Good Idea or Not?

[HeaveToo]

I have an idea for making a custom cabinet for my Compac 23.  It will be attached to the bulkhead inside of the boat on the starboard side of the companionway.  Basically, overtop of the sink area.

The cabinet would hide my depth finder that goes through that bulkhead, it would give me a little storage, and I am going to put a mirror on it because I don't have a fixed mirror aboard.

I was going to use oak boards since they are available in my area.  I would finish the wood once the project is done to seal the wood.

What do you think of my idea?  Has anyone done anything like this?  Any suggestions? 

I will get my measurements for this cabinet when I am down at the boat this Monday and Tuesday doing some other projects.  I will measure and diagram the cabinet and possibly make it at home.

Wish me luck.

[Bob23]

I think it's a great idea and I've thought of the same thing! I don't like seeing the backs of the instruments and there's always a need for more storage. Because of the stability of plywood, I lean toward using that. Plus I have 3/4 of a sheet of Okoume plywood that I'm trying to use up. If you could use a small quantity of this for your project, you can have it. It's thin- 3 or 4 mm I think. It's leftover from my wood rudder project. Let me know how this project evolves.
Bob23

[BruceW]

I kindasorta like it. Wonder if a shelf with a lip would work also. I have a tub over there, and it is just slid back, but the stuff isn't that easy to retrieve.

Also, I have to figure out if the swing out holder for my fishfinder would be in the way.

[Craig Weis]

Hummmmmm? Bad and questionable. The more 'edges' down below in the cabin, the more things to slam your head into if going below while sailing. [ Like making a spechetti lunch while the boat sails on with tiller and sheets dogged down. ]

It's different when at anchor.

Damage your body at sea and help is a long way and time away. Limited First Aid can be preformed and to do that effectively a calm boat in a rough sea may become important. That means learn how to Heave Too to calm the boat's measure against the waves and wind.

skip.

[Potcake boy]

Well Heave2,

Since you have solicited opinions then I will offer mine. I would seek a different solution for that age old problem with small sailing boats. First my personal conviction is simplicity and minimalism and that's the main attraction of small boats for me. The fewer "things" we have the more we enjoy the basics. Have you ever watched someone clean out a boat when they are planning to part with it? It's worse than a garage sale when all the stuff hidden for years makes a sudden appearance. Wonder why your waterline keeps moving upward? Within that truckload of stuff that finds it's way on board are many things not intended for life at sea. They can be identified as glops or rust balls.

You may find there to be more storage than you imagined if you take another look at the way your stuff is organized. I have found that plastic containers are a very effective and inexpensive means of organizing and protecting the stuff you do need to keep aboard. These containers are available in all sizes and shapes and are easy to store at home and to load onto you boat when you need them. My cookware for example would reside in one container so that when I bring it out everything I need to cook is right there. Don't you hate digging through ten different areas when you want to have a cup of tea? Containerize your stuff according to function. These containers allow you to store your stuff where the boat builders provide areas, which is not coincidentally in the lower portions of the boat to add working ballast. Remember those boats of the past that were like camp trailers on the water they had such high center of gravity that they would hardly sail.

These are some of the lessons learned from sailing a small trimaran for years. Small cabin, weight sensitive and used for both racing and cruising, I would load the containers according to the pending activity. Admittedly my 23 PH is much more of a mule and bears her load with grace, however I still find value in those practices learned from the two small (24 and 25) trimarans.

This conversation leads me to share a very nice solution that I have utilized on several prior boats including small monohulls (Com-Pac19). I've installed a cockpit shower with a demand pump and supply it with a portable water tank like 5 or 7 gallon. I use a low flow rate pump like a 1 gallon per minute to minimize water usage. I simply stick the inlet hose into the water jug when I bring it aboard. I can alternatively connect my sun shower to the inlet hose for a nice warm shower in the cockpit. The jug resides in the cockpit storage locker where large things are welcome. I even use this on my 23 PH as there was no shower in the head.  The benefit from this is that you can have personal sanitation without mucking up your cabin and you get a degree of cockpit cleaning at the same time. You have a back up water supply so that your not out of luck when the built tank is suddenly empty, and of course it increases your tankage for cruising and easily removed when not needed. The portable tank also allows you to fetch water when no source is near the boat. The pump doesn't use much power and sure beats hanging an ungainly sun shower from your rig and having the hose pull off and empty the nice warm contents into the reservoir of H2O in which you are floating.

So, as stated that is just my opinion. If you like woodworking projects and wish to display your fine craft in your boat then I'd say GO FOR IT, it's your boat, enjoy it.

Ron

[HeaveToo]

I agree with having a more minimalist approach.  That being said, I would like to organize things more. 

I also use my Compac a bit different than most.  She is not a weekender, she is more of a cruiser. 

[TedStrat]

Storage is always good idea if needed. Before you plan it the paperback book 'Boat joinery and cabinet making' by Fred Bingham. Bruce Bingham designed the Eclipse - Fred is his father. Great ideas and illustrations.

[Duckie]

My weekender has such a small cabin that it is almost unusable.  I have made three cabinetry projects for it just for the purpose of organizing it.  The first thing I made was a galley box.  That's one of the best things I have made recently.  I use it whenever I am on the road as well as afloat.  I then made a wall cabinet for items that I might need while underway but don't want rolling around in the cockpit.  The last is a port a potty.  They were all custom fit for their particular space and are completely out of the way when not in use.  They also make the tiny cabin more homey and welcoming, at least for  me.  They all match, and look like they belong exactly where they are.  I do agree with Skip pretty strongly about banging your head against things.  That is why I never allow sharp edges on any boat build or upgrade I make. 

For me, carefully thought out cabinetry enhances both the utility and appeal of a small boat cabin.  Take your time designing it and maybe make a proof of concept example to use for a while before committing your exotic wood to it.  These little things are fun.

Al

[brackish]

While storage is always a good ambition, you should carefully check your location.  Do you use your sink?  Does it have a manual pump?  Will the cabinet you have suggested restrict use of the sink or pumping water into it?  The reason I ask is that it certainly would on my boat which has the slide out sink.  You need to think it through and make sure you don't create a problem while solving another.

Bob's suggestion of light plywood, Okoume in particular is a good one, keeping weight down, with just a frame of solid wood which can be decorative.

As a woodworker, I'm always looking for projects I can do on my boat that will make it more cruise friendly.

I did make some back covers for instruments just to hide them using teak plywood and solid teak planed quite thin.

[HeaveToo]

I have to look at it and make measurements.

I have a folding tap and pressurized water on Saga.  My sink does slide out but it comes out pretty far and it would clear the bulkhead by quite a bit.

Thanks for the suggestions and I will definitely measure a few times before I do anything.

[HeaveToo]

Well, I have a great idea for the cabinet, but my carpentry skills seem to suck.  I am having a horrible time figuring out the angles of the bulkhead so I can cut the wood.  I will probably leave this alone for now, too many other things to do!

[Bob23]

Matt:  Do what Michaelangelo did: Remove all the material that's not supposed to be there! Working on a boat is tricky for me. I'm used to plumb, level and square. Boat projects are anything but.
Bob23

[Craig Weis]

Make templates for all the angles and dangles, slopes and near flats.

skip.