Use of the 'Garage' in the aft

[colinnz]

Hi all,

The rear access to the 'garage' (if that is what you all call it) is not ideal. The upward door is ok to tie back but the lower one needs to come off to make the space accessible. We used to have a aircon unit and a genset in there (both now gone) but now it is a mucky mess serving no purpose other than a dumping area for rubbish on our 'slightly longer' trips away to Bay of Islands etc. Have any of you more experienced out there done any other non-invasive mods to the area short of adding easy to remove latches etc to the bottom door? I was also thinking of putting a rear salt water washdown pump and hose there (for fishing) and doing some other mods to finally really use the space. It is cavernous as another owner was in their stood up last year doing some tidying and some work on quadrant. 

Any thoughts or pics or ideas would be helpful. Trying to keep costs down and also trying not to do any alterations to boat fabric (still pretty chicken about that).

Thanks all.

[andreshs1]

Hi Colin

I have been playing with a crazy idea that would solve that issue....

I am thinking on creating a lifting swimming platform as most of the new boats have. once the platform is up it would cover the full area, thus, there will be no need to have the doors on it anymore

in addition, it would address issues with following seas flooding the cockpit, security at night when at anchor, etc.....

What do you think?

Cheers

[colinnz]

Now that would be a doosy of an idea!! We are looking to get a smaller boarding ladder as ours is long and high and I think a telescopic one would do just as well and leave space on rear transom. Yes if hatch opened out as a platform and a ladder, that would be good. Have to think about that........

[andreshs1]

 Yes, what I have not been able to address yet is the core of the platform. I would like it light-ish while able to support 400Kg min (kids jumping, couple of adults, etc.)

I have been looking at videos in YouTube on different builds for a swimming platform, yet, it is not easy for me to source the materials in HK

At the same time, I would be keen to know how 'more skilled' owners would do it

cheers

[saltymetals]

If any of you come up with a workable design i would be most interested to see it. The existing swim platform is OK but a bit narrow and it wld be soooo nice to have an opening section to make it wider. 

Andres, i recently added a passarelle to my boat and it was quite a job to drill a hole in the swim platform to accept the female fitting that takes the pin on the passarelle. The GRP at that point was really quite thick and i suspect certainly strong enough to take a fold down extension. What puzzles me is how on earth to get access underneath the existing swim platform since any fold-down extension would need to have backing plates underneath and the assembly through-bolted. It is already a struggle to get at the steering cables through the panels at the rear of the aft cabin but the underneath of the swim platform is even further away and further down. Does removal of the aft quarter locker enable access to the underneath of the existing swim platform?
Andrew

[andreshs1]

Hi there

during my initial analysis, removing the 'garage' allows for full access to the space under the swimming platform on the port side, and if you have a long arm you can also access the starboard side. Otherwise, you can get a tiny person to access the starboard side via the gas locker. in addition, I read once that the swimming platform has a section where the fiberglass is thinner, as it is designed to access the autopilot

I was thinking on experimenting with an L shape design for the support with a hinge welded on the vertex of the 2 plates, that way, there will be full support while attached to the transom whether the platform is raised or lowered

I still need time to work on it, and sadly, it has gone down in the list of projects to finish (the admiral is the one prioritizing the projects.... and she seems to really really really want that washing machine  )

[svmasarap]

I have been thinking of hinging the lower door to the upper door and putting the lock down low. 

[mesteve]

Jun 7, 2021 11:21:03 GMT andreshs1 said:

I still need time to work on it, and sadly, it has gone down in the list of projects to finish (the admiral is the one prioritizing the projects.... and she seems to really really really want that washing machine  )

Where are you putting that?!

[andreshs1]

What do you mean?

The idea is to create a transom platform that could be raised/lowered

Cheers

[mesteve]

Honestly, I have no idea what I was trying to quote or what I was even asking about...lol

Wait, it was the washing machine I was asking about!

[andreshs1]

Hi mesteve

I have just completed the washing machine installation. 
At the end, I purchased the Candy Aqua 104 le/2-s and I have fitted it under the galley sink. Photos attached

Considerations:
- under the galley sink there is a 2 panel wooden hatch door, this needs to be removed in order to be able to have enough room for the washing machine. As I was concerned on the actual support strength of the floor, I have added a 3mm steel plate over angle bars that provides additional support from the side panels (photo attached)

- I cut a wider opening at the back of the cabinet, next to the water heater where I ran the drain and water hoses 
- new drain hose runs to the main bilge area behind the reserve fresh water tank, where a dedicate Surflo sump has been installed. This will help to remove 2 under water line thru-hulls (galley sink and forward sink), and consolidate the washing machine, galley sink, fwd shower & fwd sink to the existing fwd thru-hull for the forward shower.


Cheers

[papawads]

We don’t plan the change the garage from storage for the liferaft, but we do plan to create a false floor in it, for a safe. There’s a lot of room underneath, in the left 2/3rd of the floor.