NUTS & BOATS
The twice monthly newsletter for to-be and already-are cruisers Volume 2, Issue #2 - January 15, 2004
Publisher: Trish Lambert
www.takehersailing.com
(C) P. Lambert 2004
Welcome to our new subscribers who have signed up through www.takehersailing.com! IN THIS ISSUE
THIS ISSUE'S COOL CRUISING QUOTE Meglio ridere su un conotto che piangere su una yacht.
(Better to laugh in a canoe than cry in a yacht.) On a T-shirt bought in San Gimignano, Italy
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TRISH TAKES TIME OFF Well, sort of. We have two guest contributors for this issue of Nuts & Boats. Paul Esterle (Capt'n Pauley) is a "man for all boats" when it comes to do-it-yourself stuff. He writes for several boating magazines, and also has graciously provided articles for Take Her Sailing. He also publishes ebooklets focused on doing boat projects. His basic maintenance series is for sale on the site, and we have a special going on the set of 5 booklets. See the "ad" after Paul's article here for details. Contributor #2 is my husband Skip, a regular provider of fun reading to Nuts & Boats and to the site. If you haven't already checked it out, take a moment to read Skip's Tips.
A CRUISER'S EYE VIEW
Searching for Spaces in All the Right Places by Paul Esterle Know anyone who has enough storage space aboard? Neither do I. During the refit of our Columbia 10.7, my wife, Pat, and I were constantly on the lookout for places we could convert into additional storage space. We were able to find a surprising number of such places, significantly expanding our storage space. We'll go through the boat from stem to stern and identify some of those areas; maybe you'll be able to do the same to your boat. V-BERTH
We are lucky enough to have a full set of drawings and manuals for our boat. One of the things we noticed on those drawings was that an inner forestay was a factory option. This required an additional bulkhead aft of the forward V-berth bulkhead. The partial bulkhead was only about 11" deep and was about 10" aft of the forward bulkhead. We installed this, even though we weren't ready to add the inner forestay yet. This formed a storage locker 11" high by 10" deep and the width of the boat, accessed by two screw-in access plates. The holding tank was installed under the V-berth, but there were two storage areas forward of the tank. These were difficult to get to; you had to lift the cushions and a large plywood piece out of the way to get at them. We replaced all the panels under the V-berth cushions with 1/2" MDO plywood covered with laminate. This allowed us to open up two additional storage areas on either side of the holding tank and two areas behind the existing drawers in the lower sides of the V-berth. Access plates were made to allow access to these areas. The drawers themselves are still a matter of discussion. They are a very inefficient use of space and we may well pull them out and install shelves in their place. HEAD
The head, like the V-berth, was completely gutted and redone. The original head featured a large plastic clothes hamper in the vanity top. A small medicine cabinet was fitted with plywood partitions. All this was torn out, including the plastic clothes hamper. Before putting anything back, we bonded furring strips to the hull and installed foam insulation between the strips. This was all covered with quarter inch cedar; the kind sold for use as drawer linings and cedar closets. These were held in place with stainless steel screws and finish washers. We strengthened the chainplate bulkheads and replaced the basic cabinetry. The space where the clothes hamper used to be was the first area redone. A plywood panel, again laminate covered, spanned the area between the hull side and the edge of the shower pan. The new macerator pump was installed under this plate along with all new hoses and piping. The area above the new plate was turned into a storage area. We cut out an access hole through the side of the vanity panel. Since this was right next to the commode, we didn't have room for an actual door to this area. Our solution to this problem was to install four wooden knobs and hang a curtain on a bungee cord loop. To access the storage areas just slide the curtain aside on the bungee cord. We made the opening large enough so a standard plastic crate could be slid in and out. There were also two fixed panels that could be unscrewed to gain access to the hoses and Y-valve. We hinged these to allow easier access and to allow us to store items in zip lock bags in those areas. The area where the old medicine cabinet partitions were was opened up back to the cedar lining on the hull, and a new, wider access door was built. Additional storage solutions were the installation of a teak magazine rack and several different length towel bars. MAIN CABIN
We have an optional 28-gallon water tank under the port settee. Normally, this area is used for storage, but when they installed the tank, it took up most of the room. There was more additional space to the outside of the tank; so additional access panels were added. The starboard settee also needed several more access panels added to make better use of existing storage spaces. The nav station is on the starboard side facing forward. To the right of the foot well is a blank panel. We visited a sister ship and found that by cutting a door in the panel a "25 rum bottle" storage area could be added. The usual complement of binoculars, horns and other storage bins and devices were added wherever room existed. QUARTERBERTH
