Swim grid braces second attempt

[Sea lyin’]

Looking at getting something like this made. Anybody see any reason braces coming down on each side of the cooler instead of up wouldn’t work?

 

[YachtMech]

tubing can safely take more load in tension (struts going up) than in compression (stuts going down like in picture) not saying it wont work but the safer optinon is to have it in tension as a small bend or deflection wont cause failure.

 

[Sea lyin’]

tubing can safely take more load in tension (struts going up) than in compression (stuts going down like in picture) not saying it wont work but the safer optinon is to have it in tension as a small bend or deflection wont cause failure.

So I should be good to go then? Lol

 

[YachtMech]

So I should be good to go then?

depends on how much weight you are puting on that. Im assumng that is standard 7/8 or 1' handrail tubing? (0.068 wall if I remember) I probably would have gone with something a bit heavier, probably 1.25 or 1.5" tubing in .109 or .12, because you have to think of dynamic loading if you have a 50 L cooler full of fish and ice it will weigh nearly 100lbs, and thats asking a lot of those struts, it would help to have a bit of gusseting or cross bracing to prevent them from deflecting too much

 

[YachtMech]

So I should be good to go then?

I probaby would double stack the stuts into a ladder structure, just like the rails on the basket, it will drastically increase the strenght. and probably look more skookum

 

[Sea lyin’]

depends on how much weight you are puting on that. Im assumng that is standard 7/8 or 1' handrail tubing? (0.068 wall if I remember) I probably would have gone with something a bit heavier, probably 1.25 or 1.5" tubing in .109 or .12, because you have to think of dynamic loading if you have a 50 L cooler full of fish and ice it will weigh nearly 100lbs, and thats asking a lot of those struts, it would help to have a bit of gusseting or cross bracing to prevent them from deflecting too much

The pic is just for reference for size. And I can get it made in 1” tube. I don’t know how thick of wall though. Hopefully I’ll have lots of weight to put on it. lol.

 

[Sea lyin’]

I probaby would double stack the stuts into a ladder structure, just like the rails on the basket, it will drastically increase the strenght. and probably look more skookum

Good to go with struts going down. I’m hoping to not have holes below the water line if I can get away with it

 

[YachtMech]

Good to go with struts going down. I’m hoping to not have holes below the water line if I can get away with it

yeah I would add more structure than the one in the picture, since most fish coolers are now like 100L which makes it about 220lbs when full, and that pounding though waves will likely fail at some point

 

[sly_karma]

Looking at getting something like this made. Anybody see any reason braces coming down on each side of the cooler instead of up wouldn’t work?
View attachment 62153

Might want to go with large diameter tubing for the struts, as others have pointed out there is dynamic loading at play. Some kind of cross bracing to prevent racking in the lateral plane would be sensible as well - gussets in the corners would be enough.

The plus side of struts below the shelf is load on fasteners is compression/shear - easy to secure. Going struts above means a lot of pullout load and you'll either need multiple fasteners to spread load, or bolts right through the transom and the issues that come with that.

Down side of struts below is the holes are close to or below waterline. Careful waterproofing work needed in either case.