Cockpit seat storage

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3

3hr tourguide

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Mar 9, 2012
4
Macgregor 26S Southport
Everyone,

Although there is a lot of space in the laz of my 26S, I find it somewhat difficult to access when I am sailing due to the tiller being in the way (as well as a pain when the backstay prevents it from staying open). My thought was to use all that lovely space under the cockpit seats and build in some storage that way. Easy to get at etc etc. Has anyone done that yet? I also figured I could then use the opening to pack in some more floatation as well. If you have done it did you build it out as a storage area (placed wood braces etc) or did you just open up the space. I think this is a great idea to add more gear/junk. your thoughts are most welcome. Thanks!

Greg
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
or take a bungy cord stretched from one side of the laz hatch over the backstay to the other side of the laz hatch, to hold it open.

You do have floatation under the rear of the cockpit seat that could be used for storage.
but its also a new way for water to enter the cabin....
 
Doc_holiday

Doc_holiday

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Nov 19, 2011
1,489
MacGregor 26S Hampton, VA
Without looking, is there space between the seat surface and the ceiling (for lack of a better term) of the queen berth? If so, is it deep enough to do any good?
 
dawg2

dawg2

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Jun 25, 2012
173
Mac Gregor 26D GA
Has anyone ever opened this up and seen what is in there?
 
MrBill_FLL

MrBill_FLL

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May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
I haven't cut mine, but I have no doubt, there are big blocks of stryofoam in there.
I have seen picture of them cut from the inside for storage /cabinets.

what do you want to store under the seats?

I've also seen the cockpit coaming sides cut and winch handle boxes installed, and below in the footwell. recessed storage.
 
finding41

finding41

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Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
Yes there is foam back there. Also along the sides in the cockpit. ( A PO put a hole in mine to store nuts or something.)
Why not put a smaller storage locker like above in the lid of the laz?
I have a rubermaid screwed into the laz on a 2x4. (Again put there by a PO or squirrels.) It's a pain to get to. I plan some type of holder that will hold it in any position.
 
vizwhiz

vizwhiz

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Aug 7, 2011
496
MacGregor 26S Lakeland, FL
I have seen on another forum, posts of what some people did to make a laz-door-holder-opener...and I'm in the middle of making a floor for my laz, so I thought about it and came up with something that works well enough for me for now. I think Sumner actually had posted at one point about mounting a small spring-hook to the front of the laz hatch right at the place where it hits the backstay when you lift it up - clip it to the backstay and there you have it!
I did something similar as a temporary measure using an extra sail slug that I had - cut one end of the "loop" out just after the turn (so it would still look like a hook) just big enough of a slot to allow the backstay to slide through...and then drilled and screwed it to the front edge of the laz door in the same place. Now when I lift the laz door, I rotate the sail slug until the "hook" slides over the backstay and holds the door open. But I consider this a temporary measure and would very much like to find an easier way to get into the laz - same reasons, the rudder and the backstay are in the way. Come to think of it, someone else mentioned using a very small compressed-gas lifting cylinder (like on the rear hatch of a car) to help lift and especially hold open the laz cover. Would like to see pics of that!

On topic, I have been talking to the admiral about storage area under seats also. I'm thinking of installing a cubby-hole type box under the seat large enough to hold about a 3-gal fuel tank. No door, just a bucket like in the picture above, but laying on its side, with a bungee or straps across the front to keep the fuel tank in. (When you sit in the cockpit in front of the motor well, it would be behind your ankles/calves.) Kinda like a mini version of the M arrangement...
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
vizwhiz said:
... I think Sumner actually had posted at one point about mounting a small spring-hook to the front of the laz hatch right at the place where it hits the backstay when you lift it up - clip it to the backstay and there you have it! ....
Click to expand
Not me, maybe MrBill?

We do have something simple...




There is a small line attached to the hasp to the left of the bottom arrow. We lift the hatch and that line clips onto a clip up on the pushpit rail to the left of the middle arrow,

Sum

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Our Endeavour 37

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vizwhiz

vizwhiz

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Aug 7, 2011
496
MacGregor 26S Lakeland, FL
yeah, that's it Sum...I remembered it being something simple with a clip, but apparently had it in the wrong place...before you put the pushpit rail up did you have something else?
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
vizwhiz said:
yeah, that's it Sum...I remembered it being something simple with a clip, but apparently had it in the wrong place...before you put the pushpit rail up did you have something else?
Click to expand
The rail, line and clip came with the boat. One thing I didn't modify ;).

I did...



...cut the rail out on the starboard side and worked on the ladder...



...to make it much easier to board the boat from the water....



...or dinghy with the ladder parallel to the water. You can step from inside the dinghy onto ...



...the ladder platform which is also the...



.... dinghy tow bar, which helps to keep the dinghy and tow line out of the prop and secure in one spot,

Sum

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Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
 
Chris & Lenore

Chris & Lenore

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Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
To hold the rear locker lid open I use an "S" hook that attaches to the back stay with a plastic sail slug shackle. Squeezed one side of the S hook so it fits the shackle screw.
Works the best of anything I have tried and slides down the back stay and out of the way when not in use.
Takes about 60 seconds to fabricate and install.

I'll try to remember to take a pic of it - I get asked about it often.

Chris
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,480
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
I plan to cut an access to under the forward berth to stow my cockpit cushions. The door will probably be louvered or screened for air circulation
 
R

rgesner

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Jul 27, 2012
1
Macgregor 26S Portland
Doug91Mac26S said:
You could install something like a Tempress Hatch with a liner. They come in many sizes and are water tight. When closed will still provide floatation.
Click to expand
Nice hatches. I plan to install one in the cockpit seat and replace the removed foam by foaming under and around the motor well, which is a pretty useless hard to access area of the laz locker anyway.
 
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