in the bow held by straps that came with the dingy.

Overall storage is tight, but we have found there is sufficient space for everything we need on the boat. We also added a dock box up on the command bridge between the seat and the solar panel. Organization and labeling is important.

 

[jacrider]

Joe: Many thanks!

I'll add those fender holders to my next Amazon order.

I had kind of forgotten about that deep storage area under the v-berth as a great place for long-term stuff.

Our RIB doesn't have the bow locker, so the best I have come up with is to use straps to hold it on the swim platform beside the propane locker.

We also have the command bridge, and I was thinking of having the BBQ up there.

Bins are likely in our future!

Thanks again.

 

[AGLyme]

• Bumpers: port lazerette.
• Tools & Mtc items: I removed my ice maker (never used it) and fortunately there is a roomy cavity back there.
• Fluids, oils, wax, etc: in a plastic boxe in rear of starboard Laz. There is a 2nd plastic box in front of the fluids one full of the safety items.
• No BBQ. It was in the locker on the swim platform but we don’t use it. The locker now contains lines and the RIB air pump.

Note, we don’t go on long trips - yet. Local trips and overnights.

Congrats on the purchase, you will love the boat. Our guests are always surprised how cool it is when they climb on board. The CB is a blast.

 

[jacrider]

AGLyme: Many thanks. We are going to spend a couple of months this spring in the Bahamas, so we'll get lots of time to get familiar with the boat. We are lifetime sailors, this is our first powerboat. We also have the icemaker in the cockpit, wish we had a freezer there, or the regular refrigerator. Anyway, after a couple of months cruising, we'll figure out what would be best in that space. Again, I see several bins in my near future to organize storage.

 

[Brian John]

Good morning. Our purchase of a RT 31 closed this week, and we are looking forward to getting her going.

We have been on a few 31's during our search for a boat to buy. We ended up buying a Luxury Edition, so the storage area behind the engine has the generator installed.

As we get ready, I wonder if any owners can help me understand where you store some of the following gear:

1. Bumpers
2. Tools
3. Engine/Generator spares (filters, fluids, etc)
4. BBQ
5. Chart books and cruising guides? I don't think there's a bookcase anywhere.
6. For those with a dinghy outboard that has an external fuel tank, where do you store the tank?

Many thanks. I'm sure I'll be back with lots more questions as we get closer to getting going.

Andrew.

1. Bumpers -Fender holders on the fky bridge, aka Command Bridge
2. Tools -Knock off Pelican cases from Northern Tool in a lazarette and cave. I have multiple sizes.

https://www.northerntool.com/products/strongway-medium-waterproof-storage-case-black-6417801

3. Engine/Generator spares (filters, fluids, etc) - Filters in vacuum bags and all in a plastic tool box in the cave
4. BBQ - Mounted on the rear railing, though we never use.
5. Chart books and cruising guides? I don't think there's a bookcase anywhere. Briefcase under the bed in the V-berth
6. For those with a dinghy outboard that has an external fuel tank, where do you store the tank? We have an electric motor.

 

[Todd Tugnut]

With respect to tools, I think you will find this video helpful. We all have a box or bag of assorted tools. I decided I would bite the bullet and buy the tool bag and tools just as described in the video. You will have 95% of the tools you need in the smallest possible space. I don’t regret the cost at all.