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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

seat back storage

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newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/13/2008 : 08:39:50

There is a picture in the tech tips section posted by John Landers of seat back mods that allow for storage in the back of the settee. I can't find John listed in the members section but would certainly like to talk with him about this modification OR with anyone that has done it.

Specifically, I am wondering about the dimensions of the cutout and just exactly where the cutout should be made relative to the plane of the bottom of the seat.

Thanks

newell

Newell
1980 C25 SR/SK
AVALON

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2008 : 14:11:22

Newel - I installed seat back storage many years ago and have been very happy with the additional storage it provided. Unfortunately it was one of the mods that I have not documented, but I would be happy to discuss it with you. Also I will be going to my boat early next week, to work on another project, and will take some photos of the seat back mod installation and also take some measurements. The things I can tell you now, is thatcutting the holes in the fiberglass is messy and wearing a good dust mask (or better yet a respirator) and non-porous clothing is a must. The other thing is that the hardest part of the job is installing a closure inside the openings behind the settee back, so that things stored there will not slide down into the bilge. I accomplished this by epoxing 1x2s to the fiberglass behind the seat back and to the inside of the exposed hull. Then I cut 1/4" plywood to fit the space (I used foamcore art board to make templets) and screwed it to the 1x2s.It has held up pretty good over the years, but I have had to reglue a section here an there probably because I race and the boat takes a pounding some times. I chose to trim out the holes with wood; it is not necessary because the the seat cushion covers them most of he time, but you will need to finnish off the raw edges of the fiberglass in some manner.
If you have some other specific questions post them or email me and I'll do my best to answer them.

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2008 : 16:38:35

Renzo,
Would be great if you would post pics and any descriptions to the forum. Thanks.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2008 : 17:26:42

OK, Here are the photos of my seat back storage installation and a couple of drawings with dimentions.

PORT SIDE

STARBOARD SIDE

VIEW INSIDE OF STARBOARD SEAT BACK

The dimentions are not critical except to make sure the holes are not so big that they interfere with cushion placement and do not extend beyond the cushion top.

Edited by - Renzo on 01/15/2008 17:27:50

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 01/15/2008 : 18:05:49

Newell,
I did this over the holidays and have these observations to offer.

I would wait until you make the cuts before buying, or ordering, any trim material. On my 78 the starboard side was a single layer of fiberglass and the port side had a plywood backing so the thicknesses were different. Don't know what your model will dictate.

Use a medium toothed metal cutting jig saw blade. The fiberglass will destroy a wood cutting blade in short order.

After you make the first cutout, use it for a template to ensure all the cutouts are uniform.

Edited by - on

newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 06:51:36

Thanks to everyone for all of the advice on this. Now, to getting started

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 08:11:54

Wow, that really is a nice mod! I'm going to have to save this thread for future consumption.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 09:17:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveR
 Wow, that really is a nice mod! I'm going to have to save this thread for future consumption.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Thanks Dave. It is amazing how much, easily accessed, safe, storage space this mod adds. We keep wine and liquor bottles, extra glasses, plates, paper products, charts, flags, racing paraphernalia, books and other miscellaneous items in this area. My next project is to enclose the pin-rail area.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 09:36:48

Renzo, if you don't mind I will use that for a Mainsheet article. Please email me if that is OK with you.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 11:27:31

Renzo - NICE WORK!

Edited by - on

gop711
1st Mate

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Armenia
83 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 12:35:29

Renzo,

I would be willing to bet that a number of C25 will have this modification before spring.

Where did you buy the trim to go around your openings.

Thanks for taking the time to get photos and post them.

Greg

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 15:15:47

this looks very similar to my boat. I thought this was standard and not a mod. I guess PO did this along with moving the galley over to the starboard side.
In addition to these mods, he also removed the bottom step and replaced it with a battery box, so that my bottom step is part of the underseat storage and part of the bottom step.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 16:22:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gop711
 Where did you buy the trim to go around your openings.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Greg - I made the trim myself from 1/2" plywood and teak veneer. If I were doing it today I would try locate trim pieces (especially the round corners) at a lumber yard or marine wood supplier before I cut the holes and then lay out the holes based on the radius of the trim.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3477 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 17:13:00

Renzo,

Very professional looking. I will have to consider it for a future improvement project !

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 17:50:23

Renzo,
Did you use a CAD program to do the drawings? Very nicely done.

I wonder if I can do something similar on our 250. We find going in and out of our settee lockers a pain, seatback lockers would be a nice place to stash stuff just like you said. Booze, wine, charts, gloves, etc. Stuff that you want reasonably accessible but out of the way & safe from rolling all over the deck.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 18:36:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 Renzo,
Did you use a CAD program to do the drawings? Very nicely done.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The drawings were done on Power Point.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I wonder if I can do something similar on our 250. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I'm not sure about the construction on the C-250.

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 19:10:03

Nice...

Just curious - what are the black circular objects about 1" dia above some of the openings in the seat back?

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 19:23:13

Gerry,

I think those are round velcro tabs to hold the seatback cushions in place.

GaryB
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - on

Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2008 : 20:44:55

How about using these instead of all the cutting of wood. Found this on west marine.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2008 : 06:34:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 Gerry,

I think those are round velcro tabs to hold the seatback cushions in place.

GaryB
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yup,You are right. They are velcro tabs

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2008 : 06:37:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Chris Z
 How about using these instead of all the cutting of wood. Found this on west marine.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Would probably work but a pretty costly option (You Need 6)and I don't think you don't need the hinged water proof cover.

Edited by - on

gop711
1st Mate

Members Avatar

Armenia
83 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2008 : 09:45:47

Another question for the brain trust.

In doing this project, the fiberglass behind the cushion is not that thick. Would it be best to cut the holes out with a dremel tool or a jig saw with a metal blade as suggested earlier in this post?

Thanks
Greg

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2008 : 09:46:13

Renzo,
Is the inside of your hull lined with wood or was that part of your mod?

Edited by - on

clayC
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2008 : 12:44:03

I have considered using the teak or plastic trim from Catalina Direct. they have trim for the cockpit coaming.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2008 : 13:02:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gop711
 Another question for the brain trust.

In doing this project, the fiberglass behind the cushion is not that thick. Would it be best to cut the holes out with a dremel tool or a jig saw with a metal blade as suggested earlier in this post?

Thanks
Greg
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Greg
I used a hole saw to define the corners of the openings and to provide a consistent radius. and then a jig saw(saber saw)with a metal cutting blade to cut the straight lines between the hole saw cuts. I don't know if the Dremel would be easier or if it would make more or less dust, but I think it might be harder to cut a straight line with the Dremel unless you used a cutting guide.

Edited by - on

gop711
1st Mate

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Armenia
83 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2008 : 13:09:50

Thanks for getting back with me.

The hole saw is good idea, I think that will be the path I take.

I think I may try some snap on windlace to cover the raw edges of the fiberglass. I just saw some on the Sailrite web site.

Thanks again
Greg

Edited by - on

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