I'm just finishing up some fabrication on my boat and I want to add a grab bar before I go to paint, however I don't have my motor mounted up yet. My basic plan was to weld in a tube reinforced to the side wall with an inside diameter of 1" then use a 1" round tube shaped to come up as actual grab bar. The material I'm using is pretty stiff so it shouldn't flex, the bar would be pinned at the bottom for easy removal when not in use. Hopefully that makes some sense. Two questions 1. I have a prodrive but it not on the boat yet, best I can tell with the tiller handle and how I would be standing I would want the Grab bar about 4 ft off the back of the boat. Anyone out there running a prodrive have a grab bar and if so about how far off the back is it? 2. Anyone have picture of there set up or see major flaws with what I'm doing, sorry I don't have any pics or drawings. And yes I know with a prodrive I should be able to sit down and drive it, but at some point knowing me I'm going to want something to hold on to. (boat is an 1852 TMT)

Something like this?

I have a 1648 PD and got a T handle welded to the front of the seat box

That is very similar to what I had in mind,Is milkfisher just messing with you. Or did you end up with issues?

If so do you think it was a design flaw or bad welding?

Thanks

don't mine da milkman...
his cheap azz settled for an Aucoin immitation

shooter,

I have an 1852 boat that is the same as yours and I run a 36 PD. My grab bar is attached to the foreward edge of the flotation box. Works fine for me. I am 6' tall so my arms are medium length to long.

If you want to pm me your email I will send you a pic. I will not post it here as I do not have a photobucket or other photo sharing account and I don't have time to set one up. I don't care if you post the pic up here, I just don't have time to do it.

I have a buddy who can bend pipe pretty well and I think you'll find my design pretty cool. I have owned a few mudboats with different design grab bars and I really like this one.

Hey Guys, Thanks for the info and pictures. Got her welded in and finished painting the boat this weekend so I thought I would follow up with some pictures. I've got a GPS mount I haven't added yet also but the essentials are on there, aka Drink holder...

grab bar unfinished.jpg
Finished Grab Bar.JPG
Finished Grab Bar 2.JPG

I'll post some pictures of the finished rig and finishing build process when I post a reveiw for it, hopefully later this week.

Thanks.

shooter,

That looks good. Did you not have flotaton in that boat or did you take it out?

Is that the paint that came on the boat or did you repaint?

I bought the one TMT unfinished boat so it never had the floation in it, for me, that was ok and I actually perferred it, I typically don't have to deal with a lot of big water. I finished the welding and flooring, front deck and a few other items then I painted it. I took used Alumabrite to wash it with first then used Duralux paint base coat with the Realfoot Camo stencils.

I finally got it out last Thursday and had 27mph with me the dog and ten gallons of fuel, that was in deep water before the GPS batteries died and I never got a chance to play with the trim. I'm hoping to do some more playing this Thursday. I've got an 8 month old so I don't seem to get much free time. Looking forward to hunting season, this will definately be the nicest boat I've ever owned.

Thanks for the info, I attached a couple pics.

boat came out nice, u did a great job finishing her up. hope u enjoy it

here is a grab bar i got made up on my 1648 PD

What was it Stumpy used to say about grab bars???????