Bolero Project | Monday, March 31, 2008

Per request, this morning I built a quick mockup of the basic interior layout, beginning with the essential layout marks I determined last week.  This wasn't the most finely-tuned mockup ever, but it provides a much better visual idea of what the interior might become than a series of taped lines and air space.

For the basic cutout in the v-berth, I chose a width of 14" at the top, which seemed a good balance between overall width (i.e. no narrower than this) and the wasted and non-useful space that would be created if the opening were wider (thanks to the exposed curvature of the hull , which, frankly, would be nice to minimize since it'll be less attractive than the remainder of the cabin).  To the fixed point at the furthest forward extent of the well, the length turned out to be about 33-1/2".

I cut a pair of vertical longitudinal bulkheads (or dividers, if you prefer) to form the sides of the well, a third, smaller bulkhead to demark and close off the forward end, and then three larger pieces to represent the flat top surface of the bunk/settees.  This initial set of photos shows the most basic of the potential layouts, not accounting for the Porta-Potty at all.  In general, the layout is relatively expansive and workable like this.


         

         

    


Next, I placed the Porta-Potty at its possible after location, just resting in place with no further attachment or fine-tuning for now.  More and more, this seemed like a less good position for this--it took up a lot of room here, room which was at a premium.  While the potential for a step above the head was convenient, the vast reduction in potential footwell space (down to about 18") might make this position untenable.  I didn't bother mocking up a cover or step here at the time.


         


Next, I removed the head to its originally-planned, forward location.  I cut out a section of the platform and set the head in place; about 6-3/4" extended above the berth top (in reality, this would be reduced to something more like 6-3/8" or thereabouts, when one accounts for the thickness of the plywood versus cardboard).  To illustrate the most simple means of hiding this unit, I created a basic box over the top, which box would/could be removable in the final interior should this position be chosen.    I actually found this location, when covered with (what would be) an attractively-constructed cover, to be rather innocuous and perhaps a better choice than the after spot.

The harsh reality was that fitting this--or any--legitimate MSD invisibly into this interior would simply not be possible without accepting unrealistic compromises to all other key considerations in the layout, most notably the desired and potential sitting headroom. 


         

         

    


Total Time on This Job Today: 1.75 hours

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