Interior Refit: Part 4: Evolution of Galley and Navigation Station

I've learned that it takes A LOT of time and doubloons to piece together a wooden interior, particularly on an older custom boat built by hand and sailed for 40 years with the usual flexing and resulting odd measurements where nothing is uniform.  However, the end is in sight!

Stbd. Quarter Berth

Here's the new quarter berth, complete with T&G headliner, teal battens and ash ceiling. Given the time spent in this confined space solo-cruising and offshore, it's nice to have it at the same level of detail as the v-berth. We'll end up installing a tri-data instrument in here for monitoring of essential wind/speed/depth/compass functions while racing or at anchor.

Headliner Progress Looking Aft

Headliner and Grab Rail Looking Forward

The entire ash headliner is installed and awaits installation of its IMTRA' LED lighting.

Looking aft and forward, visible is a single, lonely teak batten. Alas, on the drying shelf, I left approximately 50 pieces of meticulously cut, finish-varnished teak trim for this section of headliner just begging to join it! Visible is the new teak drip edge/grab rail around the entire parameter of the coach house. This is a safety and practical upgrade to the original design, particularly since we've added opening ports.



When I left the shop this week, Jonathon was nearly complete with fabricating a new teak frame for the overhead hatch. The original was deemed by Bob to have too many holes to be worthy of re-installation.  So I've taken it home to use as...? The new companionway teak and final installation of the ports will wait until after painting but the ladder is stripped and awaits refinishing.

Bob Eger Working the Headliner Trim

Here we see a typical view of Bob Eger.  Bob is gratefully re-assembling the headliner in the main salon after we dropped it, only to jointly deem it too much effort to install new outside jib tracks per the request of Butch Ulmer of UK Sails. More on that in the Rigging section! However, we did drop the headliner port and stbd. closer to the mast to install inside 5' jib tracks to accommodate the new high aspect ratio sail plan.  Tracks will be installed with G10 backing plates and the remaining headliner reinstalled. If only we had the sail plan several months ago, this wouldn't have been so complex.

Newly Designed Navigation Station

Keeping with the theme of 'wooden boat on the inside' the new navigation area will include an electrical breaker panel and tank/monitoring station that is enclosed behind sliding, paneled doors. The panel itself will hinge downward for servicing but be hidden when not needed.  Shelving to the left will include space for a vintage, c.1970's Zeiss barograph. Visible in the lower left corner of this photo is the sextant compartment which will house a vintage 1975 Cassens & Plath sextant and box.

Jonathon fabricating new teak hatch frame

No doubt, one of the most rewarding aspects of building a boat - aside from the obvious of going sailing - is getting to know the people involved in the refit. Maine has it's share of characters and the best of them can be found in the boat building industry. Aside from Bob, Jonathon is responsible for all the interior carpentry.

Original 'Paul Luke' Builders Plaque Awaiting Re-installation