Bag for Navigator's tools??

[KenSolarCom]

I love the waterproof harken bags, great for crewing trips, or weeklong charters, but what if I just want to grab my navigators tools (parallel rulers, plotter, dividers, slides, charts, etc)?? I need a slim, flat, rigid, bag that is boat friendly. Laptop bags don't seem to cut it, and, they're too short typically for the 17" items. One that will not allow my rulers and stuff to get warped out of shape while they're in storage, etc (or the TSA commies decide to get froggy).

Anyone seen a good bag for this purpose? Thanx so much!!
-ken

[merttan]

Well, I don't think anyone carries those around but since you are going to, make one from scratch... You can stitch special pockets in the bag to keep everything in place and can support it with aluminium sticks to prevent excessive bending...
Another option will be buying a very large waterproof box or a ditch bag that has support bars in it which both are really expensive as far as I checked last summer...

[sailingdog]

Ken-

Weems & Plath makes a canvas roll-up kit that holds navigation tools..but don't believe it will accomodate 17" tools. A tool roll would probably be the best way to carry the tools without the need for excessive reinforcement or support. You can see the kit at Landfall Navigation.

[Plumper]

Go to a graphic arts store. They have a selection of different ones to choose from. They are probably cheaper than anything with a sailing logo. Artists are poor!

[artbyjody]

Plumber - I am definitely poor now...

At any rate - look into Portfolio Jackets (I think that is what they are called). You can get them at Office Depot, Staples and the likes...used for ad presentations , storing art and business charts. Many have pockets in them and some can be rolled up and tied up and thrown out the way. You will however get a better selection of such at Aarons, Daniel Smiths (large online site as well excellent reputation), or any other local arts store (craft stores will not carry them)....

[Plumper]

Jody,
It will be difficult to look poor in that new boat. You're going to have to wear rags so you look like a deck hand.

[hellosailor]

Ken, I've always used a soft attache, which is what they were called before "laptop" bags were named. Dunno that it would carry a 17" ruler but then again, I never needed anything that long to take on a boat. That's why someone invented parallel arms and rolling rulers! I suppose you could cut two feet off a steel tape measure, and just fold that in half to stow it in a shorter bag.[g]

[Valiente]

Get an old pair of jeans. Cut in half through the crotch to the belt. Keep the pockets if you like. Roll the knee to ankle part up inside the thigh to hip part. Insert some old battens between the two layers. Sew up the front of the jeans to the back, and sew the cuff of the pants leg to the belt. Sew the bottom of the leg, which is four layers of jeans at this point.

You now have a batten-stiffened, 20 inch deep, denim tube with a front pocket and a back pocket that has a few loops from which all your nav tools can hang, even the triple protractor thingie, the proper name of which I forget. You could wax the outside to make it waterproof, or you could do all I've said with a pair of old foulie pants.

Very, very y'arrr...and you can stick the calculator and erasers in the front pocket and your mechanical pencils in the back!