| Interior Projects and Add-ons |
We do quite a bit of our own sewing on board, including new salon cushion covers using
the jewel-tone fabric colors in this shot. The change really added warmth, color and
richness to the salon. The previous owners has used blue sunbrela for everything
(topside and below deck)! The salon needed some diversity in a big way!
We kept the blue sunbrela settee cushion bottoms, and used the geometric print for the
settee cushion backs. I made matching bottoms but we won't use them until we get
bored or the sunbrela ones wear out. The cranberry fabric was used for small throw
pillows and curtains. The salon is pictured above in the first few shots, and I plan to add
some other shots of below decks soon.
the jewel-tone fabric colors in this shot. The change really added warmth, color and
richness to the salon. The previous owners has used blue sunbrela for everything
(topside and below deck)! The salon needed some diversity in a big way!
We kept the blue sunbrela settee cushion bottoms, and used the geometric print for the
settee cushion backs. I made matching bottoms but we won't use them until we get
bored or the sunbrela ones wear out. The cranberry fabric was used for small throw
pillows and curtains. The salon is pictured above in the first few shots, and I plan to add
some other shots of below decks soon.
I had been struggling with finding the
right arrangement for my spices - I'm a
spice fanatic if you haven't already
figured that out from the food section.
Well, I didn't want to use the space in
either of the galley cupboards, and I also
didn't want to clutter up the galley
bulkheads with an external spice rack.
Finally, the perfect solution presented
itself - these nifty plastic spice holders
(came from Waccamaw's Home Place
store). They come 2 strips of 4 each in a
package for roughly $4.
The strips can be cut to the size you
need. As you can see, I'm using 2 rows
of 6, plus the 2 sets of 2 mounted up
high.
Now they are hidden on the inside of the
settee stowage access panel.
right arrangement for my spices - I'm a
spice fanatic if you haven't already
figured that out from the food section.
Well, I didn't want to use the space in
either of the galley cupboards, and I also
didn't want to clutter up the galley
bulkheads with an external spice rack.
Finally, the perfect solution presented
itself - these nifty plastic spice holders
(came from Waccamaw's Home Place
store). They come 2 strips of 4 each in a
package for roughly $4.
The strips can be cut to the size you
need. As you can see, I'm using 2 rows
of 6, plus the 2 sets of 2 mounted up
high.
Now they are hidden on the inside of the
settee stowage access panel.
As you can see, the interior teak had not been
refinished for a very, very long time! It was
scuffed, dirty and flat-looking, not a bit of luster
left to it.
As the interior maven, as well as someone who
loves "instant gratification", I have been
cleaning, sanding and refinishing all the bits and
pieces of teak trim. I'm using Teak Shield for
the work and have been really pleased with the
results. I used it in the galley over a year ago,
and it still looks and feels beautiful.
Teak Shield is a clear product as opposed to
Cetol which adds color. When the wood itself is
in good shape - clean and well-sanded, a clear
gloss finish is incredible. We do use Cetol
above-decks though.
Click on the shots for a full-sized view.
refinished for a very, very long time! It was
scuffed, dirty and flat-looking, not a bit of luster
left to it.
As the interior maven, as well as someone who
loves "instant gratification", I have been
cleaning, sanding and refinishing all the bits and
pieces of teak trim. I'm using Teak Shield for
the work and have been really pleased with the
results. I used it in the galley over a year ago,
and it still looks and feels beautiful.
Teak Shield is a clear product as opposed to
Cetol which adds color. When the wood itself is
in good shape - clean and well-sanded, a clear
gloss finish is incredible. We do use Cetol
above-decks though.
Click on the shots for a full-sized view.
The cabin in general has very little teak, mainly the bulkhead, the teak parquet floor
and some teak trim strips that run all the way around the interior at the tops of the
walls. Oh yeah, it also has teak trim and pin-rails on all the shelving in the salon.
Limited teak is a good thing... I want to give up as little as possible of my very
important snorkeling time on teak maintenance.
and some teak trim strips that run all the way around the interior at the tops of the
walls. Oh yeah, it also has teak trim and pin-rails on all the shelving in the salon.
Limited teak is a good thing... I want to give up as little as possible of my very
important snorkeling time on teak maintenance.
| Teak Table and Counter |
The other tray was made into a cocktail table that can be used below decks or up in the
cockpit. The hardware is clever.
We purchased 2 mounting brackets, one for the cockpit and one for the settee. The
bracket that go on the table itself is a swinging arm style of bracket. It is anodized
aluminum with hard plastic sprockets which allow for an infinite variety of positions.
