I am using my 29 as a winter home. I love the boat, but I want a bigger v berth and head. I am taller than the birth and I would like a more female friendly head.Also, I want the seating to be more comfortable. Has anyone tried to alter the interior layout. I'm thinking of removing the head and adding that space to the v birth area. Then using the current aft bulkhead and building a new head 3 ft, towords the stern. This will give me the space I want while making the cabin area a bit smaller, which is OK for me. Then I will have some more comfortable cusions made. Does anyone have any ideas? reasons not ?
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Our Decision
We did not find a boat under 34' that had adequate v berth room. An aft head results in more salon room and would be more F friendly. Your remodeling sounds ambitious. If the head does not open to the v berth, you may have a bulkhead issue that will be a problem. I wonder how much of your investment in remodeling would be recovered when you sell. I fear very little. Maybe it would be more cost effective to sell and use the remodelling $$ to move up. There are some very, very good buys on the market. Start first with the 32, then a 20 or 25 year old 34/35 or even a 36 (a lot of room in that one).
We did not find a boat under 34' that had adequate v berth room. An aft head results in more salon room and would be more F friendly. Your remodeling sounds ambitious. If the head does not open to the v berth, you may have a bulkhead issue that will be a problem. I wonder how much of your investment in remodeling would be recovered when you sell. I fear very little. Maybe it would be more cost effective to sell and use the remodelling $$ to move up. There are some very, very good buys on the market. Start first with the 32, then a 20 or 25 year old 34/35 or even a 36 (a lot of room in that one).
I was able
to rearrange the interior of my Islander when I refitted it. The details can consume you but plan very thoroughly. Look at everything from six directions. It would all be easier if we could just bump a wall out here or there but we have to work within the confines of the hull. There has to be some compromises between what you want and what will fit. If you can get enough length in the berth to stretch out full length, trying for an extra inch may stop you somewhere else. so plan, plan, plan. Have fun doing it. Remember it is your boat and if it pleases you then that's all that matters.
to rearrange the interior of my Islander when I refitted it. The details can consume you but plan very thoroughly. Look at everything from six directions. It would all be easier if we could just bump a wall out here or there but we have to work within the confines of the hull. There has to be some compromises between what you want and what will fit. If you can get enough length in the berth to stretch out full length, trying for an extra inch may stop you somewhere else. so plan, plan, plan. Have fun doing it. Remember it is your boat and if it pleases you then that's all that matters.
Make her yours
I had wanted to do some custom work on my boat too. It seemed that everyone was concerned about its resale value. I am wanting to make it mine and didn't buy her with resale in my thoughts. So I say go for it and be happy with what you've done and enjoy it to the fullest. Seek professional help when you need it. You cant over do it either . Good luck and keep us informed and by all means take pictures while doing this. We'll enjoy looking at the accomplishments. Maybe others will follow suit.
I had wanted to do some custom work on my boat too. It seemed that everyone was concerned about its resale value. I am wanting to make it mine and didn't buy her with resale in my thoughts. So I say go for it and be happy with what you've done and enjoy it to the fullest. Seek professional help when you need it. You cant over do it either . Good luck and keep us informed and by all means take pictures while doing this. We'll enjoy looking at the accomplishments. Maybe others will follow suit.
