Interior refit 1970's kit sailboat questions

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by Spot

I only have 3 levels and sometimes they all agree with each other.

Haha!

There was one picture a few pages back that looked as if you had five going at once.

Boy, are you going to know that boat inside and out once you're done!

Keep those pics and updates comin' please,
LittleWing77

[Spot]

We had a cold and wet spell for almost a week, some days too cold to caulk and paint. I made some patterns for foam in the v-berth and finished the handholds and rounding over what I could (all edges of round hatches and top lip of their respective holes in the v-berth.

Once it warmed and dried up, I installed the two smaller side pieces. Tonight I installed the two larger pieces. All were done with adhesive and stainless steel screws. tomorrow I hope to cut out the middle section of the board that runs across the front of the v-berth and finish cut the plywood to make the removable hatch/cushion base for over the head (porta-potti). I took off/out the sanitation hose and vent hose and like it better already.

[wingless]

Wow, looks great and solid.

[LittleWing77]

Totally cool, Spot.

I love the idea of round access pieces. It'll be interesting to see how they work in actuality.

Keep those pictures coming. (You've done amazing work!)
Warmly,
LittleWing77

[Spot]

Thanks for the comments Littlewing77 and Wingless!

I bought a Thetford Campa-Potti MT today from Walmart along with groceries, motor oil, and a new light for a motorcycle. I am hoping the Thetford comes with a mounting bracket. I almost came home with some foam samples too but did not know the density and ILD of the Walmart foam to compare it to others.

[WilliamKidd]

This thread is going to be very helpful for me I have a similar project on it's way to being on the list . Mine has bulkheads under the double berth. Lookingggg gooddddd![emoji1022][emoji569]

[Spot]

Thanks WK. I am glad it's of use, I am just another person trying to sort out boat issues getting good ideas from others on the 'interwebs'. Yours looks like another fun little boat. It is interesting how the designers took a similar size boat and appointed them differently, the Enseneda having more built-ins in the cabin. Mine also has the roller furling boom and a main sail that is a touch big but I do not have a backstay to contend with.

The main takeaway for me is pattern making, using the sliding t-bevel and the cardboard pieces to make accurately shaped pieces that fit when glued and glassed into/onto the boat. It really is more accurate that measuring. The v-berths were more complex than the side berths but the accurate patterning made the layout, cutting, beveling, and install easier and faster than the side berths which I 'lofted' (measured and drew) without fully understanding the way they needed to be fit.

I will have one 'bulkhead' to do, which will be for form a sterm compartment for the outboard fuel tank to keep fumes out of the cabin. About half of it is already framed by the structure of the boat, I just need to make it closed to the cabin. The trick will be working in a tight space under the cockpit with no immediate access to the area except by sliding down the side berths or reaching way in through the rear hatch.

The mounting brackets were not included with the Campa Potti MT. Since they cost 1/3 of the price of the toilet as an accessory, I am plunged into a DIY dilemma. Make them? Stainless steel? Carbon fiber? Tune in to see if our hero can figure out how to push the 'add to cart' button or if he dives downs a darker path to head-y holdf-fast-edness...

[Spot]

Spent some time looking at polyurethane upholstery foam early this morning, followed by some boat work after supper. I am thinking 3" for the side berths and 4" for the v-berth, 2.8 # density and 60# compression.

For the boat work, I used 2 routers, oscillating multi-tool, 2 sanders, and a piece of sandpaper to flush and round over all the edges of the plywood facing the cabin on the v-berth. After that I added 2 drills and a pull saw to cut the beam that was crossing the wide end of the v-berth, sand it flush, and install 2 cleats for the 'throne hatch' plywood to rest on when the head is not in use. Glue and paint were also consumed.

Previously there was a hatch but a crossbeam in front of the head. I am trying to build and support the hatch so the beam will not be needed.

[WilliamKidd]

Gotta love the oscillating multi tool! I'm a home remodeler and I can't think of another tool in the last 10 years that I was so grateful for

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by Spot

Spent some time looking at polyurethane upholstery foam early this morning...

Not "polyurethane upholstry foam"!

How fetching!

You do get up to some mischief, Spot. Does your wife know you've been cavorting in the wee hours with polyurethane upholstry foam?!

If not, I think you should tell her...

Bwah-ha-HA!
LittleWing77

[wingless]

Originally Posted by Spot

Previously there was a hatch but a crossbeam in front of the head. I am trying to build and support the hatch so the beam will not be needed.

Why not integrate that support into the hatch?

Attach the cross beam to the hatch and have the beam ends sit on the sides of the opening.

[Spot]

@WK, yes, a great tool especially with a good blade.
@LW77, LOL, no wife or cavorting at the present time. No foam either...
@WL, previous had beam so high that one had to sit with one's legs on top of it while taking care of business so to speak. I could probably add a fixed piece somewhere between cabin sole and seat height if needed. There is a double beam forward of the head so I am not so worried, pulling on a corner moves the whole boat.

Glorious fall day here, too bad I am needed at the office.

[wingless]

Originally Posted by Spot

Previously there was a hatch but a crossbeam in front of the head. I am trying to build and support the hatch so the beam will not be needed.

Originally Posted by wingless

Why not integrate that support into the hatch?

Attach the cross beam to the hatch and have the beam ends sit on the sides of the opening.

Originally Posted by Spot

@WL, previous had beam so high that one had to sit with one's legs on top of it while taking care of business so to speak. I could probably add a fixed piece somewhere between cabin sole and seat height if needed. There is a double beam forward of the head so I am not so worried, pulling on a corner moves the whole boat.

Force applied to the center of the plywood cover will cause deflection.

Adding a board (red in image) supported at the ends (blue in image) will strengthen that plywood and move out of the way when lifting the cover. (Add one of those great hand holes)

[Spot]

Wingless, thanks for the marked-up picture. I see what you are saying now.

[wingless]

YW

If going this route a 1x3 screwed onto the plywood edge won't have huge strength to resist arcing forces to pull it away from the plywood.

It would be much stronger to resist those arcing forces if a hidden 1x1 is screwed to the plywood and to the red 1x3 board.