INTERIOR JOINERY
Once you have installed the bulkheads and the sole, the techniques used to fit out the interior of a steel, fibreglass or timber boat are all very similar. A considerable amount of the joinery is attached to the bulkheads and the sole but where the joinery is attached to the hull, you must make special provision for this attachment depending on the hull material. Fibreglass is probably the easiest as it can be bonded almost anywhere, steel and timber need purpose grounds put in place to take the furniture.
SUGGESTED JOINERY DIMENSIONS
The dimensions of the human frame have changed considerably over the past years so we have to adjust accordingly. When I first started to build and later design boats, a berth with an overall length of 6’2” [1.88m] was considered adequate. Today, the same berth would be expected to measure around 6’6” [1.98m]. Here are a few measurements that I would consider relevant today.
Single berths should be 6’6” [1.98m] or minimum of 6’4” [1.93m] long and 2’6” [7620mm] wide. The width may be narrower at the extreme head and foot. The main width requirement is at the shoulders. Double berths should be 4’6” [1.37m] wide although two friends can manage with 4’3” [1.29m]. Most people will be familiar with the various measurements of Queen and King size beds and today I am often called upon to include these large size berths, especially when preparing plans for power cruisers. Queen size berths are usually 5’0” [1.52m] wide and 6’6” [1.98m] long. The space between upper and lower berths should be 21” [533mm], seats should be 18” [457mm] wide and between 12” and 18” [305 and 457mm] from the sole. The higher the seat, the less foot room is required. Seats require 3’6” [1.07m] headroom and 24” [610mm] frontage for comfort. If seats face each other, then 30” [762mm] foot room, although this is sometimes difficult to obtain in small boats. More time is spent sitting than standing so seating comfort requires a fair amount of consideration.
Clothes lockers should be at least 16” [406mm] in width or depth with a height of 40” [1.016m]. Ice boxes should be as large as the space available permits and have a minimum lining of 3” [75mm] of insulation. A well-built ice box is a creditable alternative to a freezer. The minimum size for a sink is 10” x 10” x 6” but larger is preferable. The sink should have at least 15” clear space above. Deep sinks are to be preferred especially in a sailboat as the heeling can considerably reduce the working depth. If you are going to be sailing with your female mate, please ask her advice about laying out the galley. The standard height for tables is 28” [711mm] above the sole or 12” [305mm] above the top of the seats. 24” x 18” [610 x 457 mm] of table space is required for each person.
Galley work benches and sinks should be at least 15” to 18” [380 to 457 mm] wide and 36” [914mm] above the sole. Drawers should be no more than 9” [228mm] deep and the maximum dimensions should not be more than 30” x 20” x 9” [762 x 508 x 228 mm]. If the drawers are narrow, say 8” [203mm], then the depth may be increased to 15” [380mm]. Try not to make drawers too big as they can be unmanageable at sea. Make sure you include safety catches or special slide arrangements so the drawers stay closed in rough weather. The maximum pitch for ladders should not exceed 60 degrees and long ladders should rise 7” to 9” [178 to 228 mm] per step and each step or tread should be at least 7” to 10” [178 to 225 mm] deep. Hatches should be a minimum of 18” x 18” for ventilation and emergency use. All the heights given assume you have standing headroom in your cabin.
