What does that do? Question for 302 owners

[the_alpine]

Hey all you 302 owners... Maybe I'm not as smart as I'd like to think I am, but what in the world is the use of the large hole below the removeable cutting board just to the left of the sink?

Below the coffe maker in this photo:

Maybe something lived in there that the previous owner removed?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Without seeing the size of the hole and how deep it is, I could only guess that it may be dry storage and could have had a lid built in by the boatbuilder. Maybe the PO broke or lost the lid and replaced it with the cutting board.

 

[the_alpine]

All of the 302's have that cutting board cover for the hole. The hole gives access to the inner space of the enclosed counter area. Storage makes sense, but its not finished out inside. The area is open to the drawers and other inner bits.

 

[Sunbird22358]

I was going to say that's the ice box.... but if it isn't finished off inside, that can't be it.
Anyway, pics of 2 other 302s below one is a 1986, the other a 1987.
I found another 1987 model that has a more finished off cover there.

 

[the_alpine]

Ya, the Ice box is on the other side under the chart table.

Such a strange/wasted space. HAD to have been a reason for that design?