Storage under quarter berths

[B.Jones]

Has anybody opened up the area underneath the two quarter berths to use for storage?  I was trying to think of a small storage area to store all the extra line/rope that I carry on board.  If so what is the best way to open; from the side or from the top, or is there even enough room there to be worth it?
Thanks,
Bruce
S/V Island Pearl

[idouglas]

S/V Island:

While I own a lowly CP16/XL/III and not a CP19, I have addressed the same problem with a set of cockpit hatches and opened up a whole lot of space on the quarterberth that was otherwise unaccessible.  Check out:

http://com-pacowners.com/gallery2/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=10709&pos=-985

idouglas

[Lost Lake]

Do you mean under the sleeping area itself? Wouldn't you have to get at those from the top side, maybe just cut a hole and then install a recessed plate over the hole?

I never thought about accessing that area... Good idea!

[Craig Weis]

NO! To find out I cut a 2" x 2" hole under the starboard quarter birth on my C-P 19 XL for a look~see..
These births hug the bilge of the hull very close...midship birth is less than 3" from bottom of boat [glass matt] to underside of plywood birth. So No we have no storage room under the quarter births.

However in front of the compression post is a very nice area and access can be had by simply cutting a 16" x 16 " hole in the vee birth plywood. I used one of the two existing hatch covers of the vee birth for a pattern.

Clean-up the edge and provide a [almost] 1/2 inch wide edge for this 'hatch' to sit on by cutting 1/4" ply to the lengths then gluing and snap clamping them into place on the underside of the vee birth plywood, while driving in deck screws from the top.

When dry use a vice grip to easily snap off the extra screw lengths, file smooth and dab on a touch of silicone over the snapped off screw.

Paint gray to match and now I can store extra life jackets, pillows, line, charts, nicknack's, cloth bug screen and...well you get the idea. Hugh amount of room and a little bit of flotation to pack stuff around. When it is done correctly I can not tell the hatch is there. I have an earlier post about this installation. Maybe two years back. skip.

[Lost Lake]

I think I have access there already. I have to go look again! I wonder if they were installing the access from the factory in the beginning (mine is boat #22). I'm sure I checked under the V berth before I put her in storage.... Maybe it was just to the side of the post though....

[Craig Weis]

Come to think of it a small hatch for pulling wire IS under the quarter births, as you said. The vee birth has two factory storage bins, port and starboard that have 16" x 16" covers. I simply cut another 16" x 16" opening dead center and in front of [toward the bow] the compression post for access to the whole rest of the boat under the vee birth. For access to the two lag screws that are driven through the compression post into the plywood 'bulkhead' the factory put a hole in front of the compression post covered by a thin piece of plywood. This small hole goes way when the middle 16" x 16" cover takes it's place. skip.

[Lost Lake]

Excellent Skip!  I really want to see your boat this year....

[Craig Weis]

See you when you get here. skip. send e-mail.

[rchiare1]

Douglas,
First thanks for your advice, I'm ordering a 155% Genoa for the SoLo, (which by the way is a CP16 CB on all of the documentation that I have, 1998 vitage HIN 2902, so they didn't make all that many in the late 90s. - I still don't know if mine is an XL model or just has a preformance package which featured a masthead rig and z-Spars. Maybe they are the same thing.)
Reguardless, I was just looking at the photos of the hatches that you installed.
My boat has two 5' roundinstection ports that I think are original to the boat.
Did you have similar ports, and enlarge the openings to put the rrectangular hatches in?
Lastly where did you buy the hatches? I've seen similar ones at West MArine but haven't done any  measurement yet.

Bob

[B.Jones]

Thanks, Skip.  That sounds like the solution to my problem.  My wife has a new SailRite sewing machine and I am trying to figure out a way to reconfigure the cushions in the V-berth to make easy access to the new storage compartment you suggested.  I tried to find your prior post about this installation but could only find your, "Storage space beneath sole of Cockpit" post of 3/18/05.
Thanks again,
Bruce
'87 C/P 19/II
Island Pearl

[Craig Weis]

Bruce, when I have more time I'll look too for the storage post.. skip. The cushions are the only draw back. skip.

[Craig Weis]

Well if the boat has a molded cabin liner and no wood inside and the outside of the portal is nearly flush with the outside of the deck house, then the boat is an XL. XL simply means a one piece fiberglass liner in the cabin, stem to stern. Cheaper and faster to assemble. Harder to install safety rails and optional 'stuff' that requires wiring. But it can be done, and done without making ugly holes. skip.

[B.Jones]

Hey, Skip.  Don't know if you meant that last post for this thread.  If you were asking me, mine is a 1987 19/II.
Bruce

[Potcake boy]

B. Jones,
Re: my 2001 CP 19 - as pointed out in a previous reply there is very little space under the quater berths and mine are mostly filled with poured foam. I installed a round hatch in place of the original square wood cover to provide better access for mounting a transducer but decided there wasn't much more use for the areas. Also has poured foam under most of the V-berth forward of the existing storage ares.

Reasonable alternative: carry less stuff - works in well with the KISS principle and that makes me happy. Here are a few of the options that I found to addres the storage issue.

V- berth:
I have no need of a four person sleeping capacity so I carpeted the V- berth area and use it for storage of large items that don't need to be secured like spinnaker and fold up cockpit seats. I also used plastic tie wraps to secure a teak wood cassette tape storage rack to the battens on either side of the V-berth area and they are perfect for small items that other wise hide when you need them.

The wind scoop and chart tube are handily secured to the battens with shock cords- the kind that are doubled and have a ball on one end like a toggle - makes them easy to remove when needed.

Hatch storage:
As for the most worrisome storage problem of all - the hatch board when not in use - I screwed four rubber bumpers to the inside that matched the demensions of the space normally occupied by the V-berth filler cushion. Provides convenient storage for hatch board and a nice little table to boot. The stoppers keep it in place and don't interfere.

Opinion:
If you find that you are desperatley in need of more storage area, you may actually be in need of a bigger boat. I love the challenges of minimalism and find the 19 to be about as minimal as I would consider for any sort of cruising. I have been able to achieve accomdations for one or two for two to three days of relative comfort with out the need for shore based support. The biggest problem is keeping ice for more than three days. If you go natural you could extend your cruise considerably.

Enjoy your time on the water because it's different than being at home,
Ron

[Craig Weis]

I found no usable space under the quarter births and much usable space for the paddle wheel [speed-miles] and depth sounder [temperature] of my BI-Data 40 unit by Rayathon. Both appendages are in front of the keel in a flat area and on either side of the keel. I would not want to put appendages sticking out of the hull under the quarter births. Thats not in calm waters nor is it symmetrical.

I did cut the foam away under the vee birth, down to the fiberglass, and I did mf'g. a 16' x 16" hatch centered just behind the compression post on the vee birth level. The hatch matches the other factory hatches in the port and starboard bins. I have a whole bunch of stuff in there. Charts, 4-PFD's, a paddle, extra MAG flash light, a bra, and a string of decorative pennants.  The foam is to make beating into the wind a bit more quiet. It's not structural 'cept for the first few feet way up in the bow where I can't reach to store anyting any way.skip