Aft of the nav station is the single quarterberth. We got a real surprise when we removed the overhead panels in this area. It made available all the unused space inside the cockpit coaming, about 14" high by 18" wide and 26" deep. We added several chart storage tubes as well as a storage locker, all accessible from the main cabin. The chart storage tubes were made from 4 inch square hollow plastic fence post material. Standard chart storage tubes slip right into these square tubes, keeping all our charts neat and organized. They were made removable so we could access the fasteners holding on deck cleats, stanchions and winches. Along the hull side is a shelf. The area from this shelf to the overhead was converted into another electronic panel and additional storage cabinets. At the aft end of the quarterberth, we opened up a door to the lazarette. This area is used for storage of engine spares, oil and other supplies. Just behind the companionway steps and above the engine compartment was an unused area about 12" wide by 10" high and 26" deep. A door in the side of the quarterberth wall opened up this area. We also replaced the panel below the quarterberth cushions. We opened up three more access panels to previously unused spaces below. The seacock for the engine-cooling intake is located in this space. We subdivided the compartment with another bulkhead, providing room for a dedicated engine starting battery, right next to the engine, as well as another storage area unhindered by a seacock GALLEY
The area under the sink was also opened up for access to the area below. A new teak louvered door closes this area off. Outboard of the twin sinks was a storage area below which housed the alcohol tank for the old stove. Since we are converting to propane and already have two propane lockers molded into the cockpit, we removed the alcohol tank and converted the entire area to storage. Behind the stove are another 3 teak drawers. We are in the process of removing these and converting this area to a more open and accessible storage area. A final project, yet to be completed, will be to build an additional storage cupboard above and slightly forward of the sink island. In addition, all the sliding black plastic access doors to all the storage areas are being replaced with new, louvered doors, allowing better access and air flow to the storage areas. This is just a quick tour of Bryn Awel, but you can see we have added a significant amount of new storage space. All we need to do now is figure out how best to use it. Will it be "enough"? No, but we're closer than we were! Although you probably don't own a Columbia 10.7, I hope this article and our projects will inspire you to begin searching for more space aboard your boat! ********************* Postscript Gord May sent the following comments regarding Paul's article:
Paul writes an interesting & informative article on space utilization. There are a couple of things that come to mind, regarding openings to, and storage in, the Engine Compartment. I’d like to offer the
following cautions: Paul writes: “At the aft end of the quarterberth, we opened up a door to the lazarette. This area is used for storage of engine spares, oil and other supplies.” NOTE - If you have a Gasoline Engine: Make certain that you are not compromising the watertight bulkhead required for isolating the fuel tank & engine from the occupied spaces (& electrical isolation). Paul writes: “We subdivided the compartment with another bulkhead, providing room for a dedicated engine starting battery, right next to the engine,” NOTE: Batteries, installed in proximity to Engines (Gas or Diesel), must be installed so that: - Fuel lines & components within 12" above the battery must be shielded (dielectric). - Batteries must not be above nor beneath a fuel tank, filter, nor fuel line.
Thanks, Paul & Trish, for a great article! Paul responded with the following:
The boat is diesel and the bulkhead isn't a water tight bulkhead. That being said, the access door to that area was fitted with rubber seals to keep out any fumes, vapor, etc.
The starting battery is actually under the inboard edge of the quarter berth outside the engine compartment. Actually on the cabin side of the engine compartment wall.
Hope this clears thing up!
CAPT'N PAULEY'S BOATING EBOOKLETS SAVE 20% ON THE BASIC MAINTENANCE SERIES These booklets form the basis of Paul's future series. They cover all the basic skills involved in boat maintenance. Paul describes each topic area in a well-organized, easy to understand manner, and includes photos and illustrations to make things even easier to grasp. The five booklets are: Want more info about these before you buy? BUT COME BACK HERE TO BUY! From now until the next issue of Nuts & Boats goes out, buy the entire series for $30.37, a 20% savings (standard price is $37.97). Clicking here is the only way to take advantage of this offer.
