Sometimes It’s the Little Things
Every boat is a compromise, but a boat you're going to live on for perhaps a couple of years at a time, needs to feel like home. Fortunately for us, Kotona inspired those feelings early on. Still, as we prepare her systems for our planned retirement cruise, we've made a few little changes to her interior to better fit our needs.
A previous owner either made, or had made, a lovely wine glass holder that sat right above the galley sink. The included wine glasses, with a nice engraved sailboat motif, were lovely as well. But they slightly too low, for us and sometimes in the way. We're not really big wine consumers anyway, but coffee and tea... hmm, a better use of space might be in order.
Removing the rack was just a couple of wood screws that were into the bottom of the storage space above the galley. Next, a trip to Lowe's to select some cup hooks. Found some nice brass ones with a spring closure, to keep things in place. Checked the spacing and placement, drilled a pilot hole for each hook and screwed them in by hand. Then a test fit and yay! Just right. One mug each for the two of us and an extra for a guest.
In the v-berth, we had already added some cargo hammocks for a bit of extra storage. They are attached using the same screws that hold the bead board overhead panels in place. A previous owner installed those panels, replacing the vinyl that was there originally. Happily, he also installed a layer of insulation between the deck and the panels, making the v-berth a warmer place on a cold night.
The quilt in the photo was hand made by my mother, as a wedding present for us over 30 years ago. It has graced our bed in every house we've lived in; and soon every boat we've lived in.
The one thing about the v-berth that we wanted to change though, goes back to those overhead panels. They're nice, and well made, but they always looked a bit unfinished. Also, we seem to have a hard time remembering exactly where those panels end and the extra headroom of the cabin top begins. So that exposed edge has contributed to the blood, swear, I mean sweat, and tears we've put into our boat. Fortunately, the baby products industry has provided a solution.
That soft rubber bumper that is nowadays used to protect toddlers when they crash into coffee table edges and the like, has found a new function - protect the noggins of absent minded sailors. It's a simple L-shaped moulding made of a moderate density closed cell foam, about 1/2" thick. It can be applied with double sided tape, but in order to be able to more easily access the overhead panels, we just used the existing screws in the panels.
Installation was pretty simple. Mark the first hole in the bumper and make a pilot hole with an ice pick. Remove the screw from the overhead, screw it into the pilot hole part way, place back over hole in the panel and tighten. Hold the bumper to mark the next hole position, ice pick, and so on. Repeat about twenty times.
Now step back and admire the result. Remind yourself that using every screw hole to eliminate any sag in between screws will mean it takes that much longer to take it down when you need access to the overhead panels. Assure yourself that it's your boat and that's good enough. Then for good measure and to test your work, stretch out in the v-berth, count to five and arise as if the bilge alarm has just gone off, remembering to bang your head as you get up. Any blood? No?
Job well done then.