How to convert a settee to a booth like dinette

[jhack82]

Hello, I live aboard a endeavour 32 and I find we have our table down all the time and it is always full of stuff so its a pain to put back up. and this makes it dificult to pass through the cabin. I am thinking of removing the leaf that folds down and converting the starboard settee to a 2 person booth like dinnete to "solve" this problem. It would give a good desk type place and a good place for the wife and I to eat. I am still batting this around and was curious if anyone had done anything like this or if I am just crazy. I am also considering putting in a nice double sink and a single person desk instaed of a 2 person booth. the sink that is installed is ridiculously small and dishes are always a pain and it would be nice to replace the sink with a larger under the counter box to act as a top loading pantry next to the icebox. Now if I can only find a good place for the stackable pans, they get placed about the cabin now when not dirty. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Jordan

[Rachel]

Welcome to the forum, Jordan :)

It would be nice to get a look at the space you're describing - kind of hard to visualize it well enough to make suggestions or comments, based only on the written description (at least for me).

Rachel

[jhack82]

here is a picture of the area i want to change, and yes, i know its a mess. I did a sketch of what i want it to look like, but its at work right now, I'll post that when i get back on Saturday. I did find out that an average double sink of decent size is about 33" long by 18" and 9" deep, plus plumbing. That would leave 38" for a "desk" and a 1" divider. i am thinking about opening the area under the sink up for a bit more leg room, not much, just the last 6" that would make it more comfortable. i am fortunate that i am only 5' 10" and my wife is 5' 2" so we do not need an extraordinary amount of room to make this work. As i have been thinking about this more, i am wondering how would I construct it? would marine plywood sealed with epoxy and painted do well? or do i need to seal it? what paint should i use? Should i keep any of the fiberglass Liner in that area? design is fun and relatively easy, how to make that a reality, that is a fun part. thanks for the advice

Regards,
Jordan

[Hirilondë]

......and converting the starboard settee to a 2 person booth like dinnete to "solve" this problem. It would give a good desk type place and a good place for the wife and I to eat.

That is exactly how the early Renegades, mine included, were set up down below.



I have contemplated every conceivable option I could think of or find reference to. I can move around in the salon comfortably and stretch my limbs when stuck below on a miserable day while cruising. I cruise with my wife only. My wife and I once took my daughter and a friend on a 3 day weekend to Block Island. Yes, that was very cozy, but a large table would have only made it worse. After 4 years of ownership the only change I can consider making would be to make a fancy mahogany table with some kind of intricate inlay. This will happen when I have nothing else to do. Having nothing else to do is not on the near horizon. No, I can not serve a formal dinner for 4 on my boat. I have learned to live with that.

In summary I would definitely suggest you give this option consideration. You have already expressed some of the best reasons to chose this set up.

[Tom Young]

I helped a friend put one in his Cheoy Lee 31. I had one on my last boat and we loved it. He liked the idea so I helped him design it and he built it in. He thinks it's really improved his boat. The CL31 is narrow but it's comfortable for two adults or a few kids.

[jhack82]

The design below is what i am toying with since the current sink is only 14" x 10" and 9" deep. The big problem that would be a real pain in the butt would be the drain. I have a thru hull underneath the sink right now and ideally i should put a new one where the sink is supposed to go, but the boats not going out for bottom paint until next year and that is a project a bit beyond me right now. Is there a problem running tubing, 1 1/2" or 2" of course, roughly 7 ft from the drains? too bad i'm not doing it to the port side, i have a thru hull there i'm not using from the old head(converted to composting head and capped the thru hulls, haven't filled them yet) but that is the longer settee and it also converts to a double berth as well. A few bonuses would be removing the old sink and replacing it with a top loading pantry and also the area the new sink will go in is 20" above the current settee bed and since its only a 9" deep variant that will open up the area below it for pots and pans and more food storage. there is quite a storage issue on this boat, especially with 2 people onboard. Lastly, how should i do this? just cut out the liner and put in some sealed and painted marine ply to make the wall and foot rest and install the countertop on the fiberglass liner? suppoerted of course, but stil, i am suspect to whether the fiberglass liner can hold up. Thanks for the examples and encouragement so far! i am pretty positive i am gong to do it. But i need to get good plans and look at it fully before i leap into cuts. thanks again

regards,
Jordan