Do Any of You Have a Companionway Like This?

[Sumner]

I couldn't stand seeing all of that area behind the companionway going to waste so built a ...




...unit that takes advantage of the space and still comes out....



...quickly so that we still have fast access to the Perkins under that area and also provides more...



...counter space when needed.

The mod is here down the page a ways.....

Endeavour 37 Interion Mods Index

Now I'll need to make something similar for the Mac.

I also added the mod....



...that gives us a place for a 2 1/2 gallon drinking water dispenser and you will find that on the same index page.,

Sum

[sushirama]

Sailboat Step Tansu Chest.

[wolfenzee]

When my boat was designed the galley had a "ShipMate" coal cook stove on one side with the rest of the galley on the other. Companionway steps are vertical 5' and there is an 18" nav deck so there was a big chunk of wast space behind the steps.
When I rebuilt the galley I put a 28"x20"x3" cutting block behind the steps (with hinges to make engine access easy) counter top on either side of cutting block came to around 16sq ft. Steps are easily removable with stepping places to be able to get in and out of the boat with out having to replace steps (bar across the forward end of hatch opening for swinging down also helps).
There is a tremendous amount of waste space on boats, especially "production boats"......use your imagination, you can increase cabin space as well as storage.

[propellanttech]

Very good idea (+1)

I just wonder what problems accessing the engine will cause. It's evident I'm not familiar with the engine access on that model boat.

James L

[sarafina]

Originally Posted by propellanttech

Very good idea (+1)

I just wonder what problems accessing the engine will cause. It's evident I'm not familiar with the engine access on that model boat.

James L

It's a removable unit.

I would so love to have something like that, but my carpentry skills do not reach into the cabinet making skill set.

Great idea!

[DeepFrz]

Beautiful, but I don't see any way to lock the drawers shut.

[wolfenzee]

When I show off all the cabinetry I have done on my boat in the case of the galley a tongue and grove cumaru counter, birch and apitung cutting block, easily removable companionway steps made of teak w/iron bark sides on a really big fixed teak bottom step......people say "You are lucky you have the skills"....I point out to them I didn't have the skills until I taught them to myself (my first wood working project was a teak and cherry table with a jade inlay to cover a water tank (sapili and maranti were used for the facing). Our present culture tries to make people they have to have stuff done for them and/lor buy what marketing says we "need".

[micah719]

Cool! Nice work too. If you're replacing your ladder treads anytime, consider giving them a curve, nicer to climb/descend when the boat heels; not my idea, plagiarised it from an intelligent cruiser, but if you've already sent the royalty cheque, my thanks in advance.

[barnakiel]

Good job!

b.

[Sam Plan B]

How do you get at the panel board?

[Sumner]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Beautiful, but I don't see any way to lock the drawers shut.

The knobs on the side just push in and out.

Originally Posted by Sam Plan B

How do you get at the panel board?

The side where you sit at the nav. station is cut out, but when we go back to the boat all of those circuits are going to move to a new panel at the Nav. Station. I'll leave the old one but it will be non-functional.

There are a lot more pictures and info at the build link on our site...

Endeavour 37 Interion Mods Index

The unit removes in less than a minute if in a hurry to get to the engine,

Sum

[DeepFrz]

Ah, nice, I like those knobs.

[GaryMayo]

Very nice use of space. Seems you are on a stairs mod kick.

My fear would be, somewhere you have to walk without thinking about it, in possibly dark rolling conditions, can have obstacles built in to break your legs while deep at see and have no rescue aid readily available.

Sure the drawers have latches, and if used, would hold them closed. However, anything that can go wrong, will at a time you least expect it. Someone using a drawer, while someone else holding a food tray walks down the steps in a hurry to use the head.

I think all isles and walkways usually open for foot traffic, should remain unencumbered. As an amputee, I think about the ramifications of hazards that can cause falls.

Your woodworking skills are quite good. You could move to most any large marina and stay busy referbing the woodwork on boats, and make a good living.

I like how wide the steps are, wish my steps were that wide. My steps are about as wide as my shoes, if both feet were on the same tread

[S/V Alchemy]

I like that very much and may steal it, if you don't mind.

In return, I will give you an idea I have yet to implement, but I believe it's cheap to create.

You can set up a motion detection switch circuit to single red LEDs, all powered by a single 9V battery. When your foot crosses the threshold of the companionway hatch, so to speak, the steps are illuminated by LED from the side (a 1/2 inch hole would suffice.

After ten seconds, it auto-shuts off. I estimate I can hack this out for about ten bucks and can waterproof it for two bucks of silicone.

Nice on the night watch, and it won't ruin your night vision.

[propellanttech]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

I like that very much and may steal it, if you don't mind.

In return, I will give you an idea I have yet to implement, but I believe it's cheap to create.

You can set up a motion detection switch circuit to single red LEDs, all powered by a single 9V battery. When your foot crosses the threshold of the companionway hatch, so to speak, the steps are illuminated by LED from the side (a 1/2 inch hole would suffice.

After ten seconds, it auto-shuts off. I estimate I can hack this out for about ten bucks and can waterproof it for two bucks of silicone.

Nice on the night watch, and it won't ruin your night vision.

Another nice idea....

James L