Converting from 'Charter Specs' to 'Owners Specs' - Practical ?

[simonmd]

Just to clarify, i'm talking about the cabin arangements commonly found on mid sized sailing yaghts. Generaly, a boat in 'owners spec', will have one large double berth at the rear, while a 'charter spec' boat will have two small doubles side by side.

Now, i've seen a boat I quite like apart from the fact that it has the charter spec rear layout. As i'll be either single handed or with 2-3 persons max at any one time, there is no need to cram the cabins in so was wondering if anyone has experience / tips on literally knocking the two rear cabins into one?

[Vasco]

The problem with most charter boats that have the two rear cabin configuration is that most of them have the galley running down a side of the saloon, not a good spot for sailing or living aboard. Also the two rear cabin layout cuts down on your cockpit lockers. generally it would be better if you found a charter boat with the "owners" layout, one aft cabin and a nice galley tucked in a corner. There are a few around.

[MarkJ]

This is the ceiling of my aft cabin.
That grove is where the wall between the 2 cabins could be.

they are production boats so I think all the fibreglass will be the same.

There is a new Beneteau(?) on the market where the charter version has 2 forward cabins, hoever that partition is designed to come out to have a master 'stateroom' forward.

So check the design Carefully!

One thing about these sort of boats is if you can hone your shopping list to one model that you lik then you can have a fair chance of it becoming available soonish.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Vasco

. Also the two rear cabin layout cuts down on your cockpit lockers.

I agree with Vasco. However, there is also the possability of a silver lining to that cloud! If you changed the aft 2 cabins on my boat to one big one, and made the half unsude on storage via lazarette as in the 2 cabin 393 then it could be a walk in using the now defunct cabin door.

It might not be for everyone, but the 473 has a walk in lazarette from the aft of the huge U galley. damn sensational.

[simonmd]

Thanks for the fast replies, keep 'em coming!

I know what you mean about the galley layout but fortunately this one does have the galley at the rear anyway, opposite the chart table, and so has a full width saloon anyway.

I've attached a pic to show how she is now and the proposed layout,

[MarkJ]

It doesnt look too difficult. Have a look at the base of the partition. Is it on top of the tankage riser? Then you might be able to cut it out and push the 2 matresses together and on one would know

[cfarrar]

I would go with Mark's idea - use one of the cabins as a large, walk-in lazarette! How big a bunk do you need, anyway?

CF

[GeoPowers]

I can't speak for every boat out there, but in the case of the 393 I think it would be impractical. I have the 3 cabin version, and for my liveaboard family it is perfect. We have no issues with the cabin layout or the galley location, but the volume of the 2 cabin is the same as the 3 cabin, so the extra cabin has to come at a price. The dual cabins aft come at the cost of a big locker space (less storage). Making the two cabins into one would give you less cabins and you'd still have less storage in the lockers.

I'd look at being patient and finding an "owner's version". I would think in most cases designers did more than just add a partition between the two cabins.

On a different tack, if your heart is set on the boat and it is a great deal consider the fact that the 2nd aft cabin can also be used as storage- spinnakers, spare main, linens, life jackets, luggage, dry goods, etc..

Frank

[sail2wind]

Center cockpit boats have large aft cabins. We really like the center line queen. The forward cabin has so much better air flow. We like the 46 Beneteau aft cockpit with the center line queen forward. The admiral hates climbing in and out of bed. Making the 2 aft cabins into one make no sense unless you have gen and A/C
BTW how do you insert a picture? I went to insert image and asks for a URL, but the picture in on my desktop.

[simonmd]

Click the paperclip symbol on the reply form and it will then give you options to either upload from PC or link from another site.

I'm starting to think that maybe waiting until I can find a proper 'owners spec' boat is going to be better. The reason that I was considering this one was the fact that the asking price was so low that I could afford to purchase her before the sale of my motoryacht.

[sail2wind]

[simonmd]

Great looking cabin there, motoryacht standard even!

Yes, I've looked at a few advertised 'CC' boats and they do indeed seem to offer the best in that respect.

[James S]

Originally Posted by sail2wind

Attachment 20872

Yeah...I gotta say...that's a comfortable looking setup.

[denverd0n]

While it is likely that the center wall in most boats with two aft cabins is not structurally important, I would want to be certain before I tore it out. Is it possible to contact the designer or manufacturer of the boat to verify that?

That's what I would try to do.

[hellosailor]

Simon, it is "just" furniture, but you might want to call the maker (Beneteau-US is good at answering the phone!) and ask them just how solidly any bulkheads or furniture are installed in that version. Sometimes, you can wind up "the leg bone is connected to the knee bone...the thighbone...the..." and find out you've got to move a lot more than you were expecting. Other times, the job may be very simple. The builder is most likely to know.