The situation is familiar: You buy a well-kept second-hand boat and continue to use the existing storage space in the same way as the previous owner did. For the time being, impractical details are tolerated. By the end of the season or on the first longer trip at the latest, it becomes clear that an optimisation is needed.
The stowage box under the driver's bench and the rear cockpit seat form a single space, separated as standard by the cockpit table stowed inside.
The only annoying thing is that as soon as the table is removed and set up, in rough seas or during heavy manoeuvres, all the stowage items in both boxes tumble around in a mess. The front rounded partition wall also proves impractical for stowing.
The remodelling
In this article, we show you how to solve these "problems" using simple means. As shown in the photos, two wooden boards (poplar, 0.5 mm thick) are sawn to the appropriate dimensions. One serves as a permanent partition to the "neighbouring box", the impractical rounding at the front then disappears with the second wooden panel, which has a narrow second level at the top for small items and tools. This creates a better overview and the space is optimally utilised. The partition to the aft is fastened at the bottom with two stainless steel screws to the existing stop bracket and fixed from above with a screw to the reinforced upper edge. To compensate for the curvature at the front, the panel, which has previously been cut to size, is glued to the lower edge and the upper web with assembly adhesive. To do this, mark the gluing points with a pencil beforehand by provisionally positioning the panel.
After allowing the adhesive the necessary curing time (approx. 24 hours), everything is firmly in place. All of the material, including that for fastening, is available from DIY stores for just a few euros. The same applies to the small storage boxes, which fit perfectly here. The result: after a few hours of work, the storage space under the bench is now ideal for equipment, cleaning materials or tools, for example.
Photo instructions for more storage space
