Interior Modifications

• Boat Hook
  
  We found a handy place for the boat hook stored vertical just behind the hinges for the head door.
   
• Fire Ext / Dock Lines
  
  Along the aft angled portion of the head we have hooks to organize all the dock lines and have mounted a fire extinguisher.
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
• Radios, Signal Kit, First Aid Kit, Fishing Rods
  
  The aft wall behind the galley is where our radios, emergency stuff and various other things are stored.  We have added even more hooks than shown in the picture for the gameboy cases.
   

• Book Storage
  
  I built book storage rack at the outboard end of each dinette seat.  The aft one is where we store all our charts, logbook, and other navigation related things.
   

• Under Table Book Area  ^{*new 04*}
  
  We added more storage for books by putting in a board that spans the width of the table foot well along the floor and added a couple shock cords above to keep everything in place.
   

• Shoe Net
  
  We have a net for shoes under the table.
  
   

• Built in Entertainment Center
  
  After years of using a computer as the entertainment center mounted in various ways we decided to put in a built in system.  Doing this gained back some needed table space, and also brought back a way to power both speakers in the cabin and in the cockpit.
  
  It consists of a surplus 20" computer monitor I picked up cheap that in addition to VGA and DVI inputs also has composite and s-video inputs.  I disassembled the table top mount and adapted it to wall mounting.  This mount is in the center at the back and I added two wedges of foam that eliminate all vibration of the screen.  It requires 120v power so I routed an extended power cable under the table to the point on the forward dinette seat base where I have a shore power outlet and a outlet from my 125w inverter. 
  
  I then bought a low priced AM/FM/CD/DVD player at Frys to drive the screen.  I mounted this radio to a plywood block under the table just forward of the support leg.  This keeps it out of the knee space, yet easy to access.  12v power wiring runs under the table to the starboard wall then forward and around to the port side in the storage compartments until it makes it's way aft of the galley to the power panel.  Three speaker cables also follow this path, one for the right side cabin speakers and two for the cockpit speakers which had been disconnected.  The forth left side cabin speaker is simply mounted under the table as well.
  
  The installation turned out very well and we can now all comfortably watch movies on the large screen.  We also have an AM/FM/CD payer back with sound in the cockpit and the radio has a input for our iPods or the XM radio.
   
• On Table Storage Rack
  
  With the removal of the on table entertainment system it was time to install a more permanent storage solution on the table.  I built a custom starboard base and added vertical dividers.  Across these two strips of oak finish up the rack and make it match the two book racks already on each side of the table.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
• Settee Shelf  ^{*new 03*}
  
  On the shallow ledge along the settee I added a front plexi lip and a variety of other small storage devices to make good use of this area for everything from cookbooks to the misc cables and chargers that needed a home.
   
• Hanging Hooks
  
  For some hanging storage I bought a bunch of cheap plastic cleats and attached them around the mast post and the galley post using a simple stainless pipe clamp.
  
  
  
   

• New Companionway Stairs
  
  I was offered a free stainless stair ladder from an early M which I adapted replace the awkward fiberglass step at the companionway entrance.  I cut down the ladder to be just 2 steps and fabricated a set of brackets that mount it at the companionway.  They extend far enough out to let the ladder swing completely vertical to give full aft berth access.  It also lets the head door open all the way.  The ladder stops short of the floor resting against the old lower step.  This was necessary to allow it to clear the dinette seat when swinging up.
  
  This new stairway now gives nice wide access and has evenly spaced steps unlike the original steps.
  
  The ladder had no treads so I made a simple set of wood ones stained black with some non-skid added for good footing.
  
  I cut down the old upper step that covered the ballast tank vent and center fill.  It allows just enough space inside for the ballast controls yet is still quite flush.  I made a longer port side bracket so all the same mounting points could be used. 

• New Cushion Foam ^{*new 03*}
  
  We replaced all the factory seat foam and the vee berth foam with a much denser and firmer 3" foam.  The new foam is installed in the same factory covers.
   
• New Cushion Covers *new 07*
  
  We replaced all the factory cushion covers with new faux leather covers from www.boatbimini.com .  The covers fit the existing foam like a glove and look great.  The color is "Teak".  It has completely changed the look of the interior.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
• New Carpet ^{*new 07*}
  
  We replaced all the factory carpets with edged Berber carpet from www.boatbimini.com .  It fit's great and goes perfectly with the "Teak" replacement cushion covers.  It is also great to have carpet with trimmed edges that will not fray over time like the factory carpet did.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Vee Berth Extension, Port Side ^{*new 05*}
  A simple 24x12x3/4" board now extends the port side to the same length as the starboard side with the seat back removed.  The cushion from the seat back fills the space.  The board sets on top of the port settee cushion and goes under the forward dinette seat cushion.  Friction holds it in place.
   
• Memory Foam Vee berth topper ^{*revised 07*}
  While the stiff new foam is good, we wanted a softer surface in the vee berth.  A queen sized memory foam topper trimmed for the vee at the foot does the trick.  It stores folded to starboard and covers all the cushion gaps for sleeping.
  
  We now added a 1" convoluted foam in the same cover under the memory foam.  This has finally hit the right comfort level.
   
• Relocated Galley Bins
  
  When I cut the bins out of the galley shelf I separated them and I built them into some areas of the under seat storage that were difficult to access.
  
  
   
• Privacy Panels ^{*new 04*}
• Privacy Panels, relocated ^{*new 05*}
  
  Last year we made a panel for some privacy when we were sleeping in the vee berth.  When we moved to the dinette we re configured the vee berth panel to mount further forward and made an addition panel for the aft berth.  This with bags down the center of the aft berth has created three private staterooms for the kids while se sleep in the salon. While very simple to make, just that slim thickness of the fabric has made the boat a great place for the 5 of us to sleep.
  
  *Update 05* We decided to move back to the vee berth.  Because of this, I relocated the loops that mount the forward privacy panel back to the forward edge of where the lights are mounted.  This moves the panel back to just forward of the center post which gives us a nice spacious forward cabin.  The panel blocks the view down to the seat cushion level in this new location.
   

• New Curtains ^{*new 07*}
  
  Once we replaced the cushion covers and the carpet we needed to replace the blue curtains and pillows to complete the new look.  This time we took more time sewing the curtains in a way that is much more finished and completely hides the cafe rods and brackets.
  
  
   
• Stiffened Table ^{*new 04*}
  
  When we lowered the table for the first time this year we were dismayed by how much it flexed (maybe a diet is ahead).  I bought 2 pieces of steel square tube and bolted it to the bottom of the table running front to back to stiffen it up.  This has solved the problem.
  
  
  
  
   
• Canvas Storage ^{*new 03*}
  
  When we purchased our full enclosure it became clear that we needed a place to store all the panels that was up out of the way.  I bought a $2 black plastic roll up sled at the sporting goods store.  Along it's two long edges I put strips of velcro.  I then put matching velcro along the upper notch in the aft berth on the port side.  Then I rolled the sled into a 'j' shape lengthwise and stuck the velcro together.  This made a removable shelf up out of the wan on which we can rollup and store all the canvas panels of the full enclosure.
  
  
  
  
   
• Storage Organizers ^{*new 07*}
  
  We added some storage organizers in the vee berth and head.  They are a set intended for use at the galley from www.boatbimini.com , but they worked well in the vee berth area.  They are very well made and install with a series of snaps along the top edge and velcro at the bottom.  The snaps are very secure, but they do require drilling to install the snap bases.
  
  The third is in the head forward
  of the sink.