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It's more like getting your fingers between the base and top, apply a little pressure and pop, three four of those and its off. No gimbal, these boats tend to be heavy in the aft

yukonbob wrote:It's more like getting your fingers between the base and top, apply a little pressure and pop, three four of those and its off. No gimbal, these boats tend to be heavy in the aft

A while back I had mine out to work on and I was impressed by how solid the whole thing was. As I recall, mine had long strips running the perimeter underneath, definitely not tabs, maybe a shift change at the factory that day!

Sea Shadow wrote:When I said cut it, I meant cut the strapping from the inside. The top will then separate from the bottom - no damage to either.

I guess you can crawl in there and actually see these straps? I will try to find them - I have not been able to find it yet - I need to look harder. The stove and the sink are in the way - I guess I better get the stove out of there.

It's really easy to take the whole thing out and work on it. Turn it upside down then to check it out.

BOAT wrote:I guess you can crawl in there and actually see these straps? I will try to find them - I have not been able to find it yet - I need to look harder. The stove and the sink are in the way - I guess I better get the stove out of there.

Seeing your carpentry skills, I'm sure you will come up with something really nice like the mod above.
Since I don't have such skills, I just changed the sink and front doors. Pressure water was easy, sizing the sink drain down to the small diameter drain was tricky.



--Russ

It's all going to be a little tricky on this project because i am retaining the sliding feature of the galley and still putting in the pressure water system.

The way i plan to do that is to re route the drain and water hoses thru the bottom and create a custom slotted lid for the compartment under the galley. I want to get all the hoses underneath and neatly out of the way. The fresh water tanks will be in the bow down low. The actual pump for the faucet will be in the galley - by doing it that way i will not have high pressure hoses leading into the sliding galley - they will just be feed hoses - to do a pressure hose I would need to do braided stainless to handle the sliding movement and I don't want that extra weight.

So far, every mod I have done has resulted in LESS weight than the stock setup of whatever I have modified. I would like to stay on track with that goal, so NO stainless braided lines - (they weigh a ton).

I am also adding a central grey water tank under the rear berth between the ballast splines so I can take on waste water in port (legally) and pump it out when I get to the three mile line. ALL drains (including a new sink in the head I am adding in a surprising place) will all drain into the central holding tank and the tank can be pumped out quickly with a switch.

The faucet in the new galley will also have a foot switch built into the liner below the galley so you can turn on the water with your foot - I already have the solenoid valve for that thanks to mastreb.
(note the foot control need became apparant to us quickly from trying to use the sink to wash hands while the boat was heeling 20 degrees - and since we are out in the open ocean 99% of the time we need both hands).

I just can't tell what way the wife will want to go with the counter top - the easiest would be a new top with folding leafs on both ends (make it all in one piece and then cut and hinge it), but she is looking into super lightweight solid surfaces that look like granite. I might go stainless - I did stainless in the van, it's light if you just use it as a skin.

There will be a hot water shower too - later on that . .

The main reason I didn't go with a wood counter top is the lack of area to put hot pots. I went tile countertop with a recessed duel naphtha stove lined in SS, (Coleman green monster) I like this setup because I can easily remove the stove and cook on the dock or the beach ect. I use a lot of naphtha year round 3-4 gallons in various stoves, lanterns ect; this helps not having another fuel source to find (like the propane/butane canisters or alcohol which can be hard to find, but everyone here’s got naphtha). Also did sliding doors due to limited floor space and I didn’t have to find any fancy locking hardware and get it shipped up here. I really like the idea of SS countertop.

Yeah, I was thinking the same - I mean the wood one would match the table across from it but that marine varnish i use is really thick and not real keen on hot pans. I think a mahogany trim to match the table with stainless inside might be better - I think to tie it in with the table the wife is going to ask for a stainless back-splash on the table so they complement each other.

Not sure yet - first I need to see if that top can be removed without stupid me destroying it.

BOAT wrote:Yeah, I was thinking the same - I mean the wood one would match the table across from it but that marine varnish i use is really thick and not real keen on hot pans. I think a mahogany trim to match the table with stainless inside might be better - I think to tie it in with the table the wife is going to ask for a stainless back-splash on the table so they complement each other.

Not sure yet - first I need to see if that top can be removed without stupid me destroying it.

I use a ss rack on the counter top for hot items it can also be put on the table !

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J

I'm not sold yet on stainless steel yet so a rack might be a good idea. I'm still noodling on the galley top. I know I was joking about a gimbaled galley but I was inspecting some galleys on some modern 120 foot sailboats and noticed they have all changed to induction tops (in my day the range and oven were all in one piece on a port starboard gimbals). Although I'm not serious about a gimbal I am serious about how they do the range top on the older boats - it's all stainless grate. Even the part that has no burners is all stainless grate.

That gave me some ideas.

BOAT I don't know if you've bought your water pressure system yet, but we've got one we've never used and likely never will. I'm considering pulling it all out to free up the space.

Thanks mastreb -

I have two shureflo triplex on demand pumps already for this project - it's the same pump i use in my RV's, they run showers and I have had very good luck with them. I have built about a half dozen systems over the years. For my high pressure lines I use PEX pipe and the PEX pipe crimp fittings - I have the tools for crimping that stuff. It's great high pressure line for high vibration installations - proven in 4WD motorhomes and I have done a few myself.

I will put one sureflo in the galley tub itself. That pump will also feed the shower head attachment that will be in the galley.

The other pump will be in the bow where the water is and will feed the head faucet/sink and chain locker hose bib. I usually have my tanks built by US PLASTICS based on drawings I send them.

The drain pipe will be semi rigid and run the length of the boat on the port side - highest in the bow and lowest at the stern where it will connect to the grey tank and pump out. The various drains will feed into it.

The other thing that was essential for our counter top was higher fiddling.The stock FG had let more than its share of stuff slide off and smash on the floor. Next is the table. Had two buddies on for a fishing trip once. At dock, we had dinner all ready and on the table when they both decided to get on/off the boat at the same time. SPLAT.

Yes, I too found the table useless and heavy so I converted it to a folding bar. That way i can mix and pour drinks right from the dry bar while standing - MUCH easier to serve that way and I only use the table to set cups while I'm pouring. The dry bar holds the bottles upright so I can leave them open too like wine, When I don't need the table/bar it just folds down to make a seat between the dinette sides.

For a real live dinner table I'm still noodling but in my mind it will probably be something that is hidden on one or both sides of the DB trunk and will fold down when needed much like the ones on the Beneteau.

One of the keys to getting the best use out of your dinner table on a sailboat is to get the table as close as possible to the middle of the boat as you can. Even I learned that way back when i was a kid. That's also why I hated the MAC table the first time I saw it and it's the first thing I ripped out. Look at the old Columbia's or every modern Beneteau or Hunter and you will see how they go through great pains and expense to build a table that seems to block the entire middle of the boat when it's unfolded - there is a reason for that - the closer you can get your grog to the middle of the boat the less likely it will slide away from you.

I am pretty sure I can engineer a table that will fold around the DB trunk that will drop down closer to the middle of the boat and unfold for a sit down dinner where the berths on BOTH sides of the boat are used for sitting around the table for a large meal by just sliding the galley back out of the way. That is why I am retaining the sliding feature of the galley - it's really a pretty good sailboat idea - just unfinished in it's stock form.

Mix and pour drinks easily? I'm hanging out on the wrong boat!