Instrument back panel
Verfasst: Freitag 8. Juli 2011, 21:41
One of the nice features of our Ballad when I bought it four years ago was an array of brand new electronic instruments. They ranged from a chartplotter and multi-function wind and depth instruments to a fish finder. They certainly add to the convenience and safety of sailing, and we have enjoyed them, perhaps more than we should. The trade off has been that our experience in the cabin down below has been marred by the unsightly holes cut in the bulkhead and a rat’s nest of wires draped over the chart table.
After a considerable amount of procrastination and reflection I began to craft a multi-purpose solution to this corner of the cabin. It started with a paper template taped to the bulkhead (after the instruments were temporarily removed) which allowed me to determine the exact shape and proportion of the space and ended in an organizational feat which is totally uncharacteristic of me.
The result is a shallow frame which supports a panel screening the backs of the instruments, a rack for our binoculars and hand held VHF radio, a hidden wire chase to conceal the rat’s nest, and a handy place for writing implements and my often used dividers. The screening panel began as a nicely finished piece of wood to match the rest of the cabin but it evolved into a dry erase chalk board on which we post useful bits of information about tides and currents or reminders of things to do and buy.
After a considerable amount of procrastination and reflection I began to craft a multi-purpose solution to this corner of the cabin. It started with a paper template taped to the bulkhead (after the instruments were temporarily removed) which allowed me to determine the exact shape and proportion of the space and ended in an organizational feat which is totally uncharacteristic of me.
The result is a shallow frame which supports a panel screening the backs of the instruments, a rack for our binoculars and hand held VHF radio, a hidden wire chase to conceal the rat’s nest, and a handy place for writing implements and my often used dividers. The screening panel began as a nicely finished piece of wood to match the rest of the cabin but it evolved into a dry erase chalk board on which we post useful bits of information about tides and currents or reminders of things to do and buy.