Bookshelves ... ?

[Tranona]

Nice gaff yawl, is there a story behind her?
Or do you just dream of getting a proper boat one day?

The design is by Maurice Griffiths, called Symphony dating from 1934, but never built. Was my intention to build one (or similar), as I am a long term MG boat owner, but got seduced nearly 20 years ago by sailing out in Greece, so wasted the money I had saved up for the build (or at least the start) on buying a new Bavaria out there.

No regrets over the decision, and as you can see now have another new Bavaria (Symphony 11), but keep the picture to remind me of what might have been. Of course, even allowing for the practicalities of building such a boat, the cost would be far greater than even my new boat. Despite that, if I were 10 years younger (and with the funds I have now) I might still have given it a go.

 

[Fantasie 19]

...I was given a Kindle on which I now have some 190 books and pdf copies of manuals for most of the equipment on board. Charging is via a double USB socket that is fed from the batteries; the other slot I use for charging the iPhone.

Not the same as holding a proper book in my hands but infinitely more convenient. Weighs less and occupies no more space than a thin paperback.

That would be my suggestion as well.. books always seem to get damp when I keep them on the boat... even in a dry cabin...

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I volunteer as a room steward at a National Trust property. Sometimes I am on duty in the library, and they have a system of wires with springs on the end to secure the books on the shelves, books being something the light-fingered might be tempted to regard as "souvenirs". Obviously the library does not pitch and toss like a sailing boat, but the wires certainly stop books being removed without some effort. I am sure that a stainless wire with stainless springs at each end hooked onto suitable hooks or eyes would work very well, and be quite neat. I nearly suggested brass or copper wire, but suspect that in a marine atmosphere you'd end up with green-stained books!

 

[cindersailor]

I made a bookshelf out of half an old drawer! I was thinking about the best design to keep the books in place and decided that it needed to be more of a trough than a shelf. Started planning the construction, thinking about joints etc. when I remembered that nice hardwood drawer I had found too difficult to pass by in a skip one day and had been cluttering up the workshop for years. Cut to the desired width and job done, nice concealed dovetail joints and all. The base has a row of holes that allow an L-shaped 'bookend' to be secured by a nice brass knob that screws on from underneath.

 

[prv]

I am sure that a stainless wire with stainless springs at each end hooked onto suitable hooks or eyes would work very well

I think it would end up similar to bungee, albeit a bit nicer-looking. The springs need to be stiff enough to support the full weight of all the books without significantly extending, and yet allow lots of stretch when you want to get a book out. At minimum, that means a "draw weight" equivalent to one-hand-lifting your entire library, and having packed mine into a plastic crate for winter storage I know that's more than a casual tug. And that's assuming some sort of very clever non-linear yield characteristics (pull just over the limit and it immediately stretches all the way) which you won't get with a simple spring.

Stainless wire with some kind of over-centre latch, maybe. But I think I prefer the traditional batten or Parsifal's lifting brass bar.

Pete

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I think it would end up similar to bungee, albeit a bit nicer-looking. The springs need to be stiff enough to support the full weight of all the books without significantly extending, and yet allow lots of stretch when you want to get a book out. At minimum, that means a "draw weight" equivalent to one-hand-lifting your entire library, and having packed mine into a plastic crate for winter storage I know that's more than a casual tug. And that's assuming some sort of very clever non-linear yield characteristics (pull just over the limit and it immediately stretches all the way) which you won't get with a simple spring.

Stainless wire with some kind of over-centre latch, maybe. But I think I prefer the traditional batten or Parsifal's lifting brass bar.

Pete

The way it works is that you unhook the wire to get the books out; you only need enough "give" to allow the wire to be unhooked.

 

[nigelmercier]

Made mine out of marine ply and hardwood strips...

Is that a dartboard?

 

[duncan99210]

Is that a dartboard?

No, it's a Dutch style flower painting done by my mother some years ago, although I do see what you mean.....