Side window replacement

[PeterPalmieri]

pete finally went to boat for photo as you can see glass on door due to angle allowing more sunlight to enter cabin in combination with triple the size cockpit windows exceed front windshield due to light be deflected by fiberglass above V-berth

Looks nice Bob. I’ve had good intentions to do the aft facing windows and paint the dinette booths but other projects like replacing the motor and now these windows have pushed them back. Slowly things get replaced around here. I’ve contemplated the door, I remember someone doing the door in plexiglass and I’ve seen other doors with a piano hinge down the center (bifold) so it doesn’t interfere with the head door. Thinking about melding those two ideas. Gives me more light and gets rid of that silly doors tangling thing. But honestly since we don’t have AC the door is open almost all the time when we are onboard, more concerned with the interference of the head then light.

[Carl]

Too bad in the curved...for me that is.

I'd have jumped into that project sooner then later if they were able to do them.
Curved windows were on my list before paint, which were on my list before diesel.

After repairing some aluminum frames for customers/friends I know its a job I do not want to tackle.
Its one of those one step forward, two step back ordeals were every pin hole to be welded turns into a crater soon as you apply heat.

Anyway, looks real good Pete, the boat is really shaping up!

[Yannis]

I made the bathroom door open inside the wc, hung by two hinges. Very practical.

[bob lico]

door in the head is a pocket door that slides to the right

[bob lico]

door in closed position.full mirrior on inside of door-------women!

[PeterPalmieri]

Thanks for stopping down tonight Bob. Would love to see you do the cabin door as a pocket door too, sliding into the head. Both are well beyond my DIY capabilities.

[Tony Meola]

Peter

Did you watch him? How difficult was it for him?

[bob lico]

actually the hardest part of building the pocket door and frame out of "Flame grain mahogany) was getting asked to leave at the lumber yard after picking thru 500 pieces of 5/4" planks trying to find the one that were crosscut by chance. "Sir you have to leave your anal" !!!!! the center piece insert for all the cabinets ,doors,and the draws under salon are teak with mahogony styles (outside fram).the router bit with roller guide makes the detail and another router bit makes that fancy joint on all four couners of inside also grove for teak insert then just glue together .cabin door is differant contruction because you want 1 1/2" thickness to install standard stainless hinges 1 1/4" thickness brings all kinds of problems like the OEM. door from Bertram with this door hinges are ugly surface mount. A 1 1/2" door allows you to put fancy step recess on BOTH sides of door for either teak insert or in my case one way tempered glass. the cabin door can be removed easily to varnish you just pull four hinge pins like a conventional house door on inside.

[franzmerenda]

Years ago Walter said use the boat a bunch and figure out what you want to do.....

One thing I've said for years is I'm not going to die in one of those $3 life jackets, so I only carry the fancy Type 1 offshore vest, 6 or 8 of them. What I did was remove the cabinet and door in the galley under the counter draw, still want to have a mesh cover made. But that giant space under the sink holds those offshore life jackets, I have otherwise thought of somehow rigging them up under the headliner with some sort of mesh and velcro for easy access. Under the V berth I keep an anchor ball, some fenders and extra dock lines, in the port hanging locker I keep an extra anchor and some tools. Both draws under the dinette are full as is the cabinet under the sink in the galley and the head. That's all the space folks.

There is no additional room in the boat, I'd rather walk on a cooler for food or fishing, open the windows.swap out fishing tackle for clothes and weekend camping supplies etc. Most folks inclination is to add every creature comfort you can but I really feel like once you cram every corner of these boats with an AC unit, refrigerator, duct work there really isn't any room for enjoying it.

However you all do it, if you are sleeping on the boat it's not really comfy. bags that may have been stored in the Vberth (with the night gowns) have to be stowed under the dinette while sleeping, pillows and blankets need to be stored in the vberth and the dinette needs to be converted back to a table for breakfast. Nobody in their right mind wants to unload in the head while someone is still sleeping in the dinette or the vberth and god help you if they do and don't have the ability to open a few windows. How about being the wife of 2 boys and being stuck in the cabin with three farting men all night sealed up in a cabin. Women can sleep in shorts and a t shirt, throw a hat on and freshen up in the public restroom.

When I imagine sleeping on the boat I imagine feeling a breeze and smelling the sea water, listening to the water lap up against the hull and being woken up by the first lights of dawn so I can be up on the bridge or out on the dock with my coffee to watch the sun come up. Can't run the kuerig at that time of morning with the kids sleeping so having homemade ice coffee in a cooler out on the deck is perfect. The biggest downside is listening to somebody else's water discharge from their AC all night.

