Baffling
As I mentioned and showed in the post about our Katadyn install, we had a very large open locker (under the salon seats) that we could use for the watermaker. But as I said, the location is large, and is prime storage space and we weren’t ready to give it all up. I was concerned about storing any heavy objects in this location though because I was almost certain that in rough seas they would slide around and damage the expensive desalinator. Enter the baffles.
We don’t yet have our books on board (they are still in boxes in our truck, waiting for the completion of our new book shelf) so I can’t check to see in which one I saw this idea but the general plan was to subdivide the large locker to prevent things from rolling around. I used plywood for the dividers, cut to shape and then “lightened” by drilling a bunch of holes in them (every ounce saved in plywood allows for more beer to be carried).
The left one in the photo has hinges so that it can be raised and the area behind it accessed. That system still need a bit of tweaking.What will we keep in this location? Perhaps Rebecca’s brand new sewing machine that we purchased here. After seeing what our friend Terry can do with his sewing machine, and hearing his good reviews about this seller, we opted for a similar model, the Necchi 6110 Industrial Strength Sewing Machine. It may or may not have the same power as the Sailrite LSZ-1 that we initially coveted but it is half the price and just as important, half the weight! I am confident that it will do everything that we will want it to do, and more. Thanks Brenda and Ralph for the quick delivery.
Great idea guys! I assume there will be some kind of catch at the bottom. Can I copy this to Small Boat Projects?
bob
Definitely Bob.
The baffle to the right in the pic is attached by 4 tiny L-brackets. The same ones shown here:
http://www.zerotocruising.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/bracket.jpg
The one with the hinge just has a stopper at the rear. Because there would be stuff on this side it won’t be able to open inward unless it is removed. I think I may change the hinge arrangement though, or perhaps make it slide into a slot. Looking at that now… 🙂
OK, it now is attached at the bottom by hinges (as opposed to the top) and will fold flat in the locker when opened. Much better arrangement. Apparently I shouldn’t make design ideas after sawing and drilling wood in the sun for 4 hours. 🙂
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO……I thought it was a wine cellar
Rebecca was curious to see who the first person to say that would be. I should have guessed that it would be you, John. 🙂
The funny thing is, I didn’t see it until Rebecca mentioned it to me. She, and you John, are obviously much bigger drinkers than I am.
That’s a great idea, although I thought it was a wine cellar too. Not that a wine cellar is a bad thing…
From the looks of the hinges on the left baffle, it appears that if you open it, you block the entry to the locker itself? Is there another access point on the other side?
Behind the baffle to the left in the photo lies the watermaker membrane, or half of it (it is long and runs the length of both lockers). There is still a certain amount of space back there though which I think would be safe to store light, soft objects like toilet paper or paper towel rolls. I switched the hinges yesterday so that they are now on the bottom, allowing that baffle to fold flat into the locker. Of course, for it to fold completely flat the locker would need to be emptied. We should only need to do that to service the membrane though which hopefully will be never. We can now open it a bit to reach in and get what we need. Everything in the watermaker that needs servicing is on the other side of the baffle to the right, in the adjacent locker.
As for a wine cellar, we keep bottled wine in the bilge where it is cooler. 🙂
Go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of tube socks, then slip them over your wine/rum bottles.
Fair Winds,
Mike
I have heard that. Thanks Mike. We have been using bubble wrap (we purchased a large roll at Walmart) but your idea is good too.
Hey guys,
Are you still happy with this sewing machine and have you had much chance to use it?
Yes. It was one of the things we brought with us onto One Love. Rebecca just used it the other day.
Do you guys still have the Necchi sewing machine? would you recommend it?
-J
Yes, and yes. Or new boat came with a virtually new sewing machine though so now we have two! 🙂