Storage

[rjbathgate]

Hey,

I'm taking up a section of my deck to replacement a bow fuel tank, and I was wondering this...

If when I go down there, there is some significant free 'space'', I wonder if I could use it as storage...

Place the deck piece back down after fuel tank rebuild, but place it down with hinges / latches etc, and a decent seal.

Then perhaps I could even build a sturdy mount down there for a couple of dive tanks, using the girders, so no weight on actual hull. Or if not quite that big, just soem more storage space for small stuff...

This is only if there is space of course.

Now is this a total stupid idea in terms of

a) not 100% sealing the section of deck in again
b) using "hull" area for storage
c) having relatively heavy things stored near the bow -- will have 45L fuel tank at bow, then this storage area...

Possible?
Stupid?
Sensible?

Cheers!

[chewy]

Definately possible, most work boats use hull space for strorage, hardest bit will be getting it water tight.
Not knowing your boat I can't comment on weight distribution.

[rjbathgate]

oh that's positive

depending on how the internal framing is setup, it could potentially be that any water in front area of hull simply connects with rear/transom area and gets bilged out...

possibly.

but still would want a good seal regardless... and ever better seal if it's not bilgeable!!!

I guess weight distribution all comes down to the day... if i'm crusing along the place at 45 degrees, I know something's wrong! If I use this "new storage" for dive tanks, I'm also probably going to have 2 more tanks, 4 people and about 50kg in lead on board... so using that lot to balance the bow fuel and storage shouldn't be a problem...

time to get a chainsaw....!! (makes me nervous just thinking about it...)

[jyasaki]

I've got a similar setup on my boat, though it's an aluminum hull. The space under the deck is large enough for 2 dive cylinders, but I find that with divers and gear on the deck, it's about impossible to access. It's currently used for a tow line (an old anchor rode), a spare anchor with line, and my dive current line (I can wait til divers are in the water to access and deploy.)

On my hull any water that gets in drains to the rear section of the bilge, where it gets pumped out (assuming I take the trouble to do that. Often I just wait til I pull the boat, and remove the plug.)

jky

[Downhilldai]

I used the hull void on my last RIB as a locker for storing waterskis.

[rjbathgate]

Hey,

Thanks for the replies...

Discovered the area where the fuel tank is is NOT connected to the bilge area... i.e. there's a big wall in the way between thsi front compartment and the main / rear area.

Humz, going to pull the floor up, have a look and go from there!!

Cheers