HOME |
BOAT PROJECTS |
The Remodel - Forward Cabin Last Boat Project - Next Boat Prject
The Forward Cabin Sequel had two small forward cabins that would squeeze 4 people into fairly cramped quarters. All the space went to beds and none to storage. Well, Fortress Woodworking, is solving that problem. Vijay, our wood-working miracle worker is nearing completion of the biggest project ... tearing down the wall in the forward cabin and creating a single-comfortable cabin with lots of storage. So much storage that Cheryl is plotting what else can be moved aboard! The pictures below are of the progress on the new cabin.
Vijay spends 6 days a week aboard Sequel.
The quality of the work is amazing. One of Sequel's most impressive qualities is the
woodwork and we approached this project with a combination of excitement and
concern. We no longer have concerns ... Vijay is a woodworking-artist and Sequel
shows the results. We are so happy with the work that we now have a list of 22 other projects for him. None of the projects are as big, but there is a nav station to rebuild, new screens for all the hatches, rebuilding cupboards to improve storage, and maybe even a new dining table. Sequel will be ready for long-distance travels in comfort and style.
The New Upholstery, Carpeting, and Curtains The woodwork is just part of the big
"remodel". One of the other things we've done is replace all the
cushions and upholstery in the boat. This turned out to be a painful project.
We originally brought material from from the US, which is crazy considering how much is
available in Trinidad, and had new cushions made by a firm that came recommended by
another Yachtie. We should have checked around and found more than one
recommendation. We spent 2 months trying to get the cushions to be completed
properly. We have horror stories about cushions that don't touch, patterns that run
different directions, seams that come apart -- you name it, we seemed to deal with
it. They finally quit trying and we just started over. The second try was
fabulous. The new upholstery in the main cabin was just a start. All the cushions in the boat were almost non-existent. You sat on them and were immediately sitting on the wood underneath. That included our bed. We didn't realize how bad it was until we had the mattress replaced. Boat mattresses are not the easiest thing to make. The walls are not square in a boat and neither is the shape of the mattress. Then there is the problem of getting it through the small companionway. It comes in pieces and has to be a tight fit or you end up sleeping in the crack between mattresses. The new mattress fits well and is sooo comfortable. The benefits of sleeping on comfortable mattress instead of the wood are too long to list. |
ne of the big reasons we're in Trinidad is to make Sequel
ready for some serious cruising. Sequel is 51-foot Hylas, built in
1991. The previous owners had Sequel built to sleep a large family. We're
happiest with one other couple to visit and wanted to make our guest quarters a
comfortable place for our guests. We also wanted to create more efficient storage
areas, and prepare Sequel for long-distance travels.
Cheryl found new fabric in town, which
is certainly easy to do with Port of Spain having fabric shops every 10 feet! The
results are well worth the wait. We have cushions that are comfortable and
beautiful. We gave the upholsterer free run to come up with something that looks
more like a couch than outdoor furniture. We are really pleased with the results.