: The Mariner website has line art images of a Mariner II and a Coaster, but
: they're not very good resolution. Their layouts are excellent, and if
: you've seen the boat in person, the image makes sense; since it doesn't,
: I'll try to explain it.

: The Mariners have bow and stern 3/8" SS u-bolts that the carrying
: toggles are attached to. A 3/16" nylon painter runs forward to the
: front U-bolt, and back to a deck cleat mounted in front of the cockpit.
: Similarly with the back painter. There are 2 or 3 chart park bungies that
: run straight from sheer to sheer. None of that diagonal zigzag crap that
: looks nice, and is easy to install but works poorly. With crisscross
: bungies like that, all your stuff gets pulled to the center where the
: bungies cross, and then it falls out when you get hit by a wave or roll.
: Go with parallel bungies--sheer to sheer. Mariner simply uses an
: undersized hole with the bungie pulled through it, rather than deck knots,
: padeyes, or other hardware. It would let in a few drops of water (drops,
: not cups or gallons) so it's but a minute distraction. You should be
: dressed to get wet anyway, so a drop or two is nothing.

: Decide whether you want to carry your storm on the bow deck or aft deck.
: Mount an 8" or so wide sheer-to-sheer bungie (obviously, where the
: sheer is 8" or so wide). This should be about the right distance from
: your chart park bungies or your aft-of-cockpit bungies to hold the outer
: end of your storm. Measure this distance with your storm to make sure the
: distance isn't too long or too short to hold your paddle securely.

: You might want to mount some longitudinal bungies or straps along the sheer
: behind the cockpit to perform paddlefloat outrigger rescues. Seaward and
: Current Designs have some good strap systems you should check out. Mariner
: uses some 3/16" deckline cord that goes around that area and over the
: aft hatch, and is reportedly good for holding your paddle as well.

: Shawn

Shawn,

Thanks for your feedback and words of wisdom concerning the diagonal lines an storing the paddle. The criss-cross lines look good and are used by many but thanks for enlightening me about their shortcomings. I was planning on some grab lines at each end of the boat. Why does Mariner call them painter lines and why what's the purpose of the cleat? Why not just another undersize hole?

I was thinking of doing the undersize holes for deck fittings but they sound like they'd be a pain to remove and replace when doing periodic revarnishing.

Thanks again,

Gary B.