April 17, 2011

More storage/organizing gizmos in the head and the main berth bow prong "closet"

My own weekend project was to install organization into the head, and into the main berth bow prong to create clothing storage (a "closet" area). The improvements in the head fromt his weekend are organizing items installed to create storage or places where things can be placed without taking up counter space. I created a liner row of wire-basket holders (they're portions of a shelf-organizer set I found at K-Mart which I repurposed for this project - they don't hang totally right, but they'll do for now, and I'll locate and install a rail along the bottom to push the bottoms out to hold items better plus provide more support). Plus, I finally found the best place to locate the shower handle holder when it's in use. Now, it's located right next to a hanger holder (from Lowe's) I put in, to accommodate wet bathing suits, drip-dry clothing, wet towels, etc.


For that bow prong area - here are photos (below) demonstrating the progress made after tearing down all the old headliner that had been up there. After installing the new insulating layer, I ended up painting it with PermaWhite instead of installing the new headliner fabric over that. Maybe we'll have time in the future to do that, but for now, the white paint makes the closet area more visible (reflects light much better) and gives a better surface than the insulation fabric provided.


In the new "closet" in the starboard bow prong, the first basket was affixed way up front, to a shallow but strongly Fiberglas/resin reinforced piece of plywood sticking down from near the front. That thick (approx. 3/4") plywood was used previously to support a clothes rod that we removed. The first basket will be used for items that aren't too heavy and aren't used very often, since it'll be the most challenging area to reach. The next basket is affixed to the first one, and is placed closer (a little further aft) because of the angles of the space. At first, I provided support to the bottom back edges of it by using 3M 90 spray glue to affix extra strips of insulation layered across the wires and onto the existing insulation, to snug the bottom of the basket into place. However, it needed more support, so Barry made and placed pieces of wood in a triangle pattern to support it (I'll paint those one of these days).


Then, we added a 3-foot "Closet Maid" shelf along the outer hull side of this area. First Barry made two wide pieces of wood that I affixed with 3M 90 spray glue to the insulated "wall". Then he made two narrower pieces that I screwed into the first ones, and these narrower pieces run vertically. The outer hull in that area isn't straight so there was no point trying to glue those in place - there's very little contact. Then, we screwed the shelf to the wood pieces. As for the angular support brackets that come with the shelf, I had to come up with a way to make those secure, since I installed the shelf upside down on purpose (I wanted the "lip" to point up instead of down, so the brackets don't seat normally). I wrapped wire ties to secure the brackets in place. It's a good sturdy shelf now.


After adding a couple of additional devices used for hanging, the whole space has become a very useful closet area that accommodates hanging items, folded items, shoes, laundry containers, and from time to time either extra boxes of items or just a place to perch.

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