Ideas for removable grass rails for AA Broadbill

Chip M.

Chip M.

Active member
trying to formulate a plan where I can put on and take off grass from my AA Broadbill along the cockpit. Can anyone that has done this before weigh in? I'm considering a section of 1x2" galv. fence attached to a 14" support board which will lay flat between the rubrail and cockpit, this would allow me to remove a full 8' grass rail on each side for dry storage and long distance travel.
 
bimini top fittings work great for this if you can work out your mounting locations to you advantage. 3/4 " galvinised electrical conduit bent to your specs to form your side panels. cover w/ plastic fenceing and wire tie to conduit. I rigged my blackjack w/ doors similar to 4 rivers layout boat and constructed dodger that covers forward section of cockpit for dog to hide under.. Sits behind me while gunnin.
 
Rather than metal fence use plastic snow fence. Lowes sells it green color and width is perfect. Cut to shape and cut out cockpit and you are ready to zip tie cover material.

Problem with metal fencing is the ends will dig into the glass over time.

Another option for framing is gray PVC electrical conduit. I opted to tie my skirt down with a fine piece of cod line to bow eye from a cleat up top. Then bungee rope from cleat woven into skirt to back handles. I leave on all season and no issues. My grass is natural and touched up a few weeks back.
 
Great ideas. Any pics to share? I love the fact that cage wire is bendable...allows you to fold it out for setting decoys and fold it right in over the cockpit when hunting. Hmmm. You've got me thinking.
 
Two problems with wire as I see it. The back and forth bending will flake the glavanized coating and thereby leading to premature coorosion. Second the ends no matter what will be sharp and cut and catch on everything. Plastic is better in my eyes
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I've got another idea forming.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_339723-73428-73004439_4294612390__?productId=3350828&Ntt=lattice&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_price%7C0%26Ntt%3Dlattice%26page%3D1&facetInfo=
 
I use rubber roofing with salmon netting zip tied to it put snaps on the top side of the cockpit to hold it in place. not sure what you want for the gunnels but again i use salmon netting with two pieces of paracord one line around the bottom side of the cockpit and another along the rubrail
 
I'll try to find a better picture of it but this is my Bluebill with a custom cordura Max4 cover made by a place that does boat covers. It has loops sewn in to attach the invisigrass, also cornstubble/burlap strips sewn in that I found online. The cockpit has a full length zip up opening for getting in and out. It works pretty well and is easy to fold up (like a tarp) when moving.
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- Mark
 
I've used the plastic snow fence with fast grass zip tied to it for years with great success. Never noticed it getting brittle when cold even with ice all over it, stay on boat just fine.
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I've used the plastic snow fence with fast grass zip tied to it for years with great success. Never noticed it getting brittle when cold even with ice all over it, stay on boat just fine.
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Love your sides....I tried to fab something like that for the cockpit but ended up running out of time (hunting this morning) and ended up snowfencing the whole boat and just letting the grass fall where it may. When I have a little more time I'm going to make the grass doors and put them on boat hatch hinges. Really need that cockpit open working decoys and I'd like to have them detachable so If i desired I could throw em in the back of the truck to keep em dry and for trailering etc.
I'll try to post some pics from today. soon
 
I've used the plastic snow fence with fast grass zip tied to it for years with great success. Never noticed it getting brittle when cold even with ice all over it, stay on boat just fine.
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Love your sides....I tried to fab something like that for the cockpit but ended up running out of time (hunting this morning) and ended up snowfencing the whole boat and just letting the grass fall where it may. When I have a little more time I'm going to make the grass doors and put them on boat hatch hinges. Really need that cockpit open working decoys and I'd like to have them detachable so If i desired I could throw em in the back of the truck to keep em dry and for trailering etc.
I'll try to post some pics from today. soon
Click to expand...

That would be a cattle panel cut in half, zip tied to the grass rail, snow fence and fast grass zip tied to the panel.
The little wood blocks have a notch cut in them to set the rungs of the panel in, height and angle adjustment, then a bungie cord over the top of the panel keeps it in place.
Not real professional looking but works great!
 
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