A CRUISER'S EYE VIEW
You Know You're in The South When... By Skip RandallNote from Trish: Skip is a Southern California boy born and bred. Before we came to the East Coast, the furthest east he had ever been for any length of time was three years spent in Houston long ago, when he attend Baylor College of Medicine for his physician assistant degree. In the two and a half years that we've plied Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters, he has lived in Annapolis, Maryland's Eastern Shore, Charleston, and Tarpon Springs, Florida. Even though we have been in the southern part of the country for over a year now, it's only been recently that he has had an up close and personal experience of what I suppose we could call the Deep South. Here are some of my California boat boy's impressions of what for him is sometimes an alien culture. **************** You know you're in the South when you're in the region known as the Florida Panhandle. This long slender strip of real estate extends from Tallahassee to Pensacola and varies from 20 to 50 miles from the southern borders of Georgia and Alabama. Florida seems to have grabbed the beautiful Gulf Coast away from these two states, and I don't know how they managed that coup. The atmosphere is definitely "The South" and this area is sometimes, in some circles, referred to as "the Redneck Riviera". I've described the trip up here by water (see "Nehalennia Crosses the Gulf" in Volume 1,issue #10), but I've also made the trip here by car a half-dozen times from Tarpon Springs. It's on a land cruise that you really get the flavor of the area. Here are some of my observations (for you southerners, please note: this is HUMOR): -- You frequently encounter quaint little roadside stands with hand-lettered cardboard signs hawking Tupelo honey, Georgia peaches, and a peculiar local delicacy called "boiled peanuts." The honey is heavenly, the peaches exquisite, but what would inspire anyone to boil peanuts I fail to understand. They're soggy, mushy and devoid of any of the crunchy peanut quality that I associate with the term "peanut." I did try one (and that was enough). -- At many "filling stations" (gas stations) you can actually pump your gas BEFORE ponying up "good faith money/credit card/etc.," then mosey over to the office to pay ( they actually trust you to not steal the tank of gas, what a refreshing concept!). -- In the filling station office, there's usually a dazzling array of items - lighters, keychains, beer cozys, flashlights, etc. proudly adorned with the confederate flag. -- An inquiry as to where I might find a Starbucks yields a quizical look. When I add, "you know, like a coffee place," a spark of recognition appears at the term "coffee," and I'm directed to the Waffle House down the block. At the ubiquitous Waffle Houses (and their clones like Waffle Stop, Wonderful Waffles, etc.) an order involving eggs comes only with grits; hash brown or cottage fries are not options, and the toast is invariably Wonder Bread quality, white or wheat, and painted with a yellow butter-like substance. -- Spotting a male in a tie and jacket is a rarity here. If you do, it's a good bet that he's an lawyer, or it's Sunday and he's going to or returning from church. -- The term "4 by 4" does not refer to a sturdy stick of lumber, but rather to a massive pickup truck equipped with 4-wheel drive. -- Bar-B-Q (barbecue) places abound, and the most popular item on the menu seems to be another local delicacy called "pulled pork" (now there's a disturbing mental visual, how does one "pull pork"?). Anyway, it seems to be a shredded porcine concoction, smothered in Bar-B-Q sauce and consumed with the aid of...surprise...wonder white bread. -- If you want a cold beer with your pulled pork, with only rare exceptions the choices are "Bud, Bud Latt"(light) and "Miller Ha Laff"(high life). -- I haven't seen a parking meter since Tampa Bay (refreshing concept #2). -- Once I got settled in on the boat and deployed the TV rabbit ears, I discovered that the only station I could get is was out of Dothan, Alabama (about 20 miles to the north). The best feature of the evening news is the really impressive coverage of local and regional weather, including double doppler color images, temperatures for almost all the major cities in southern Georgia and Alabama, and the Panhandle. The lead news stories include stuff like the police blotter rundown, and conflagrations of note. Last night there was coverage of a "lectrical far"(electrical fire) at a local hardware store. The sports segment features a thorough coverage of the local high school sports scene, and the broadcast closes with the always fascinating report of the next day's school cafeteria fare. The commercials feature products such as "Bollguard," a product to destroy the boll weevil, establishments involved in the sale of fill dirt and manure, the John Deere ads, and lots of truck dealerships (which says something about the typical viewers). So here I am, an erstwhile California beach boy, now embedded in the Redneck Riviera. It's easy to poke fun at, but I'll make one final observation: The people are genuinely friendly, generally laid-back, and graciously helpful and patient (refreshing concept #3). The place is growing on me. And as for the physical beauty of the area...I thought I'd never say this: the Chocktawhatchee Bay area rivals San Diego Bay in natural beauty. I'll expound more on that later, when we've done some sailing and gunkholing.
HAVE YOU PUT THE HOOK DOWN IN THE VIRTUAL ANCHORAGE YET? The Virtual Anchorage, Take Her Sailing's online discussion board is a little over a month old and already 114 strong as of today! If you haven't come by yet, I encourage you to do so. Whether you're an old salt or someone for whom the idea of cruising on a boat is a novelty, you will find some fun and useful conversations going on. And the photo album is filling up with folks and their boats. So come on by! There's plenty of room in this cover for everybody!
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