William_H
Well-Known Member
Small sailing boats
I have had my little 21fter for 30 years and love it. I have become convinced however that in a small boat the best layout is virtually no furniture. You need bunk/ seats down each side from bow to stern and these can make very effective floatation tanks and or storage places.
All the other needs can be met by portable gear. A curtain across the front can make a heads area using a bucket and seat on top. A cooking module can be stowed under the cockpit and slid out or even outside for cooking.
It seems to me that more furniture makes a boat cramped and inflexible inside. Of course you must have a mast support post but some use effectively an arch support so that the front area can be easily accessed.
Mine has a mast support post and CB case in the middle. A cooking unti on one side means access to the forecabin is past the mast support and cb and as I am pretty big makes access a bit difficult or at least not encouraging. So forecabin becomes a sail locker.
You need comfortable sitting head room in the main area inside the entrance hatch and a swing keel case can be a real pain in this area.
Just a few thoughts good luck olewill
I have had my little 21fter for 30 years and love it. I have become convinced however that in a small boat the best layout is virtually no furniture. You need bunk/ seats down each side from bow to stern and these can make very effective floatation tanks and or storage places.
All the other needs can be met by portable gear. A curtain across the front can make a heads area using a bucket and seat on top. A cooking module can be stowed under the cockpit and slid out or even outside for cooking.
It seems to me that more furniture makes a boat cramped and inflexible inside. Of course you must have a mast support post but some use effectively an arch support so that the front area can be easily accessed.
Mine has a mast support post and CB case in the middle. A cooking unti on one side means access to the forecabin is past the mast support and cb and as I am pretty big makes access a bit difficult or at least not encouraging. So forecabin becomes a sail locker.
You need comfortable sitting head room in the main area inside the entrance hatch and a swing keel case can be a real pain in this area.
Just a few thoughts good luck olewill