Sanity Check
Before you start cutting, determine how much the project is going to cost. Understand that changing the bulkheads' positions will require more sutures to reinforce the deck. And that the entire exercise will affect the center of gravity and several stresses. Compare the total cost estimate to the resale value of your boat today. Don't assume any will want to buy a deeply modified classic, nor will a structural modification improve the value of your boat. Add disposal cost to your project cost & your boat's current value. Now you have true cost. After you weigh the pros and cons of trying to convert a 29's cube into a 32's cabin space, instead check the market for a 32, that has a resale value for staying a comfortable 32. To coin a phrase - Think thrice, buy once. Best wishes, Rollyn Trueblood
Before you start cutting, determine how much the project is going to cost. Understand that changing the bulkheads' positions will require more sutures to reinforce the deck. And that the entire exercise will affect the center of gravity and several stresses. Compare the total cost estimate to the resale value of your boat today. Don't assume any will want to buy a deeply modified classic, nor will a structural modification improve the value of your boat. Add disposal cost to your project cost & your boat's current value. Now you have true cost. After you weigh the pros and cons of trying to convert a 29's cube into a 32's cabin space, instead check the market for a 32, that has a resale value for staying a comfortable 32. To coin a phrase - Think thrice, buy once. Best wishes, Rollyn Trueblood
I am gonna
come back in here on this one. I don,t know how long you waited to get a boat or how often you get tired of what you have and want something new. When I bought what became Bietzpadlin, Nancy and I had looked a dozens of boats and discussed the pros and cons of shape and sea worthiness. When we bought Bietzpadlin we knew that at my age(51)by the time I finished remodeling and refitting her it would be the only boat that we would ever have. So we spent a great deal of time making her what we wanted . For example we spent 2 months one winter designing and making the dinette table and dish cabinet. We can fold the table up against the dish cabinet and close the cabinet and get the table out of the way in about ten seconds. So we have a custom built 30 foot 1968 Islander that has a replacement value of about fifty thousand dollars and a selling value of about ten to fifteen thousand. But we have considered all that we have done and whether or not we would change anything and the only change that I would make is to build a sump in the bilge for the pump.
come back in here on this one. I don,t know how long you waited to get a boat or how often you get tired of what you have and want something new. When I bought what became Bietzpadlin, Nancy and I had looked a dozens of boats and discussed the pros and cons of shape and sea worthiness. When we bought Bietzpadlin we knew that at my age(51)by the time I finished remodeling and refitting her it would be the only boat that we would ever have. So we spent a great deal of time making her what we wanted . For example we spent 2 months one winter designing and making the dinette table and dish cabinet. We can fold the table up against the dish cabinet and close the cabinet and get the table out of the way in about ten seconds. So we have a custom built 30 foot 1968 Islander that has a replacement value of about fifty thousand dollars and a selling value of about ten to fifteen thousand. But we have considered all that we have done and whether or not we would change anything and the only change that I would make is to build a sump in the bilge for the pump.
reasons
Thanks for all the response. My first thought was a bigger boat but I can single hand this one and it is great to sail. cheaper and easier to moor. I'm not all that worried about resale. I just want to be comfortable. I'm a builder and remodelier by trade so I'm pretty handy. I don't want my thinking to be restricted by traditional boat layout and funiture. Like Ross I will have more in it than it is worth, but it will be how I like it.( eventually) I'll post pictures when I get it figured out. Also. Rollyn your point about structure is good. That is why I'm going to leave the main bulkhead in tact and work around that. I'm still open to suggestions, Thanks, Paul
Thanks for all the response. My first thought was a bigger boat but I can single hand this one and it is great to sail. cheaper and easier to moor. I'm not all that worried about resale. I just want to be comfortable. I'm a builder and remodelier by trade so I'm pretty handy. I don't want my thinking to be restricted by traditional boat layout and funiture. Like Ross I will have more in it than it is worth, but it will be how I like it.( eventually) I'll post pictures when I get it figured out. Also. Rollyn your point about structure is good. That is why I'm going to leave the main bulkhead in tact and work around that. I'm still open to suggestions, Thanks, Paul
New plan
I thought twice (or more) and cut once, so far. Instead of moving the head I took half of the hanging locker and incorporated it into the v berth, It worked great . I now have about 6' 10" on the starbord side. There is still a fair amount of space in the hanging locker and I didn't change the look of the interior. I'm still working on the head issue. I'm now thinking of making a bump out towards the bow. This will make the starbord side of the v berth smaller but it will preserve the interior.
I thought twice (or more) and cut once, so far. Instead of moving the head I took half of the hanging locker and incorporated it into the v berth, It worked great . I now have about 6' 10" on the starbord side. There is still a fair amount of space in the hanging locker and I didn't change the look of the interior. I'm still working on the head issue. I'm now thinking of making a bump out towards the bow. This will make the starbord side of the v berth smaller but it will preserve the interior.
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