under cockpit berth to storage conversion

solent clown

solent clown

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We have just bought a westerly Berwick, and are considering turning the under cockpit berth to a storage facility for house items, clothes etc etc. In out smaller boat we did this in both berths with simple plastic boxes we just put in and pulled out. Worked fine, but it was not an elegant solution even though the space was pnly 3 ft deep each side. With the berwick we have a space apprximately 6ft deep, two feet wide, and two feet tall. there is about 3ft free space ahead of the bunk. I am at a loss to devise a simple way of using that space without doing the box juggle.
has anyone else tackled this?
 
How about building some kind of storage unit (racks, bins, drawers, etc as required, even extra galley facilities if you're in need of them) in the front half, that pulls out into the 3 feet of clear space on heavy-duty runners. Then access the back half from the cockpit or some other space back aft.

That said, "making efficient use of space" with new bulk storage right aft or right forward in a small yacht can upset the trim. I thought I was being clever by squeezing Kindred Spirit's new fuel tank into what had been a void space beneath the gas locker in the counter, but it tended to put her down by the stern and, together with some extra weight in the bow, caused hobby-horsing in a chop. Naval architects like putting bunks right forward and right aft because they weigh less than almost any other possibility, and the design probably takes that into account.

Pete
 
What is the access to the engine like and the stern gland? will you ever need to move all this stuff to gain access?
 
Pete7 said:
What is the access to the engine like and the stern gland? will you ever need to move all this stuff to gain access?
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access for engine ans stern gland ok, room from fore, and there is a hatch in the cockpit, luxury! Thanks for bringing that point up, I will check further as the bunk lso carries the batteries underneath, so access may be an issue
 
prv said:
How about building some kind of storage unit (racks, bins, drawers, etc as required, even extra galley facilities if you're in need of them) in the front half, that pulls out into the 3 feet of clear space on heavy-duty runners. Then access the back half from the cockpit or some other space back aft.

That said, "making efficient use of space" with new bulk storage right aft or right forward in a small yacht can upset the trim. I thought I was being clever by squeezing Kindred Spirit's new fuel tank into what had been a void space beneath the gas locker in the counter, but it tended to put her down by the stern and, together with some extra weight in the bow, caused hobby-horsing in a chop. Naval architects like putting bunks right forward and right aft because they weigh less than almost any other possibility, and the design probably takes that into account.

Pete
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I like the idea of splitting the pace into 3ft portions as you hinted, then maybe for the rear part a hatch in the cockpit. The weight issue is one we have come acroos with our 24fter. t5weo large gas bottle in the lazarette very badly upset the handling
 
A long coffin berth like that is useful for storing a rolled up avon plus wooden oars and boarding steps ladder plus small children and is also useful for table top if yours detaches . Think your posts on your project will produce hours of interest and hopefully a video of two even so looking forward to updates and the debate you provoke with ideas .might be mistaken but recall I have seen chart tables on runners on Centaur berths so maybe a trawl of old Centaur photos might produce some inspiration as to conversion opportunities for crates on runnners.
 
ashtead said:
A long coffin berth like that is useful for storing a rolled up avon plus wooden oars and boarding steps ladder plus small children and is also useful for table top if yours detaches . Think your posts on your project will produce hours of interest and hopefully a video of two even so looking forward to updates and the debate you provoke with ideas .might be mistaken but recall I have seen chart tables on runners on Centaur berths so maybe a trawl of old Centaur photos might produce some inspiration as to conversion opportunities for crates on runnners.
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interesting about the chart table, the gap by the berth is accessed by squeezing past the chart table. My first idea was to make that table hinged so it folded flat to improve access. Dinghy storage is also a good shout, though I am going to try that on the coachroof if we can.
The interior of this boat is not a lot smaller than the actual area karen and I occupy in our shed eco experiment, and the issues we have are exactly the same - storage At home we cheat and have two rooms in the house where we store our overspill. I am very impressed with how the interior of this boat has so many nooks and crannies for storage, it seems that most westerlies are somewhat tardis like inside.
 
