I have constructed shelves along sides of the cabin above and resting upon the two inch wide shelves that the factory installed. My shelves are about 5 feet long, 12” deep, and with vertical separators about 10” high spaced about one foot centers end to end. Thereby, We have five one cubic foot pigeonholes filling the space between the somewhat useless pre-existing shelf and the overhead. The end pieces of the new shelves are thru-bolted into the windlass compartment at the bow end of each shelf and thru-bolted into the existing lockers at the aft end. The vee berth has no loss of sleeping area. BTW, the shelves can be removed with the removal of about eight bolts. In fact, these shelves were originally built for and installed in the Vee berth of a Catalina 34. The shelves were removed for
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
Recently, I built shelves at the navigation station to store my laptop computer, my inkjet printer, a 13” TV, a CD player and some incidental storage for CD’s etc. All of this is in the open space between the built in “radio” cabinet and the bulkhead forming the forward side of the nav station desk. The entire shelf system, really three interconnected shelves, rest on cleats screwed to the two bulkheads forming the space. By placing fiddles across the front edges of the shelves, the contents are secure in a seaway.
It is amazing how much room there is in this area. BTW I also solved the problem several folks have reported of how to get the cover off the factory-installed radio space. I merely cut it in two pieces horizontally and covered the cut with a wood strip.
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
I have added the following items to the anchor locker:
(1) A West Marine (SJPRO#960012 @ $26.95) line holder. I have also mounted one in the port lazarette holes line up exactly with ones in place for the seat latch no drilling.
(2) I have mounted a reel of Ankoralina line for deploying a lunch hook. Very handy and does not take much space. The reel has about 185 of polyester strap that has approximately the same strength and stretch as ½ nylon three-strand line. The Ankoralina does dual duty as a jackline.
I have mounted a 25# Danforth High Tensile on a piece of teak using the bracket that is typically used to hang a Danforth style anchor on a stanchion (West Marine #488353 @ $34.99). At the bottom of the teak board (that runs the full depth of the
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
The newer C380’s have returned to vinyl hoses and have a much better arrangement for water tank management than my boat does. The new boats have the tank valves mounted on the bulkhead inside the below-sink door [as do the original 380’s, such as my #44-Ed]. All of my tank valves are mounted on the floor under the sink, along with the whale type plumbing.
Consequently I have built a second removable floor under the sink for pot and pan storage. The second floor has holes in it above each valve and an extension handle to turn those valves as needed without removing the floor and the paraphernalia. The floor is arranged on blocks and cleats to keep from loading the plumbing. The extension rods are 5/8” dowels cut to fit the water valves handles and protrude above the second floor.
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
Most folks have discovered the storage in the closed bilge’s just forward of the mast. Although some water could find its way into that space, it can easily be used for storage of canned goods, beer, wine etc. as it is.
The other two bilge compartments can also be used for this kind of storage by placing a set of floorboards in each. [Older hull #’s have only two accessible bilge compartments-Ed]. The existing grid, which strengthens the boat, makes it possible to cut three boards each 6 ¾ by 16 ½ for the aft compartment, which will rest on the turn of the bilge and be held in place by the grid and each other. The storage area, which results, is above the float switch and yields an area 21” by 16″ by 15” high. The larger bilge compartment
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
Flatware and Utensil Storage
Bob Bierly
11/1/2001
Hull #: 255
Flatware storage: I bought a standard wooden flatware storage box from a popular regional kitchenware store; I mounted it with hinges under the hanging shelf, with the hinges toward the settee and the opening toward the galley. I use a bayonet catch to hold the box up against the bottom of the shelf when its closed and use a short length of lifeline cable to hold the box when open at about thirty degrees. This gives my wife an accessible flatware storage, which seems to have been omitted in this Catalina. My wife misses the drawers from the Catalina 34 galley.
Utensil storage: Many chefs like to store cooking utensils in a crock or like item immediately adjacent to the stove. I mounted an open topped wooden box about 3x3x5” box in the open space behind the stove to serve
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
One open project before our first cruise was to work out storage above the nav station for both the TV, video player, and books. This did not get done, and in the excitement of sailing for the first time the TV hit the deck. I am embarrassed to report that this happened not once, but three times. I must say that GE makes an extremely rugged TV, it still works perfectly, however, the cabin sole received a few nasty gouges. A book/TV retainer was made with the 1 ½ inch oak ½ round as shown below. Everything behind the retainer is secure and can be removed by lifting the item up and over the top.
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
Aft Cabin Mirror
Bob Bierly
11/21/2001
Hull #: 255
I removed and reinstalled the aft cabin mirror on a cleat mounted on the underside of the steps and through the head wall. I now store screens, trays, between the back of the mirror and the bulkhead. I cut a 10” inspection port into the seat on the port side of the bed. The storage area inside is amazing. I installed a board between the storage area and the manufacturer-installed drawers at the foot of the bed to keep errant stored items from finding their way into the vicinity of the prop shaft coupling and stuffing box. That was the only thing I had to do to make this a very sizable long-term storage area.
The side toward the fridge port side is left open. The storage is formed between the bulkhead, the head wall on the starboard end and the
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
The following is from Harvey Berman, who has sailed his C380, ”Soultice” from Canada to Central America.
Dear Warren:
I have been intending to submit some modifications for some time but never had a proper camera or was in a location that was convenient. I am submitting these at this time, without photos as you have encouraged.
Photos can be supplied at a later date if required.
We own hull # 201. Our 380 was delivered to Swan’s Marina, Ontario, Canada in July of 1999. We immediately commissioned her and headed south for a two-year cruise, which included Central America. We had to have more convenient storage space. There is a lot of room on the 380 but not all usable. “Soultice” is presently on the hard near Tampa, Florida. I am going by memory, but can supply more detail this winter
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
I simply placed a plastic storage box (milk carton with relatively few holes) and hang it from the edges of the lazarette using four antenna holders (West SFANT#4142SS @$7.99). The hooks are bolted to the milk carton. I had to cut and bend the back ones to support the back end. This works best in the starboard lazarette due to the presence of the bilge pump in the port lazarette. We use the removable box for our inflatable life vests, safety harnesses, emergency horn, spotlight, etc.
You need to be logged in to see the rest of this content. Catalina380-IA members, please login.
To join please fill out a membership application (Association->Membership Application) and send a check to the address on the form.
