Time To Rebuild That Middle Room ?

[FadeToScarlet]

If it were my boat, I'd make it into a library with LOTS of storage space for books, and possibly a comfortable armchair.

 

But then, I have got enough books to fill a butty!

[Catrin]

I personally would love to have vast numbers of books - but to be honest when we are out cruising I don't find very much time to read, we just seem to be too busy. We have discussed putting in a small bookshelf somewhere, but the plans aren't finalised. When I first moved in with OH (28 years ago now) I carted thousands of books into his tiny two-up-two-down house - each subsequent move has required more and more bookshelves in more and more rooms. We are now ready for a move to a mansion - or a medium sized public library.

No, the truth is, on the boat I need some identification guides for birds, trees and flowers. We need room for some Nicholsons. I need the book I am currently reading and a couple of spares. It might be different if we were cruising for longer periods, but the library can stay at home until we can head off for more than three weeks at a time.

Cheers

Cath

[alan_fincher]

If it were my boat, I'd make it into a library with LOTS of storage space for books, and possibly a comfortable armchair.

 

But then, I have got enough books to fill a butty!

 

Looking at the magnitude of the planned task, (there's not one vaguely straight edge anywhere!), at the moment dumping a comfy chair or two in there, and a bit of Ikea furniture is sounding favourite!

 

Alan

[Ray]

Had grand ideas about our kitchen but, eventually decided that IKEA at least lloked better than I thought I could manage fro making it myself.

 

Good luck.

[dccruiser]

Alan , your final plan looks good , the only addition i would suggest is rather than loose stools, install a 2nd foldout bench under the side doors under the gunnel which you could then utilise to create a cross double .... just a thought!

Rick

[alan_fincher]

Alan , your final plan looks good , the only addition i would suggest is rather than loose stools, install a 2nd foldout bench under the side doors under the gunnel which you could then utilise to create a cross double .... just a thought!

Rick

Rick,

 

Thanks.

 

I do keep toying with the idea of some kind of cross bed possibility, and we might yet adopt something like that. Unfortunately there is marginally less than 6 feet between the two hull linings, so a make up bed would also be not quite 6 feet. As I'm over 6 foot, and have a son a couple of inches taller than that, I tend to dismiss cross beds, but I realise not everybody is as tall.

 

Anyway after a period of ripping stuff out, I finally got to put the first few tentative bits back today. The start of a framework for the combined wardrobe and storage cupboard is now in place, and starts to give a feel of how much living space we'll then have left......

 

View looking rearward. A large cupboard opening to the corridor will be on the left, and a hanging wardrobe with a small cupboard above on the right. (Behind is the "wall" to the bathroom).

 

 

Slightly different view. Built in bench seating will be in front of the wardrobe, under our only porthole.

 

 

Looking forward, half the former wall at the end of the area has been removed, but leaving in place the part that is necessary to support the oven and fridge. The new seating will but up against this unit.

 

[Marge the Barge]

What programme have you used to do these plans?

Sue

 

 

Ikea have a good programmes free to download on their site you can view your design in 3D as well as 2D.

SWMBO

[sueb]

Ikea have a good programmes free to download on their site you can view your design in 3D as well as 2D.

SWMBO

Thanks had a good play.

Sue

[alan_fincher]

Slow progress is being made with the refit of the middle of the boat.

 

The structure of the new storage cupboards and hanging wardrobes is in place, and a start made on shelving and doors.

 

Here we go.....

 

 

 

What we had before was a bunk room. The cupboards that have gone were much shallower, and much of the new cupboard space was originally the foot end of two (short) bunk beds. (This picture is so old it was taken even before we commited to buying the boat!).

 

[alan_fincher]

Getting there, (slowly!).

 

In front of the new wardrobe cupboard, and just behind the kitchen, will be a 4 foot wide sofa seat.

 

It has very simple, (but over-engineered) framing....

 

 

It has a top made from the old bed base, which it replaces, (hence the rather random ventilation hole pattern that the original boat-fitters seemed to think was acceptable - no-one will see it anyway!).

 

This will be topped by a 5" thick upholstered foam mattress, with a similarly constructed seat back.

 

 

Next on the agenda is the large full height cupboard, which will face out onto the corridor. The shell is already fully in place as part of what is pictured, but it needs a proper cupboard front and doors. I'm still agonising over the best approach to this, as the faced ply I had hoped to use comes in any shape you want, except flat. We'll solve it somehow.

[alan_fincher]

The refit of the middle of the boat is just about completed now.

 

The "carpenter" has done his worst.

 

So that the "upholsterer" could have something to set her cushions upon.

 

All in all it has worked out well, and we a pretty pleased with it.

 

Putting some Google Sketchup drawings together certainly helped, and as a result there have been no nasty surprises about sizes and clearances.

 

 

 

The existing table has been modified, and can now be used either in it's old position further forward, or back here with this seating.

[charles123]

The refit of the middle of the boat is just about completed now.

 

The "carpenter" has done his worst.

 

So that the "upholsterer" could have something to set her cushions upon.

 

All in all it has worked out well, and we a pretty pleased with it.

 

Putting some Google Sketchup drawings together certainly helped, and as a result there have been no nasty surprises about sizes and clearances.

 

 

 

The existing table has been modified, and can now be used either in it's old position further forward, or back here with this seating.

 

 

Really good job Alan blends in well in terms of finishes, storage under the bench usefull, looks like you have created a very nice quiet area, side doors open on a summers day, good book, glass of wine etc

 

Charles