The album of Ariel #422

[CapnK]

Updated my "drawing" with more a accurate representation of what the measurements and real-world testing are revealing.

22" above berth height is 36" above sole height, and that seems to be perfect for the top of the counter. Right at my belt, I'm 5'9". It allows for 10" high cabinets at the back of the counter against the hull, where the shelf is now.

Mike - I found that I had some plastic bins in my storage unit that are almost perfect - 24.5" long x 11" tall x 14" wide, lengthwise they nearly span the width of the berth area, 2 high will fit under the counter, and 3 can fit in the space between the hanging locker and the forward edge of the aft bulkhead countertop. I lugged them to the boat last night, and they are working for me right now. The one drawback I can see to using them all the time is lack of air circulation for the bin contents. A drill and some strategic holes would fix that. It would save weight and time, not having to build in drawers and the structure necessary to make them useable. It won't look as nice, but there is room to use my slatted wood shelving idea on the cabinet front to "hide" them while providing lots of air flow. The advantages are real; I am not ruling them out as a solution. It might be easy to affix some cleats for them to sit/slide on, and they'd be drawers, in effect.

[Bill]

Have you looked at the Brave Heart modifications beginning at post #4? http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussi...read.php?t=531 Might provide a feel for "real world" space utilization.

[CapnK]

Bill -

I hadn't looked at that thread in quite some time, and you are right, I think it shows to a great extent similarities to what I've been thinking - even the sink is in the right spot. Good call, and thanks!

No doubt my earlier viewings affected to some degree what I've been thinking to date. Wish I could go aboard her and crawl around. I'm going to have to put some thought into a convertible settee...

I promise to be very wary of lee shores!

[CapnK]

If I push the berth foot back 3' into the cockpit locker, that leaves 1' of berth extending beyond the edge of the current, original countertop. Then, notch the counter there a bit for a bit more leaning-back space. That would leave 3' of ex-berth area to put to use as a tabletop and a functional (if not super comfortable) seat on the other side of the table.

Alternative #1: Have no seat at the forward end, and a wider table coming off of the current, OEM drawer storage (this sounds better).

Alternative #2: Have a seat only at the forward side of the table, the table becoming an extension of the current countertop when it is raised/in place.

Alternative #2A: Get some of the hull shelf out of the way, and there could actually be a mini-L shaped seat around the table (table would need be small, and not extend to the hull, person sitting there would have their back to the hull).

Have to think on all these, and go measure the size and arrangement of the dinette on a Cal 25 at the other end of my dock. I want the table to be able to drop down and restore the berth normal function, in order to be able to use it as a berth in hot weather (for max air circulation over my sleeping body).

[CapnK]

Forgot to add this:

I made a quick 4' long, 24" high ply countertop and fastened it to the hanging locker. Scavenged a few more of those large bins from my storage unit, and now I have a functional model of the starboard side area I've been thinking of. It isn't pretty, but it is working to demonstrate the feasability of these ideas. It also freed up a couple of smaller (but still pretty large) bins to use up in the v-berth (instead of the duffels I'd been using), so there I also have a functioning-if-not-pretty simulation of what I think it will be eventually. These two "improvements" have made a big difference already. I think I am on the right track for what I want to do, even if it is far from the original use for which the boat was intended.

One thing I've thought to do is to go ahead and start a list of everything (gear-wise) that I'd need aboard to go and do a long distance cruise away from the US. Once I have a good list, it should give me an idea of how my current stowage and plan will work when I add in all that "stuff". I feel as if I could leave right now for two weeks or more with what I have aboard, but I know there are a lot of things that I'd need for a long distance cruise that I am not thinking of right now, and/or don't have aboard. Stuff like spare rigging, gifts for people I meet along the way, stores that I will want but won't be able to find way out there, etc... I know that I have a few years yet before I can leave (and lots to do during them), but planning sure is fun.