Boat Upgrades Made Easy: The DIY Yacht Guy Swaps Cup Holders on a Large Boat
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Hey everyone! I’m The DIY Yacht Guy, and I recently tackled a small but satisfying upgrade on my yacht—swapping out those tired, yellowed plastic cup holders for sleek, stainless steel ones. It’s one of those boat upgrades I’ve been meaning to do forever, especially on large boats like mine where little details can make a big difference. Here’s a rundown of how it went, along with some tips if you’re thinking of refreshing your yacht or large boat with a similar project.
The Problem with Old Cup Holders on Yachts
If you’ve spent any time on yachts or large boats, you know how plastic ages under the sun. My cup holders were no exception—they’d turned an unattractive yellowish hue and were starting to look pretty beat up. You could even see the remnants of an old intercom panel behind one of them, which I still need to remove. There were five in total: two in the middle rest, one by the captain’s seat, and a couple others scattered around the helm. They weren’t just an eyesore—they were a reminder of how dated my yacht was starting to feel.
I ordered some stainless steel replacements online, and honestly, the swap was pretty straightforward. For The DIY Yacht Guy, these kinds of boat upgrades are all about durability and a cleaner, more modern look—no more yellowing in the sun on my large boat!
The Process: A Simple Boat Upgrade for Large Boats
The job itself was simple: pry out the old cup holders and pop in the new ones. I started with the first one, and as expected, it broke apart as I removed it. That’s just how it goes with old plastic—be ready for it to crumble. My main tip for yacht owners? Try not to scratch the gel coat while you’re at it. A scratched gel coat means wet sanding, and nobody wants that extra hassle on their large boat.
For tools, I kept it basic. A plastic razor blade was my go-to for scraping off the old adhesive without damaging the yacht’s finish. These little blades are a must-have for boat upgrades—they wear out fast, but they’re gentle on surfaces like gel coat. Once the old cup holder was out, I test-fitted the new stainless steel one, and it slipped right in—perfect fit for my yacht.
Some of the holders were easier than others. A couple just lifted out with no fuss, making it a quick swap. Others had adhesive that needed scraping, so I took my time to clean off the old RTV silicone sealant. For the new ones, I used white RTV silicone to secure them in place. It’s a clean look and keeps them from shifting around—a key detail for large boats that see a lot of action.
A Handy Design Feature for Yachts
One cool detail I noticed while working: some of these cup holders have a small hole in the bottom. On yachts or large boats with an uncovered helm or fishing rod holders, this acts as a drain. Hook up a hose or tube, and it’ll run water straight to the bilge instead of pooling where it shouldn’t. It’s a small thing, but it’s smart design—especially for rainy days out on the water.
Finishing Touches with The DIY Yacht Guy
The whole project took about 30 minutes, though I spared you the boring part of watching me scrape adhesive in real-time. Once the new cup holders were in, I applied RTV under the lip of the last one, set it down, and cleaned up the excess with a caulking tool and plenty of paper towels. Pro tip from The DIY Yacht Guy: keep a trash can handy and use fresh paper towels for each wipe. Silicone sealant is a nightmare to remove once it dries, so don’t skimp on the cleanup. If it gets messy, acetone can help, but I managed with just the towels this time.
My hands were a mess by the end—typical for me when I’m working with RTV on boat upgrades—but that’s what paper towels and a good trash can are for. I also had a battery-powered shop vac (a Father’s Day gift from my boys) to clean up the inevitable debris. That little vac is a game-changer for quick cleanups on large boats like mine.
The Final Look: A Fresh Upgrade for My Yacht
With everything installed and the helm wiped down, the difference was night and day. The stainless steel cup holders look sharp—way better than those old yellowed ones. They’re up in the bolster, down by the seat, and over by the captain’s spot, giving my yacht’s helm a refreshed, modern vibe. It’s funny how new boat upgrades make the old parts—like my trusty Raytheon autopilot—stand out even more. But that’s a project for another day on this large boat.
Wrapping Up with The DIY Yacht Guy
This was an easy, low-cost boat upgrade that made a surprisingly big impact on my yacht. No more ugly plastic, just clean, durable stainless steel that should hold up for years without fading. If you’ve got a large boat or yacht with some worn-out cup holders, I’d say go for it—it’s a quick win that’ll leave you smiling every time you set a drink down.
That’s it for this one, folks! Let me know if you’ve tackled any boat upgrades on your yacht or large boat lately—I’d love to hear about them. Catch you on the water with The DIY Yacht Guy!
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