solent clown said:
interesting about the chart table, the gap by the berth is accessed by squeezing past the chart table. My first idea was to make that table hinged so it folded flat to improve access. Dinghy storage is also a good shout, though I am going to try that on the coachroof if we can.
The interior of this boat is not a lot smaller than the actual area karen and I occupy in our shed eco experiment, and the issues we have are exactly the same - storage At home we cheat and have two rooms in the house where we store our overspill. I am very impressed with how the interior of this boat has so many nooks and crannies for storage, it seems that most westerlies are somewhat tardis like inside.
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Two types of chart table s were fitted. Earlier boats had one ( which Incorporated storage) that fitted over the head of the starboard side quarter berth and stowed in the navigators foot well when not in use. Later boats had a chart table on the port side that ran on tracks to stow above the port quarter berth when not in use.
The former meant that the starboard berth , which is the best one on the boat for use at sea, was not in fact available when the chart table was in position.
The latter made the port quarter berth almost unusable.

The Berwick I sailed originally had the latter type but it had been discarded, and the bulkhead cut , to make the port berth usable ( that was usually my berth). A simple table, without chart storage, had been fitted on the starboard side, which was normally the skippers berth . It stowed above the head of the berth.

Dont forget to allow access to the cockpit drain seacocks under the quarter berths.

I assume your boat has an amidships galley not an aft galley ?

I also assume you do not have a starboard side cockpit locker ( I guess these where fitted to aft cabin Pentlands and Renowns and / or in conjunction with the aft galley layout.)

You are right about the many storage spaces. That reminds me. Early boats had hinged fronts to the starboard side under berth lockers. These are a PITA. The lift out fronts fitted to later boats are more convenient.
 
VicS said:
Two types of chart table s were fitted. Earlier boats had one ( which Incorporated storage) that fitted over the head of the starboard side quarter berth and stowed in the navigators foot well when not in use. Later boats had a chart table on the port side that ran on tracks to stow above the port quarter berth when not in use.
The former meant that the starboard berth , which is the best one on the boat for use at sea, was not in fact available when the chart table was in position.
The latter made the port quarter berth almost unusable.

The Berwick I sailed originally had the latter type but it had been discarded, and the bulkhead cut , to make the port berth usable ( that was usually my berth). A simple table, without chart storage, had been fitted on the starboard side, which was normally the skippers berth . It stowed above the head of the berth.

Dont forget to allow access to the cockpit drain seacocks under the quarter berths.

I assume your boat has an amidships galley not an aft galley ?

I also assume you do not have a starboard side cockpit locker ( I guess these where fitted to aft cabin Pentlands and Renowns and / or in conjunction with the aft galley layout.)

You are right about the many storage spaces. That reminds me. Early boats had hinged fronts to the starboard side under berth lockers. These are a PITA. The lift out fronts fitted to later boats are more convenient.
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the galley is aft, on the starboard side. the berth and chart table is on the port side. the berth can be accessed with the table in situ but it is tight. No port side cockpit locker
 
ashtead said:
A long coffin berth like that is useful for storing a rolled up avon plus wooden oars and boarding steps ladder plus small children . .
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A tip when rolling up small children is to stuff Yorkie bars in their mouths & then put plenty of sail ties around them to stop them unrolling in the middle of the night. A spare sail bag is useful for stowage if not being used for the dog.:encouragement:
Although I tend to sail on my own a lot:nonchalance:
 
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I'd be tempted to go for the plastic storage boxes on a simple trolley system like they used making the tunnels in The Great Escape - I reckon a skateboard or two would work - not entirely joking, skateboards are fantastic for manouvering things like boat trestles around - and they have much better wheels than the creeper trolleys used to get under vehicles.

I keep all my foresails and kites under the cockpit on varnished slats, with a line to hopefully the last one required, the storm jib, so ideally they pull out more or less in order.

I really must get round to an endless line to re-insert them there, but wellies seem to work fine.
 
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Seajet said:
So, rather than ' under cockpit ' they're quarter berths ?,,,
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dont be smart with me boyo, I am inexperienced, and get the names wrong from time to time... just remember I know where your boat is;)
Next time you are down this way swing by. Bring beer. Ale, not wine, it sends Karen mad
 
I bought a Pentland in 1978, and it had the sliding chart table shown in your diagram. It wasn't the most practical idea; the fixed table in your boat seems much better. Here's a pic from the Westerly brochure (complete with the obligatory bowl of fruit, these days it has to be a bottle of Prosecco!).

View attachment 72376
 
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