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............................................--- Companionway Storage - Part II ---
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Above you can see how the tracks in the second area protrude further out. Also note the cutout placed on the back edge to provide ......
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... easier viewing and acess to the switch panel. The picture was shot from about where I sit at the Nav. station.
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With the tracks above installed in a more forward area the unit is now located by these on the inside and the plywood walls on the outside of the steps. The steps still just lift out like before.
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I noticed the the side walls were able to bow just a bit and that would not be good for the fitment. of the drawer slides and the tracks on the drawers themselves. Two pieces of aluminum strap were added and that took care of that problem.
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The top drawer and the next two drawers were then made. During construction the bottom front edge of the unit was placed just behind the brackets for the thumb screws every time it was put back in place.
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A couple of the drawer tops received some clearance mods, arrow, so that they could be removed easily from the unit.
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The drawers are of simple construction with plywood sides screwed to thicker pine fronts and backs. The draw slides used attach to the bottom outside of the drawers.
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The sides and front and back pieces received a groove over their lengths that the floor of the drawer sits in all the way around the inside of the drawer. The grooves were made with a dado blade on a table saw that we bought in Florida and later took back home. It is a Sears model that is portable, but I really like it as it can cut up to 30 inches from an edge if needed. Looking on the Internet is looks like a discontinued model for them. It was about $230. I looked at Home Depot and such at some of the $120-$160 saws, but didn't really like them and Ruth said get the better one and I didn't want to argue with her of course so we did. I have a really nice older radial arm that I use at home and have built a lot of projects with including a couple houses. The table saw will get lots of use to now.
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The very long pieces sticking out above were added and provide bottom support to...
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... another 'pie board' like what was used on the top of the new fridge (more info on it HERE). This board slides in and out to ....
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.... give us yet more counter space in the galley.
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The step captures it on the top side. It also comes out after you lift the steps off. You pull the drawers and set them on a settee and then lift the steps off and then the storage unit.
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A handle was affixed to the front and ...
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... a piece of plywood to the back that buts up against the back of the step so that you don't pull it out to far.
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I thought I would throw this in so you can see what it is like to be living on the boat and also making/installing all of this at the same time. It would get pretty cluttered and then we would clean and put things away. That was good for a day or so and then the clutter again. It was hot by now since we were into June and then July. The fans ran a lot and we had a portable marine AC that came with the boat. We curtained the V-berth off and the AC would only lower the cabin temps about 7-8 degrees lower than the outside temps. June and July cabin temps ran in the mid-80's.
The one arrow points to the keyboard/monitor for the....
................. ships computer that I built that we also use on the Mac and is the same computer I'm using for this report at home. This way all of my site files and other reference material is always with me. Works very well. We also have a couple laptops and I just use mine in motels and Ruth uses hers in either boat and at home also, using a separate large monitor and full size keyboard at home and on the Endeavour. That way all of her stuff is also always with her.
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The sliding countertop and one larger drawer occupy the final opening in the companionway.
