Traditional European/Hardware Hidden Cabinetry or Open Face Cabinetry?

[Chotu]

I’m trying to determine if people are really going to hate open face cabinetry or not. I had it on a previous boat and it worked great. You just have to make sure things were organized in it. Aesthetically.

To me, it’s a logical decision because it saves weight and time and effort.

However, I don’t want to build a boat that has zero resale value. So, I’m checking to see what people think about this one.

Would you still buy a boat that had open face cabinetry? Or would that be such a turn off that you would look for a different boat?

*Note: When deciding, please keep in mind that the front face of the open cabinetry would look just like the modern, closed cabinetry in these pictures. I would put Formica on the front that looks just like the Formica on the cabinetry in the modern Catamaran galley pic. Please try to disregard the age and different styling from different time periods that we see in these pictures. Try to imagine the modern cabinetry, but with the rounded rectangular holes instead of cabinet faces on it. Thanks!

[Orion Jim]

Open faced cabinetry has its place in a performance-comes-first design, it looks strictly utilitarian. Closed faced cabinetry looks finished. The fine detailing is an indication of the care which went into the overall design and build.

[PirateFoxy]

While I appreciate the ease of access of open, I’d be concerned about dirt and dust - not just on the dishes (which presumably get used and washed regularly) but in the nooks and crannies of the cabinets, necessitating removing everything to thoroughly clean likely far more often than I’d want to do it.

That said, if you have a strong preference for open, could you just have the open face done as a door (that you would never open) and have additional matching solid doors also made and just store them somewhere for changing things around in the future as and when desired? Or at least stash matching Formica/door material suitable to cover the necessary doors when made? Alternatively potentially an open design ‘door’ could be come up with such that when closed doors are desired you just need to fill in the open section and you have a sort of panel-look door? The fill could be done with a contrasting or coordinating color at a later date so you wouldn’t need to worry about matching if you didn’t want to store anything now.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Open faced cabinetry has its place in a performance-comes-first design, it looks strictly utilitarian. Closed faced cabinetry looks finished. The fine detailing is an indication of the care which went into the overall design and build.

This is a performance comes first boat. However, I do want the aesthetics to be pleasing to everyone. Even though I lean toward open faced. I was hoping by using the same material as you see in the modern picture, I could create a modern type of open face cabinetry that looks just as good.

However, I will try to shut up now and not pollute the results with a lot of my own opinion.

[Singularity]

When you start worrying about resale then you've having to predict the relative % of 'which type of what buyers' will be sniffing around your boat some point in the future. In the mean time do you have the boat that you yourself want?

I vote open face and lightweight/thin sliding doors just inside the face of the carcass (if/where sliding doors will fit). Such would keep contents secure, out of sight, dust free.

"In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away, when a body has been stripped down to its nakedness." De Saint-Exupéry

[sailing_gal]

I prefer closed cabinetry, especially because of the issue of keeping the things clean inside. However, I do like the clean look. Why not use the same wooden shapes, but put a hinge on the bottom and attach a piece of plexiglass on it to close the cabinet with a latch. Same look, but a solid cabinet structure.

[mvmojo]

If your goal is to keep weight down, a conventional door but use a tight woven mesh screen in lieu of a door panel. Design the door and have it routed out such that if a new owner wanted full panel doors they could simply cut new panels to fit in the existing door frame.

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Chotu

This is a performance comes first boat. However, I do want the aesthetics to be pleasing to everyone. Even though I lean toward open faced. I was hoping by using the same material as you see in the modern picture, I could create a modern type of open face cabinetry that looks just as good.

However, I will try to shut up now and not pollute the results with a lot of my own opinion.

Anyone interested in buying your boat will be focused on a performance cat, not some condomaran. As cats don't heel (much) the open face would be functional. For weight savings, some companies that build cruising cats, use Airex foam panels covered in wood laminate (formica in your case) to match the boat interior. Just do what the other performance builders do and reduce weight anywhere you can.

[guyrj33]

Even on a cat I think you need a way to keep the contents contained when the boat pitches. It won't happen very often, but when it does you don't want the event to be marked by your stores distributed across the cabin sole.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by guyrj33

Even on a cat I think you need a way to keep the contents contained when the boat pitches. It won't happen very often, but when it does you don't want the event to be marked by your stores distributed across the cabin sole.

That doesn’t happen.

I’ve already had a galley like this. In fact, the one in the picture.

Nothing falls out at all. I know I have had that boat out in a gale.

The thing is, the opening provides a lip all the way around it. Nothing can actually fall out. Maybe if you capsize. But then I don’t really care. LOL

[Chotu]

Wow. So far 80% of people are preferring the heavier, closed cabinetry. Which is heavier not only because it uses almost twice the material, but also heavier because the metallic hardware weighs a significant amount.

I’m kind of surprised. But then I guess most people don’t buy performance boats anyway. So maybe that has been reflected here.

Throughout the whole process of buying a boat, I don’t think people put as much emphasis on light weight and performance as I am putting.

Thanks for the comments so far, and for the voting.

[requiem]

My sense is that open face will make it troublesome for me to get items in and out. I recall trying to extract a tea kettle from one that had nothing more than a low railing, and wondering how it had gotten into the thing to start with.

Conversely, I wouldn't be surprised if a sharp heeling would still be capable of scattering smaller or top-heavy items to the sole. Although, this goes more to what items are stowed, and how.

[JPA Cate]

Chotu,

Doors don't keep out dust. Therefore, for you, I think open is the better way to go, mostly because your allergies mean that you'll want to be wiping out the cupboards often anyway, and they always get grotty at the knobs. You, or your good lady, will need smooth inside surfaces, too for easier cleaning.

Drawers, where possible, do a good job of keeping things clean, and (of course) still require cleaning from time to time. More drawers and less doors, I'd say.

Good luck with it.

Ann

[jimbunyard]

Both. Typically lowers closed, uppers open, but with considerations for size of envisioned contents, frequency of use and accessability. I too like drawers, but durability is difficult to achieve without a weight penalty (at least relative to what you seem to be trying to accomplish).

[Wotname]

Open face for me plus drawers. Looks 'proper' and works well!