Pilot berth -> locker conversion question

B

Boo2

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 Jan 2010
Messages
8,606
Visit site
Hi,

Sunrunner (UFO 34) has a pair of pilot berths each side of the saloon and outboard of and above the existing lockers which are in turn outboard of and above the saloon seats (see pic).

I've really no use for the pilot berths as they are a bit impractical and also there are plenty of alternatives in the form of 2 saloon berths + 2 quarterberths + 2 forepeak berths + there's only ever me on the boat anyway...

My idea is to convert the space indicated into lockers by adding a front panel of teak faced ply having similar style locker fronts to the pre-existing ones indicated. My question is how to go about this ? Do I need to glass a longitudinal rail to the the saloon roof (deck head) above the existing pilot berth and fix the ply to this ? Or would it be ok to use pocket screws direct through the new locker front and into the deck head ? The deck above the berths is 2 off 3/16 grp layers sandwiching ~1/2" balsa. Are self-tappers into the lower glass layer going to be strong enough to take a man falling against the locker fronts in a seaway ?

Any ideas how to go about this much appreciated. I know I could just leave it as it is but I am in the mood for a spot of fiddling... :)

Thanks,

Boo2




lockers.gif
 
Would not screw direct into the GRP. Make a framework of battens bonded to the GRP and attach your new front to those. That is a large space to fill and I would be tempted to break it up with 2 transverse bulkheads bonded to the hull with vertical battens for the new front to attach to. You will then have 3 individual lockers of a very useful size.
 
Like this?? These were the modified pilot berths we inherited on our Sun Legende 41. THey were professionally made and the guy used the forecabin door ( replaced by a heavy curtain) so the wood matched perfectly with everything else. THere is a half bulkhead splitting each sides front panel from a batten glued to the hull sides by the still retained original chain plate cover boxes.
DSCF0003.jpgDSCF0001.jpg
 
We had pilot berths on our Sigma 38 bringing her up to ten in total. We used them mainly for storing big stuff as we had a bookshelf and a drinks locker already.
Why not put in generous canvas lee cloths instead of the string to screen the space, you can dump bags, bedding, anything, out of sight behind them and the boat looks tidy.
In the summer when all the girls come round for the orgy you can clear it out and still let the uglier ones sleep there.
 
Quandary said:
We had pilot berths on our Sigma 38 bringing her up to ten in total. We used them mainly for storing big stuff as we had a bookshelf and a drinks locker already.
Why not put in generous canvas lee cloths instead of the string to screen the space, you can dump bags, bedding, anything, out of sight behind them and the boat looks tidy..
Click to expand...
It's an idea, but I think it'll look better with wood, canvas tends to sag and bulge etc, I think I'll stick to my idea of teak-faced ply despite the price.

Quandary said:
In the summer when all the girls come round for the orgy you can clear it out and still let the uglier ones sleep there.
Click to expand...
A place for girls to sleep after the orgy hasn't been a big issue so far in my boat-owning career but I know as soon as I get rid of the pilot berths that's theproblem I'll have :p

Boo2
 
They would be very large lockers as has been suggested. Why not leave a narrow fiddled shelf, say 4-6" deep, partioned into 3/4 bays, immediately in front of the new locker doors? Also make one side first and see how you get on with it.
 
We have a pilot berth that I have sometimes eyed up as potential extra locker room. However in practise it has a nice deep fiddle on it and we can throw bags etc up there very easily. It is also the most convenient place to put a guitar.
We have removed the berth mattress to make stowage easier, and of course this effectively increases the depth of the fiddle as well.
A simple upstand say 9" deep running the length of the berth would be far easier to build than full lockers, still keep everything in its place, and at a pinch allow it to revert to a berth again if needed.
 
Tranona said:
Would not screw direct into the GRP. Make a framework of battens bonded to the GRP and attach your new front to those. That is a large space to fill and I would be tempted to break it up with 2 transverse bulkheads bonded to the hull with vertical battens for the new front to attach to. You will then have 3 individual lockers of a very useful size.
Click to expand...
Hi Tranona,

When you say "bonded to the hull" do you mean glued or glassed in with mat & resin ? I think you're right about splitting them up into 3 but on one side I may go for a pull down front on one half and keep the inflatable behind it (it's too big for the cockpit lockers).

Thanks,

Boo2
 
I would glue them with epoxy. Fast setting to hold in place then fillet the aft edge for support. Would probably put blocks on the existing bulkheads to screw them to. The vertical bits at either end can be glued and screwed to the bulkheads. The objective is to get a solid and square base to attach your ply front. You may also need additional framing for the divisions and door openings.
 
If you have the "Girls round" it will be you needing to sleep there as at your age you could not keep up. :)

When I first read this I thought about some sort of modular units that could be bolted down, thus never getting rid of the berths in case of future sale of the boat.
 
Boo2 said:
Hi,

Sunrunner (UFO 34) has a pair of pilot berths each side of the saloon and outboard of and above the existing lockers which are in turn outboard of and above the saloon seats (see pic).

I've really no use for the pilot berths as they are a bit impractical and also there are plenty of alternatives in the form of 2 saloon berths + 2 quarterberths + 2 forepeak berths + there's only ever me on the boat anyway...

My idea is to convert the space indicated into lockers by adding a front panel of teak faced ply having similar style locker fronts to the pre-existing ones indicated. My question is how to go about this ? Do I need to glass a longitudinal rail to the the saloon roof (deck head) above the existing pilot berth and fix the ply to this ? Or would it be ok to use pocket screws direct through the new locker front and into the deck head ? The deck above the berths is 2 off 3/16 grp layers sandwiching ~1/2" balsa. Are self-tappers into the lower glass layer going to be strong enough to take a man falling against the locker fronts in a seaway ?

Any ideas how to go about this much appreciated. I know I could just leave it as it is but I am in the mood for a spot of fiddling... :)

Thanks,

Boo2




lockers.gif
Click to expand...
Hi,

I've just picked up Sunrunner (UFO 34) as a project boat. Understand you were a previous owner. Do you have any pictures of her sailing and/or the interior when you had her. I've gutted the insides, as it was pretty damp boat having been standing on the hard for the last years with rain just pouring in.

Regards,

Ed
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top