With our Hunter 26, the PO added a 25 gallon water bladder under the V-berth. This is a great feature but I want to add a shelf over it so we can use all the wasted storage space as we do not want to start putting weight on top of the water bladder. My question is...can we glue or use butyl to put the shelf support?? We are trying not to drill holes in that area and we will screw the slats to the support so we can remove the shelf to get to the bladder. Not sure if I am explaining our idea clearly so I hope someone can let me know what we should use for this idea.
Question about adding storage shelves
- Thread starter csd0606
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glue the support with thickened epoxy, I like west systems six/ten for that purpose, or you could just use epoxy and add fillers before you add the hardener
You have a small Hunter like I do. I did not add shelves but instead installed three different Blue Performance bags that have pockets. Most of what I want to store is small and these bags work well.
Even though several of these bags were probably designed to be hung in the cockpit I used 3M Command hooks/tape to hook up my bags. These hook/tape items while designed for homes/apartments/student housing so as not to mess up the walls with holes-- also work well on boats. If you don't like where you hung something you can pull the tab and remove it from the boat without doing any damage.
I have put up a bulletin board on a bulkhead, as mentioned three Blue Performance bags on the inside hull (Cherry wood) and I have two hooks in the head for my PFDs that are on a soft hull covering. All are holding well. I also took down a cleat in the head and replaced it with a Command Hook that was a small ball for hanging my jacket when wet.
In the Blue Performance bags I am stowing extra flashlights, navigation gear, desk gear (pencils, scissors, tape, magnetic pins for bulletin board, etc.), one large pocket for all my charging cords for electronic gear (new category for my boats), boat cards and pads, extra sun glasses and cords and a pocket for my Leatherman tool.
Look for Command Hooks on the web and at your hardware store. I have no connection to the 3M company.
Even though several of these bags were probably designed to be hung in the cockpit I used 3M Command hooks/tape to hook up my bags. These hook/tape items while designed for homes/apartments/student housing so as not to mess up the walls with holes-- also work well on boats. If you don't like where you hung something you can pull the tab and remove it from the boat without doing any damage.
I have put up a bulletin board on a bulkhead, as mentioned three Blue Performance bags on the inside hull (Cherry wood) and I have two hooks in the head for my PFDs that are on a soft hull covering. All are holding well. I also took down a cleat in the head and replaced it with a Command Hook that was a small ball for hanging my jacket when wet.
In the Blue Performance bags I am stowing extra flashlights, navigation gear, desk gear (pencils, scissors, tape, magnetic pins for bulletin board, etc.), one large pocket for all my charging cords for electronic gear (new category for my boats), boat cards and pads, extra sun glasses and cords and a pocket for my Leatherman tool.
Look for Command Hooks on the web and at your hardware store. I have no connection to the 3M company.
You must remove any paint unless it is of a urethane type so that you can get a good bond. Some long term loads will pull down after years of being secure.
For 14 years a rack holding four soup bowls was adhered to this spot. it came down this summer. As you can see it pulled glass fiber from the bond. There are many explanations for this failure that I can discuss if you like.
For 14 years a rack holding four soup bowls was adhered to this spot. it came down this summer. As you can see it pulled glass fiber from the bond. There are many explanations for this failure that I can discuss if you like.Any info/explanation is welcome. We are new to owning and working on a sailboat so I like to learn all I can!
I devoted several years to refitting a 30 foot sailboat. Please ask specific questions because I could write a book and not answer your questions.
Storage
So is cleaning with acetone not enough?? We need to sand the paint off. Under the V-berth there is paint and if I am remembering correctly, it is not as slick as the cabin. More of just a covering over the fiberglass but still bumpy. We are planning strips of wood down each side (this is where we need to glue to surface) to brace 2-3 fixed pieces of wood to. Then we will screw slats to that so they can easily be removed if needed. Also adding hooks to fix items in place with a net so they don't move under sail.
Re: Storage
If you leave the paint on then you are fastening to the paint and not to the structure of the boat. Good duct tape might pull the paint off. There are many very good and very strong adhesives to use for something like this . PL premium urethane construction adhesive is exceptional in every regard. If I am visualizing this right you are planning to install several strips of wood bent to the curve of the hull and then fasten horizontal members to those to support the shelves. You will have to match the curve of the bent strips to the curve of the hull because they will try to pull loose if you spring them into place.
If you leave the paint on then you are fastening to the paint and not to the structure of the boat. Good duct tape might pull the paint off. There are many very good and very strong adhesives to use for something like this . PL premium urethane construction adhesive is exceptional in every regard. If I am visualizing this right you are planning to install several strips of wood bent to the curve of the hull and then fasten horizontal members to those to support the shelves. You will have to match the curve of the bent strips to the curve of the hull because they will try to pull loose if you spring them into place.
Storage
Agree about the curve and will have my hubby read all the info here. I think you understand what we are trying to do. My main goal is storage and to protect the water bladder system. Thanks for the information and we might try duct tape first.
Re: Storage
I have no knowledge of the tools that you have to work with or of your wood working skills. When I rebuilt my boat I had been in the home repair business for nearly twenty years and had a shop full of wood working tools.
I have no knowledge of the tools that you have to work with or of your wood working skills. When I rebuilt my boat I had been in the home repair business for nearly twenty years and had a shop full of wood working tools.
storage
Well, since my hubby has been working for Lowe's for over 30 years, we have 2 of everything!! Maybe 3...
I'm not sure this was Ross' point. I think he meant that paint is a poor material to attempt to adhere anything to, and that it is so weak at EVEN duct tape will pull the paint off.
Whenever one is attempting to adhere a material to a base, one needs to understand the quality and ability of the base to "stick" something onto it.
If the weight of what is to be supported is not large, then "glue" may work. What most of us have found is that the paint inside a hull is a very thin layer and can peel away, and if the weight starts getting "heavy enough" (to be determined) then it may give way. In the most unexpected times.
Like painting, prep is the most important party of any gluing process.
That's why most folks will glue wood strips on the inside of the hull and then screw into the wood. The wood strips are WIDER and then support the material to be hung, 'cuz the area under the glued section is significantly wider than the point load.
Sorry for the "engineer-speak."
Thanks Stu, that is exactly what I meant. Anytime people use duct tape they use a lot and cover a large area. For this job to be neat careful consideration has to be given to every aspect of the job and the long term loads anticipated and the possibility of creep. I posted the picture of the minor failure of my soup bowl rack. The contact area was greater than one square foot and the load was less than ten pounds.
Is it possible to build a selfsupported shelf? If under the vberth often the slope of the hull will allow crosspieces to fit hull to hull - add verticals attached only to the slats and slipping past the waterbag. For a lightweight shelf support in a locker I used pvc pipe and fittings - easy to cut to fit with a cutter and dry fit together.
If your shelf is strong enough to span, all the horizontal pipes do is keep the verticals in place.
If your shelf is strong enough to span, all the horizontal pipes do is keep the verticals in place.
Gravity doesn't help as much on boats as it does in houses. Boats bounce and turn on their sides and get tossed around. Even little daysailers should be built to stay together no matter what conditions they encounter.
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