Before
John MacDougall, Annie Laurie, #26
Here are 10 photos of my new storage area, behind the starboard-side settee. It is similar to the port-side, dinette storage area, but has some unique features and requirements.
Last year, when I was investigating additional storage locations, I did find that a simple "knock test" showed that this area directly below the main salon starboard side locker to NOT be hollow and I was NOT interested in drilling / cutting into something that solid, so I decided to temporarily pass this idea by, and concentrate on the port side, where I found it hollow, and possible to actually see into the area, over the top of that small bulkhead/support that is in the middle of the dinette seat back.
When I saw Joe Rocchio's photo, of the starboard-side, I decided to take a look at mine with a video camera, and I found the exact same thing, in the same place and I figured that I could drill / cut a small access hole, and allow some access to an otherwise inaccessible location. So, I went and made some measurements, and proceeded to drill / cut out an access hole.
The finished access hole is 12" x 6", oval shaped.
I drilled 2 6" holes, using a 6" hole saw, and then used a jig saw to "cut-out" the remaining material to give me that nice oval opening....filed and sanded it smooth....
The wood is backed by a lot of fiberglass, and gets thicker the further aft you drill / cut (the aft end of the oval hole, is about 1"+ thick). You need to drill / cut just aft of the small bulkhead/support that is in the middle of the starboard side settee area, and you'll have approx. 12" to 15" of space to cut-out an opening.
When I asked Gerry Douglas about this, he said to make it as small as we could live with, and preferably round or oval. He also mentioned that he keeps some special places on most boats (our 470s included), to add some "trim ballast" to keep the boat within +/- 0.5 degrees of list, as equipped (genset, A/C, batteries, thruster, etc....), typically near the point of max beam, near waterline. This is one of those locales, and this "trim ballast" is what was so securely glassed in place, behind the aft section of the starboard-side settee and what made it sound so solid and "not-hollow".....
I've got this spot less than half full, and I've got 3 spare 30-amp shore power cords, 220v European shore power cord (100' long), 110v electric pump and hoses, 110v electric drill and 110v electric saber saw (both in Rubbermaid containers), 250v / 50amp to 2- 125v / 30-amp "Y- Adapter", another Rubbermaid container with misc. parts catalogs (Harken, Schaeffer, Garhauer, Jabsco, Adler/Barbour, Lewmar, etc. etc.), Ziploc bags of extra courtesy flags (40+ ), and some spare port/hatch insect screening, etc., etc.
I hope this clears up the mystery and gives all of you an idea of what you can do, and what you can get stowed in these locations.
(Click on picture for full size)
Before
Before
Factory chainplate and genset access
Holes drilled
Oval cut-out
Close-up
New teak cover
New teak cover
New teak cover peeking out