Creature Comforts
Date: December 12, 1997
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Since Barb and I have snugged our 32 away for the winter here in Chicago, our thoughts have turned to prioritizing our list of creature comforts and upgrades that we'd like to start working on. So it seemed coincidental when I recently received a similar question from Dave and Carol aboard "KON-TIKI" about installing a TV/VCR on an Endeavour 32.
What I would like to do in addition to answering this question, is to open up the discussion to find out what kinds of other "creature comfort" upgrades you've made, what problems you've experienced, how you've solved them, what equipment you purchased to make it work, and what unforeseen problems you ran into.
Several ideas I've thought about have been:
-- adding a microwave oven
-- replacing the alcohol stove with propane
-- adding a dodger and or bimini
-- adding a swim ladder (no opening in stern rail)
-- locating electronics (ie: nav station, cockpit controls and remotes)
-- interior lighting
-- venting and air circulation
-- air conditioning
-- refrigeration
-- stereo system
-- adding batteries to handle the increased load
Date: December 15, 1997
From: Dave and Carol Wright Dgw1@aol.com
I am thinking of installing a TV/VCR combo in my Endeavour 32. There is very limited space to do this since the combo is too tall (by 1 inch) to go on the shelf under the ports. So the only place we have come up with is on the starboard locker bulkhead facing the main cabin. Has anyone tried this? I am open for ideas. Wishing you and yours Happy Holidays. Thanks for the Web Page.
Date: December 17, 1997
From: Dave and Carol Wright Dgw1@aol.com
Think we finally decided to build a corner shelf for the tv and mount it on the bulkhead of the hanging locker. It will take up a half of space for a person to sit and have plenty of clearance for feet when sleeping. Will mount it with key slots so it can be removed if needed when a large party is on board. Let us know if better ideas come up. Thanks.
Date: November 7, 1998
From: Tom Gilbert TGil95746@aol.com
Yes, I have seen that installation, and it has worked well. It is just about the only spot in the cabin that is mostly out of the way. A clever idea to mount it as you say, for removal as necessary. Good luck. Tom
Date: November 24, 1998
From: Ed Dowd eDowd@Adv-Sys.com
Paul -
On the 33 there is shelf space above the hanging locker on the starboard side of the salon, so my real question was finding the right TV/VCR. Radio Shack had the answer in their Optimus Model 36. It is a 9 inch with built in VCR, but most important it is dual powered with either 110 or 12, and is supplied with a cig. lighter plug. Now to power it - there was enough depth above the outer headliner just aft of the locker for a recessed cig. lghtr adapter tapped onto the wiring for the adjacent cabin light. Note that placement is critical because there isn't enough depth close to center due to the slope of the headliner, and there are deck support boards on the outer starboard edge, on mine the placement that worked is about 2 in aft of the chainplate bulkhead and 10 in starboard from the headliner edge.
ps: The prior owner had installed a cig. lghtr adapter in another handy ( & much easier to install ) location - in the interior box behind the cockpit instruments - they connected to the spotlight leads. (Makes using the old cell phone easier when I've forgotten to keep it charged.)
Date: December 1, 1998
From: Tom Gilbert TGil95746@aol.com
Thanks for the ideas. I'll be replacing the starboard interior vinyl pieces this winter, and will be looking for three good locations on that side. (cell phone, tv set, blender) so I'll keep you in mind. Keeping the margaritas cool and mixed is a priority.
Date: December 2, 1998
From: Randy Pickelmann RWP48@aol.com
Aboard out E32 DUET, Our TV is installed in the bulkhead, aft of the drawers and hanging locker. It required eliminating the top drawer, not a problem for us.
Date: May 15, 1999
From: Mike Miller capnmike_s@yahoo.com
On SeaGull, (E-37) I installed a small RCA colortrak TV that takes either 12-volt or 110...they are, or were, available at Sears, and come with this nifty little swiveling hanger so you can hang them from the cieling...the boat has been thru 20-foot seas and the TV is still "hangin' in there". It is installed over the big forward shelf (A-plan) to one side so I can still get the cabinet doors open...finding I had some room under the TV, I bought a Broksonics Video Tape Player (doesn't record, but there's precious little on TV worth recording these days...) and found that it is exactly the same length and width as the TV. So I took the case off it, screwed the case into the bottom of the TV, and put it back together...presto...a TV/VCR that hangs from the cieling! Put one of those Shakspeare 2020 antennas on the mast right above the radar dome, and it works well.
Also found some Thin-Profile stereo speakers at Radio Shack...one will fit nicely in the paneling alongside the fridge without sticking out or in very far, so the fridge slid out, the speaker got installed, and the fridge slid back in no problem-o.
Used to have a Raytheon CRT radar, and just traded it for one of the new waterproof Furunos, with a slim LCD screen that is waterproof...and installed it in the Starb'd bulkhead so the screen can be seen from the steering station...I used to have to dash below to check the radar.
OK, for folks like me that have to spend hours at the wheel (I single hand) there's a nifty little "Pin" mount made for standard marine powerboat seats...it fits into the spider under the seat, and is about 3/4" in diameter. I got a nice comfy fold-up seat by Garelick, put this pin doohickey in the bottom, and then installed a bronze 3/4" thru-hull in the lid of the Lazarette hatch, which the pin nicely fits into...and Voila! A swivel chair that is super-comfortable and can be removed in a second if you have to open the hatch...why should those power-boat guys have all the comfort???
Have had a new dodger made with a zip-out window directly forward of the little hatch in the aft cabin...REALLY improves air circulation!
Does anybody with a A-plan E-37 have any suggestions as to where a micro-wave could be located...???
Date: July 11, 1999
From: Tom Gilbert TGil95746@aol.com
My E32 has a ladder installed aftermarket. I guess everyone just climbed over the stern rail. I can cut the stern rail just inside of the vertical supports with a pipe cutter and get end caps with lifeline fittings. Then I can just go get a lifeline made with an end fitting for easy detaching to allow boarding. I love that ladder, as it is a safety device when singlehanding. I can always reach the ladder from the water, even in its "doubled up "position. This system works great for a friend with an E37.