I've shown 2 of them as seen below. You get the idea.
cockpit. The hardware is clever.
We purchased 2 mounting brackets, one for the cockpit and one for the settee. The
bracket that go on the table itself is a swinging arm style of bracket. It is anodized
aluminum with hard plastic sprockets which allow for an infinite variety of positions.
I've shown 2 of them as seen below. You get the idea.
| I used 5200 to attach them to the bin. |
This is a better shot of the hardware; it consists of a flat
bracket plate that mounts vertically on the bulkhead
(and can be shimmed if needed), plus the swing arm
portion which is made up of the 2 "legs" and the
table-mounted bracket.
To move it up topsides, we release the lower handle
sprocket and lift the assembly off of the wall plate. A
similar wall plate is mounted in the cockpit.
By the way, the table can also be stored in place
vertically rather than always horizontal to the floor.
bracket plate that mounts vertically on the bulkhead
(and can be shimmed if needed), plus the swing arm
portion which is made up of the 2 "legs" and the
table-mounted bracket.
To move it up topsides, we release the lower handle
sprocket and lift the assembly off of the wall plate. A
similar wall plate is mounted in the cockpit.
By the way, the table can also be stored in place
vertically rather than always horizontal to the floor.
| Spice Storage Rack |
| Salon Stitchery |
| Other Teak Projects |
Another fun project has been replacing all
the grubby, cloth-covered doors and drawer
fronts.
The old stuff had been painted a dozen times
yet always had a drab, somewhat dirty look
about them.
We have constructed new doors for the
galley locker, salon hanging locker and the
locker in the head. They came out very well,
with fairly moderate effort (I won't say it
was easy, but not too bad).
the grubby, cloth-covered doors and drawer
fronts.
The old stuff had been painted a dozen times
yet always had a drab, somewhat dirty look
about them.
We have constructed new doors for the
galley locker, salon hanging locker and the
locker in the head. They came out very well,
with fairly moderate effort (I won't say it
was easy, but not too bad).
Old <-- --> New
| Locker Door Fronts |
On my wish list was some additional counter space for the galley. I didn't really need
extra working space, but rather a place to set things as I finished with them.
By cannibalizing a piece of teak furniture, we ended up with 2 lovely teak trays, each
about 16" by 26". One was adapted for the above need, here's a shot of it in the
"up" position. It also folds down flat against the bulkhead. I think this came out
great! Thanks Capt'n!
extra working space, but rather a place to set things as I finished with them.
By cannibalizing a piece of teak furniture, we ended up with 2 lovely teak trays, each
about 16" by 26". One was adapted for the above need, here's a shot of it in the
"up" position. It also folds down flat against the bulkhead. I think this came out
great! Thanks Capt'n!
The pic at the left below is the "after" shot for the galley bulkhead. We've now got the
newly built louvered door and drawer front installed and have given the surrounding wood a
few coats of Teak Shield to make them look smart.
The one at the right is on the opposite side of the boat from the galley. It is the large
hanging locker door that is under the chart table/nav station area.
newly built louvered door and drawer front installed and have given the surrounding wood a
few coats of Teak Shield to make them look smart.
The one at the right is on the opposite side of the boat from the galley. It is the large
hanging locker door that is under the chart table/nav station area.
| Cabin Lighting Add-ons |
When we first bought the boat the lighting consisted of
flourescent fixtuures (3 basic ones in the salon/galley) and
110-vt incandescent reading lights in the salon and v-berth.
To put our spin on it, we pulled out the 110-vt fixtures - they
don't make sense to us since we aren't planning on spending
much time in marinas, plus all the heat they generate. Instead we
added several halogen "spot" lights: 2 in the salon, 1 at the nav
station, and 2 up in the v-berth to give high intensity lighting
where needed. These lights were standard track lights that the
captain "transformed" for 12-vt use and then mounted on teak
footings.
We replaced the old metal/plastic flourescent fixtures with
teak-trimmed ceiling mounted combination lights from Alpenglow
which offer high/low settings for both white flourescent and red
light in the same fixture (to preserve night vision adaptation
while on watch). These are nice and make the lighting in the
cabin ideal for most circumstances - red is for romance, right?
flourescent fixtuures (3 basic ones in the salon/galley) and
110-vt incandescent reading lights in the salon and v-berth.
