the rack i made is made of schedule40 3" pvc. when i first envisioned it. it was made to go across the pontoons at the base of the mast. we lashed a cooler on the rack above each pontoon. then we lashed the drybags to the rack in the middle. when we hit the water, it was apparent that this was not going to work very well. the water spray and wave action was hitting the coolers broadside and slowing the boat down considerably. so i took what i had made and mounted it in the middle of the bows instead of across the bows. imagine an extension ladder but built out of pvc. lay one end against the dolphin striker and the other end should go past the forestay by a foot or so. i hung the forestay end off of a shackle with a motorcycle tie down. then i tied the back off by tieing each side of the ladder to its respective pylon. to keep the front from "rolling", i hooked long bungees from each side of the ladder to their respective bow eye. with the motorcycle tie down i can adjust the height of the rack. i placed the coolers on the rack closest to the mast. the first cooler touches the front crossbar. i used a motorcycle tie down thru the handles and under the ladder to the other cooler handle. this way you can access the cooloer without much trouble. i did two 54 qt coolers this way. i put them across the ladder not longways. in front of the coolers is where i put the dry bags. i used more motorcycle tiedowns to hold them to the ladder. to finish it off i used a section of orange construction fence to make a cargo net. i bungeed it around the drybags for extra measure. we put it in the water on a very rough and windy day. (see above post). it stayed out of the water and didnt seem to affect the boat. it was way superior to the initial design. we even crash tested it 360 degrees. if i would of put simple bungees across the lids of the coolers, i wouldnt of lost a thing. i can sketch the "rack" i made and email it to you. as far as the trapseat goes i have another device that i built and tested on this same trip. its much simpler than a trapseat. its more of an adjustable backrest that starts just short of the shroud wire and goes to the back pylon. if interested in that pm me. i already have a sketch of it.
