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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Storage behind seats

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dbehling
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/23/2004 : 01:44:51

We are considering cutting out storage holes behind our seats like so many have done. I have seen the pictures on the Tech site. Does anyone have any more pictures to offer or how the bottom shelf is installed? Also, is there some sort of side shelf? Any pictures or advise would be very helpful.

1979 SR/SK L-Dinette "Windy Britches" Sail #1205

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2004 : 10:15:45

We are possibly interested in cutting HOLES on the inside of "Leprechaun" also.The PO had installed a microwave and had cut a hole behind the port side settee to be able to install screws. I now have a hole there that is not functional. I also would be interested in suggestions. Alan & Eileen
With "Leprecahun" on the hard....

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2004 : 15:59:21

I don't have any pics, but when I did it I used 1/4" plywood for the bottom. On the port side (traditional linear settees) I put screws through the access panels lip on the seat bottom into the plywood. On the inside hull surface I epoxied small blocks cut to the correct angles at about 1 foot intervals for the other edge of the shelf bottom to rest on. On the Starboard side I removed the wood seat bottom and put screws through the similar fiberglass lip (edge) and the wood blocks epoxied to the inside hull surface. The inside hull surface is pretty rough, so I made "bag"-shaped liners from naugahyde.

I used lightweight cardboard to make patterns for the shelves, transfered that to the plywood once I had the correct shape cut out.

I can't remember how I managed to get the plywood pieces in to that space, but it is do-able as one piece for each side.

I trimmed the openings with Trim-Lok http://www.trimlok.com/trim.htm For that you need the kind with grip barbs on both sides and aluminum internal clip material. The company sells minimum 50 ft lengths, but I called them (really nice people), we figured out what I needed and they gave me the number of the retailer (Austin Hardware, if I remember right. Big Texas hardware chain, anyway) that had that particular style.

Good luck with it! It sure adds a lot of storage space.

Edited by - John Mason on 11/23/2004 16:02:31

Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2004 : 18:08:57

I have done the storage bins behind the seats on our boat. The pieces of ply for the bottoms need only be fastened to the seat flats with small bolts or sheet metal screws. A liner can be made with the fabric hull liner type materials. If the cut outs are neatly done and sanded smooth you do not need the edge trim either. Great place for wine and other stuff like rain gear. Dave

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2004 : 20:31:51

When I cut access holes for the space behind the settees, I made them to fit the teak or plastic cockpit coaming box trim rings available from Catalina.

-- Leon Sisson

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2004 : 19:11:59

I have been told that cutting a hole in the bottom of the boat is a good way to let water out of the bilge. Maybe I'll try that.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2004 : 23:26:17

I have been considering doing this on my owm boat. I even went so far as to draw the outlines of the holes in pencil on the settee backs, but haven't actually done any sawing yet. I haven't figured out how to do the shelf at the bottom yet, either. How big would you suggest I make the holes? How does 12" wide x 4" tall sound? Or should I make them wider/taller than that?

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dbehling
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2004 : 14:38:25

I was talking to somebody about the idea of putting the storage behind the seats. I was asked, isn't that also a sealed compartment??? Wouldn't you loose floatation?????? I never thought of this before. For those who have done this project have seen behind the seats. Is it a sealed area, do you loose what little floatation these areas offer??? Or is it a mute subject, with the weight of the boat, and so many open lockers????? Always learning something new here!

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2004 : 14:50:27

I think any flotation offered from air trapped behind the seats in a C25 is a moot point.
IMHO the only practical way to make a C25 'unsinkable' is by adding one of those 'yachtsaver' inflatable bag systems.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2004 : 00:55:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dbehling
 Wouldn't you loose floatation??????
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Debbie
If you put a hole in any Catalina 22 or 25, it is going to sink, no if's, and's, or but's. There is no flotation foam in these boats unless it was added by a PO. And it would take a HUGE volume of foam to float a punctured C-25; these are heavy boats. A 250 water ballast, like Steve and JoAnne's boat, might be unsinkable if it has factory foam flotation in the non-storage spaces, like the MacGregor 26WB has. Meanwhile, stay away from rocks and submerged pilings. I'd hate to hear that you sank my old boat after I put all that work into replacing the keel cable and winch last year

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dbehling
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 11/27/2004 : 19:28:33

Yeah, I kinda new this, but it's always nice to say to somebody, no...this is not a floatation area. It would be great to see if anybody could take some pictures of their storage area's, especially the side walls, I understand how the shelf goes in, side area wall still gets me.

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2004 : 18:47:51

Here's a picture from the Tech section (scroll to the bottom of the page).

http://www.catalina25-250.org/tech/tech25/magdrag2.html

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TRogers
1st Mate

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USA
90 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2004 : 19:50:40

While I have not done the behind the seat mod, my impression is that the area behind the seats is NOT a sealed area anyway. Poking around I've pretty much noticed that all of the areas you can open up and see the outer hull are all pretty much open so that any water leakage from above drains down into the bilge. Imagine the water damage if water leaking through from the deck, were to get caught up in a compartment that couldn't drain to the bilge.

For example pull up the access panels under the quarterbirth cushions, port side seating or under the sink. From what I have been able to observe, any water that you get in there will drain directly into the bilge.

It's possible there might be some sealed compartments somewhere, but I haven't confirmed any. After poking around, I even noticed that the storage compartment under the v-birth even has a drain to the bilge. Well, maybe the battery compartment won't drain to the bilge (would hate to have spilled battery acid drain to the bilge).

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