To put our spin on it, we pulled out the 110-vt fixtures - they
don't make sense to us since we aren't planning on spending
much time in marinas, plus all the heat they generate. Instead we
added several halogen "spot" lights: 2 in the salon, 1 at the nav
station, and 2 up in the v-berth to give high intensity lighting
where needed. These lights were standard track lights that the
captain "transformed" for 12-vt use and then mounted on teak
footings.
We replaced the old metal/plastic flourescent fixtures with
teak-trimmed ceiling mounted combination lights from Alpenglow
which offer high/low settings for both white flourescent and red
light in the same fixture (to preserve night vision adaptation
while on watch). These are nice and make the lighting in the
cabin ideal for most circumstances - red is for romance, right?
| Cabin Ventilation |
I guess most folks have added 12-volt fans of
some sort or the other. As chief cook and bottle
washer, I would mutiny if there wasn't a fan in the
galley. They take very little juice, provide lots of
circulation, and on those hot, sticky nights you just
can't do without them!
We have 2 types on board. The teak and brass fan
to the right is aesthetically pleasing and extra quiet
so we use them in the v-berth. They are made by
Chimera Creations out of Victoria, BC (tele.
250-888-9077). All we did was Teak Shield them
to preserve the wood and keep them clean.
These only have 1 speed which is great for our
sleeping quarters, however, we felt they were a bit
underpowered for the salon, galley and engine
room. For those areas, we used 2-speed Hella's,
both in white and black.
some sort or the other. As chief cook and bottle
washer, I would mutiny if there wasn't a fan in the
galley. They take very little juice, provide lots of
circulation, and on those hot, sticky nights you just
can't do without them!
We have 2 types on board. The teak and brass fan
to the right is aesthetically pleasing and extra quiet
so we use them in the v-berth. They are made by
Chimera Creations out of Victoria, BC (tele.
250-888-9077). All we did was Teak Shield them
to preserve the wood and keep them clean.
These only have 1 speed which is great for our
sleeping quarters, however, we felt they were a bit
underpowered for the salon, galley and engine
room. For those areas, we used 2-speed Hella's,
both in white and black.
| Galley Countertop Overhaul |
| The head project was so awesome, it deserves it's own page. Click -HERE- to see the results. Here's one before/after eye-candy shot to tease you. |
| Other Salon Projects |
Here is "Mr. Handy" finally acquiescing to my
incessant nagging about a new entry point into
the settee storage area.
He looks like he's going to make me pay later,
huh?
Stay tuned for other interior improvements.
Below is just another spot back by the galley that
needs painting, We use a 1- part gloss
polyurethane - which looks great and is washable
when it gets grubby.
incessant nagging about a new entry point into
the settee storage area.
He looks like he's going to make me pay later,
huh?
Stay tuned for other interior improvements.
Below is just another spot back by the galley that
needs painting, We use a 1- part gloss
polyurethane - which looks great and is washable
when it gets grubby.
The counter top surfaces are 25 year old black formica which had greyed and become really
ugly, as you can see in the set of pics above this section. Rather than replace the formica we
chose to take a quicker approach and paint them with 2-part Interthane in dark blue. The
shots above show what the galley looks like after having sanded and primered, plus the 3
coats of paint. We shall see how it holds up. We will be very careful not to bang it up. I've
got a cutting board for the end of the counter that will be in place most of the time, so we'll
see... and keep you posted. Addendum: 6+ years later, 2 minor chips, no biggie!
ugly, as you can see in the set of pics above this section. Rather than replace the formica we
chose to take a quicker approach and paint them with 2-part Interthane in dark blue. The
shots above show what the galley looks like after having sanded and primered, plus the 3
coats of paint. We shall see how it holds up. We will be very careful not to bang it up. I've
got a cutting board for the end of the counter that will be in place most of the time, so we'll
see... and keep you posted. Addendum: 6+ years later, 2 minor chips, no biggie!
| Head Overhaul |
| Salon and Galley |
Here are a couple of general shots of the interior of Dreamtime. These were taken
just prior to our shake down cruise to the Berrys and Abacos. Click pic for larger
image.
just prior to our shake down cruise to the Berrys and Abacos. Click pic for larger
image.
| Salon, Starboard |
| Galley |
| Salon, Port |
At the local used boat parts place (in St. Augustine) we also found a piece of solid teak to
use as our new drawer front in the galley. A router, some sandpaper and some teak shield
will have it looking bristol in no time!
use as our new drawer front in the galley. A router, some sandpaper and some teak shield
will have it looking bristol in no time!