Tinted windows and AC isn't going to make our little boats into the Waldorf or a motor yacht. It's a pop up camper at best when it comes to weekending

Pete,

This is the most interesting lecture I found on the quintessential of what Bertram 31 cabin and room stands for.
I'm quite concerned since I'm planning to live aboard every weekend during fall and winter seasons, even though I'll be by myself or with one person (the kind with whom it's preferable not to make emissions).
Can't figure out where storing safety gears, tools, linen, blankets, towels, a change of clothes; not to mention little dishware and provisions.
I think I'll need to renting some storage room inside the marina, to keep fishing and summer gears

[PeterPalmieri]

I have a lot to say on this. Cargo nets for the life jackets in the vberth were huge as that space isn’t used for anything else.

I’m considering moving my fresh and black water tanks under the deck where people add fish boxes. That leaves a cavernous space below the cabin deck. Also considering hollowing out under the dinette seats so I can slide in plastic storage bins, 2 big ones fit under the galley and also consider the back end of the v berth.

I like the idea of having stuff in large storage bins, easy to move. Easy to throw stuff in the back of the truck I don’t need for a trip and being water resistant you can stack them on the bridge or leave them out on deck when the cabin becomes sleeping quarters.

[Carl]

Pete,
Can't figure out where storing safety gears, tools, linen, blankets, towels, a change of clothes; not to mention little dishware and provisions.
I think I'll need to renting some storage room inside the marina, to keep fishing and summer gears

What works for us...

Safety gear is always in the same ez, quickly accessible spot, always.

When running we load what we can in V-berth, under settee and on those table cushions. Coolers may be down the aisle up by V-berth for best trim and keeps access open to emergency items.

When we get to destination we unpack, cooler(s) on motor box with beach toys. Cooking items come out on counter Coffee pot, waffle grill. glasses. BBQ in cockpit or on land. Window ledge goes the dry food, rolls n snacks. V-berth gets made into bed. During the day clothes are in V-berth, at night to sleep they find there way on settee cushions or if going light maybe it all goes to the window ledge.

When kids came, what could still fit under table did, what could be shoved on window ledge was shoved. More items may have found there way on motor box. Up side to the Express is we have the option of canvas side curtains that reach out to back of motor box, with large screen windows. Extends the cabin, keeps items dry and somewhat secure...or at least gave that feeling.

[Amberjack]

It's a pop up camper at best when it comes to weekending

My wife says it’s like camping in the back seat of a Porsche 911.

We spend a month on our 31 FBC every summer and enjoy it. Over the years I’ve modified the boat enough to make it practical: a small double berth forward, a butane cook top stove for coffee in the AM, a bridge hung shower curtain for the solar shower and a transom mounted grill for cooking dinner. I break the grill down and stow it below deck while my wife does the dishes. It works for us although it is really just glamourized camping. The boat is small enough that we can snug into the small bays in BC and we have enough battery power for three days. Several times I’ve had someone from one of the big boats on the dock stop and say a little wistfully “If I had it to do it all over again I’d go your way”.

For weekends in the Med it would be perfect. My only advice is be judicious in your modifications. These are older 31’ boats without the interior volume modern 31’s have. Cramming too many amenities into such a small space can make it feel like living in a glove. And for sure if you want to attract the ladies, a private head.

[Tony Meola]

The only time I spent any amount of time on the boat was overnighting in the Canyons. A portable Coleman stove works wonders. We use to use it out on the back deck when we layed up at night to make dinner.

To make it easy, it was usually stew made the day before and packed away in a pot in a cooler. Throw that thing on the little stove and dinner is served.

The solar showers work the best on these little boats. Shower curtain is nice, but showering in a bathing suit works it you can't get any privacy. Yes stowing enough for an extended stay is tough, that is when the Tubs Peter uses come in handy.

All it takes is pre planning and everything will work out for you and who knows that special guest may really have fun.

[Pete Fallon]

Pete P
I did the same thing that Carl did, use polycarbonate panels from local glass shop it comes in clear or black, make sure you can bend it. Cut it long enough to overlap the front window by an inch. You can use the old round finger pull if you have one, just drill it with a sharp spade bit the same size as the finger pull. Cheap and easy to replace after it yellows or scratches up in 8 to 10 years. Don't use paper towels only a soft clean cloth to wash off, salt on paper towels will scratch material.
The front window safety glass is easy to remove, remove the opening lift hardware ( just remove black knobs and a few screws on the frame and lift up to the cabin overhang and pull out toward your stomach, (wear leather gloves). take it to a glass shop and let them replace the safety glass and the dried out gray vinyl weather stripping which is usually where the water leaks into the cabin. I had a coconut fall onto the port opening window cracking the safety glass. I also replaced the weather stripping that is pressed into the aluminum frame channels it's called bulb seal, black material was $ 4.00 a foot back 15 years ago probably $ 8.00 now. Solves a lot of the leaking front window problems.