Once there was a nav station, now there is a big hole.
I have considered 3 avenues for the nav station and I will try to explain my reasoning for each. Option #1 was to remove, paint, fix and replace everything exactly as it was. Option #2 was to remove, paint, fix and rebuild the nav station to be starboard facing, so that when you were sitting there, you were facing to starboard as opposed to forward. Option #3 is pretty much like option #1 however with a major difference. Move all of the electrical panels, controls, monitors, and whatever else to the outboard side and fill in that 8″ of cupboard.
So option 1 seems like a very good idea. Simple easy and quick. However it does not make any improvements to the overall design. Option 2 also seems like a good idea. I would end up with a larger nav table, I could increase the storage area under the new desk for chart storage and I think it would flow a little better, but then I would lose my den. Ultimately I have decided to go with option 3. I will reuse as much of the existing layout and cabinetry however I will relocate all electrical to this area. It will be the nerve hub of the ship, the command central so to say. From here I can sit in the Captains private reserved area, play with my radios, turn switches and flip dials, all the while barking commands to the rest of the crew that are all salty like, “you there, you scallywag, run and fetch me another mug of grog.” And then the admiral will give me that look, and the crew will mutiny and I will turn back to my flipping of dials and turning of switches. But in my head, I will be commanding a great crew on a great old sailing ship as we battle our way round the cape. Or the end of the damn dock at the marina, but you get the point.
Okay, seriously, I do not like facing outwards as I do not feel that you would have the same sense of security of being able to jam yourself into a little cubby and I do not like the idea of an aft facing nav station as I think dealing with the motion of a boat offshore is difficult enough without having to anticipate and compensate for the motion in reverse. And I have always thought that the nav station should be the command central. This is where we will make log entries, this is where we will plot positions etc so it needs to be functional. Again on Kismet III we had a beautiful matching stainless clock and barometer mounted on the forward bulkhead. It looked great, very nautical and all that. From my nav station, I would have to get up, make my way to the forward side of the cabin, read the barometric pressure, make my way back to the nav station and record it. Of course typically I got distracted half way through this and had to make multiple trips. I am partially joking here, but how would this have worked offshore if there was a crewmate sleeping in the main salon, and you were dripping wet, the boat is at 40 degrees heel as you come down the face of some monstrous wave, and now you have to walk back and forth with a headlamp on…I think you get my point. The clock and the barometer should have been at the nav station. Not only to make it easier, but I think typically if something is easier, it is probably safer as well. My end goal is to have every piece of information that I need readily available in one spot.
So after cleaning, scraping, and painting, I have started replacing the cabinetry as it was prior. I hope by now that everyone realizes that all of the interior is removable and I am only dry fitting everything. Most of it will come out at least once more to run electrical wires etc.
I have always loved the idea of these black panels that you see on some of the more modern yachts that have an outline of the boat and little led’s that light up to indicate different things. If anyone knows where I can have one made, please send me a note. An example below:
I am not so much interested in this particular electrical panel, just the idea of the outline of the boat.