2022-2023: Renovating the cockpit
Renovation of the cockpit started at the end of December 2022 and had to be put on hold: the temperatures didn't allow the glue and paint to dry. So I went back to working as a carpenter for a few months, which also put a smile back on my face by bringing me back into contact with my colleagues, a site atmosphere and work that was completed more quickly!
Before putting the project on hold, I'd still created the compartments and boxes I wanted, and the partitions to keep things from moving around too much.
Plexiglas (6mm) was installed on the roof of the cockpit, which was very useful for observing manoeuvres and sails when sailing. However, it was in poor condition, overhanging the roof (and therefore potentially a risk of falling), and above all it bent under the weight of one person.
So I decided to change it. On the advice of a manufacturer, I opted for polycarbonate:
- reputed to be more solid than plexiglas, I even increased the thickness to 8mm to take account of the distance between supports and the potential weight on it
- smoked so as not to be dazzled by the overhead sun
- flush with the roof, and therefore glued into a rebate to be made
Below are the production stages:
- cutting the plexiglas to the required dimensions (old ones + rebate)
- machining the rebate... normally 8-9mm to accommodate the glue. A rebate had to be made beforehand because I came across a leftover batten that didn't stick well and forced me to machine down to 10mm. The polycarbonate will therefore be slightly folded away from the roof
- gluing with Tikalflex contact 12: the glued areas of the polycarbonate were sanded beforehand to give the glue sufficient adhesion
- waterproofing with Tikaflex PCW 14
The chart table has also been modified to incorporate partitions (a trial carried out while sailing in Denmark, but it was not sustainable), and also to be better secured to the 2 bulkheads by fixed brackets.
The pennant shelf has been temporarily removed. I'm still hesitating whether to put it back in, to store the foreign pennants and remove the regatta pennants I don't need. The shelf looks good and is an aesthetic addition, so I'll keep thinking about it ;-) .
The whole lot has been refurbished in white and varnished wood, and is rather sober and elegant for my taste.
2023: Renovating the aft cabin
This cabin serves as the main cabin, with the front cabin having just 2 single berths. It's still practical with all its storage space (wardrobe, 2 drawers, 1 cupboard and 2 side cupboards). But in use, the berth is too short for me (I touch my head and feet), the single berth isn't useful and I'd prefer to have a work surface instead, with storage for all the tools and parts needed to maintain the boat. So I decided to modify the cabin.
First step: reduce the opening of the 2 hatches to create open storage above the worktop, rounded like the opening at the back.
I then made a structure for the worktop, with storage towards the back accessible via a removable trapdoor in the worktop, and creating a space in the middle under the worktop for a sailing bag and a rucksack. There's plenty of room for all my stuff!
The new layout can be seen below, with the new starboard-side storage (with a lip to hold boxes in place), the new worktop with a removable hatch giving access to the aft storage, and the plywood under the mattress has been replaced with thicker, combined pieces so there are fewer of them.
As in the cockpit, the combination of white and varnished wood is very bright and I really like it. To be confirmed with lighting ;-)
I got hooked: having the materials (plywood, wood, glue and joints) and the knowledge, I decided to replace the floors too, based on the deck model. The battens are wider (6cm) to make maximum use of the available wood and keep the joints to a minimum, and thinner (8mm) too to get as many battens as possible out of the remaining wood.
2023: Renovating the saloon
After a few weeks sailing, I'd decided to make a few changes to the saloon:
- replace the tiled worktop
- review of the storage below and above the work surface
- change the cushions (this part will have to wait)
- removal of the foot-alcove on the port side, which allowed you to lie down there (emoved to increase storage space in the front cabin)
- removal of the cupboard on the starboard side to give a greater impression of space
- changing the floors, as for the aft cabin. They were all screwed down, so not practical for quick access to the bilges
First step: the worktop. I found it ugly and impractical with its single sink that was too small. I found a second-hand set of sinks and taps in the dimensions I needed. After dismantling and simulating the positions of the sinks, the new worktop took its place. The hatch to access the fridge is reproduced.
As the new sinks took up more space than the old one, I had to close the cutlery drawer that was located just under the worktop. I didn't think it was practical and now want to create a shelf above the worktop with a hinged drainer, cutlery storage and spice/oil storage... I've got my own ideas about this, but it won't be for a while yet!
Drinking water was stored in 2 flexible tanks (under the port & starboard benches, 2 x 50 litres) + 1 rigid tank (under the floor (approx. 70 litres). The water was drawn from either tank via a set of valves near the oven, some of the valves were out of order, and basically impractical.
Having 2 stainless steel diesel tanks (2 x 250 litres), and having found a solution for cleaning these tanks (industrial degreaser Cetexalt VG), I opted to remove the old flexible water tanks and convert one of the rigid tanks into a drinking water tank. This saves storage space under the benches and makes it easier to read the circuits.
I then dismantled the floors, most of which were screwed down. Not practical for inspecting the bilges, I prefer floors that are easy to remove. The plywood was made and adjusted to match the future floors.
On the port side, I removed the foot-alcove, removing an adult berth there, but gaining storage space under the adjoining berth in the front cabin. I also re-fabricated one of the decorative panels that was missing.
2023: Renovating the bathroom
In this room, I wanted to keep the possibility of a shower (even if it wasn't my priority to make it work straight away), add a black water tank (which I think is going to become compulsory), and add some storage and a work surface.
I considered transforming the old rigid water tank under the saloon floor into a black water tank. But positioning it below the level of the drain valve would have meant adding a pump/grinder to drain the tank on the high seas, plus the complexity of adding a drain at the bottom of the tank. Instead, I decided to simplify my life and opt for a rigid tank 'in the air' in the bathroom.
The future black water tank will be located to the right of the WC, above the valves (above the coverboard), and I had to move the WC pump as far as possible towards the left wall. The WC remained in place, slightly off-centre in the wall-tank space. But given the difficulty of accessing the fixing screws underneath, I preferred to leave them in place.
I couldn't find a washbasin of the size I wanted, so I kept the old one and added a worktop. The coverboard completes and dresses up the whole, while allowing the shower water to be directed towards the shower tray and not towards the bilges. The shelves under the washbasin have also been redesigned. The tap chosen is a showerhead with a retractable hose, which required a guide/cover under the washbasin so that the hose can be repositioned correctly after use.