Seat Back Mods

[Hooky]

I would like to share some mods I am currently installing in the space behind the cockpit seat backs (SB).
(1) A storage area between the aft cabin BH and SB frame 1. Access to this area will be from inside the cabin via an opening in the aft cabin BH. SB frame 1 was altered to a solid wall, and I added a transom bung at the very bottom in the unlikely event it has to be drained. This mod does however remove some of the foam buoyancy volume.
(2) I added additional cleats to the SB frames and an extra vertical cleat between SB frame 1 and SB frame 2 to provide additional support for the seat back.
(3) I added additional reinforcing blocks to the seat top aft of the cabin BH for additional deck hardware.
(4) I didn't want exposed electrical wiring in the cabin area for the following things:
Cabin lights, Nav lights, DC outlets, GPS/Fish Finder power and transducer lead.
So, after considerable thought I decided to run all this wiring through separate lengths of 25mm electrical conduit. Wiring will leave the electrical panel and travel under the cabin floor to the lazarette area. It will then go up through the cabin floor via a small length of conduit which is raised higher than the cockpit floor to prevent water entering the lazarette area from the aft storage area. Then it will feed into another length of conduit that travels from the aft storage area to the new forward storage area via the foam filled buoyancy chambers. This conduit is sealed to ensure watertight buoyancy chambers.
I now have electrical access to the aft cabin BH and the seat back storage areas. I also intend to run the stern nav light wiring (Stern Nav light to be located on the boom gallows) up through the lazarette into the stainless-steel gallows pole and out through the gallows to the stern light.
I have covered some of these mods in my blog, it is still a work in progress.
Check out the blog.
Cheers Terry from down under.
https://hookypocketship.blogspot.com

[Creekboater]

Hey Terry, where are you mounting your fishfinder? I’m assuming on the cockpit side of the aft cabin wall. If so, and you’re wanting to hide wires in cabin, how are you wiring it? You’ll have wire in your reclaimed seatback space, but how do you run it unseen from there to where your finder display is to be mounted? I guess you might be mounting the display on the seatback maybe?

Also, where do you plan to mount the actual transducer?

[dbeck]

Terry,

I'd be interested on the amount of remaining foam in your seatbacks. I believe the plans give a number of 2.34 cubic feet (66 litres) each side. However, I only managed to squeeze in about 49 litres per side using the full seatback, except the storage lockers of course. What is the approximate volume of foam in your case?

Dietrich

[Hooky]

G'day Dietrich, I calculated approximately 1.76 cub ft of foam buoyancy per side. I spent lots of time and effort (probably too much time) cutting up foam boxes and foam packing into smaller pieces and installing it to fill every nook and cranny, a very tight fit. I used a rasp to shape the outside face of the foam so it will sit neat against the seat back sides. As I indicated in my blog if I had my time over again, I would use expanding foam, but as I collected foam boxes and packing for months now, I had to use that. Especially when one of my friends put life and limb at stake by stopping on a freeway to pick up a foam box, a good mate.
Your boat is looking great I love the blue hull color, good job mate.
Cheers Terry

https://hookypocketship.blogspot.com

[Hooky]

G'day Martin, I'm planning to install a GPS/Fish-Finder unit on a mount that will swivel from inside the cabin through the companion way and face aft to the cockpit.
Now the wiring for power and transducer. It will travel along the forward face of the cabin BH inside the cabin BUT will be hidden by some sort of storage cabinetry or shelving that will be mounted on the forward face of the cabin BH, well that's the plan and yet to be designed (I have a few ideas rattling around my head). Re the transducer I am still researching the type of GPS/Fish-Finder to install and would prefer a through hull type of transducer but have not decided yet. Either way the transducer wire and end plug will fit through the 25mm diameter electrical conduit and run either to the transom or under the floorboards to a through hull location.
Cheers mate
Terry

https://hookypocketship.blogspot.com

[Creekboater]

Roger that Terry, thanks. FYI, I've been looking at a Garmin Striker Plus 4. Comes with a transducer that mounts off the transom though, not thru-hull.

[Hooky]

G’day Martin, I installed a Garmin on previous yacht, it performed flawlessly, I was very happy with it. I’ll need to research which models have through hull transducers
Cheers mate
Terry

[Hooky]

All the seat back mods have now been completed. But before I install the seat back sides and tops, while I have good access, I will paint the storage areas.
Cheers Terry
https://hookypocketship.blogspot.com

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I have an Airmar P79 transducer that is glued to the inside of the hull and shoots through it. So I didn't have to have a hole in the hull. But it will not shoot through wood, so I had to cut a 3 inch hole in the hull panel and fill it with glass and epoxy. This would be quite easy to do very early in the build before the hull is assembled.

[dbeck]

I have an Airmar P79 transducer ... But it will not shoot through wood, so I had to cut a 3 inch hole in the hull panel and fill it with glass and epoxy.

Thx for the info and the solution.