Should we remove this, or how to use it?

I wish all boating problems were this simple! We are asking for opinions on this interior feature from those with more trawler life experience.

This shelf unit is on the forward port side of our salon. As you look at this picture the port side door is behind that bar stool. Of course opposite this area of the salon is the lower helm and starboard exit door well out of frame. We keep the area from door-to-door open (bar stool not usually there). The 3 steps down to galley and dinette are just to the right of this shelf, between the lower helm and this shelf area. Now that you are oriented.... what would you do with it?

It is in such a valuable area being near that port door to the deck, I want the space to be functional. Galley is down so I cannot see using it to store cups/glasses what would appear to be the intent. The lower shelf does not have much of a "fiddle" to it to hold items in place when moving. from the salon you look through this space to the dinette. While we like the open air space between the shelves looking down to dinette from the salon, it is tempting to build a cabinet here that might be more useful.

Being new to this trawler life, and seeing how this shelf/storage unit is in nice condition, I thought I would turn to you guys with more experience. It seems purpose-built -- but for what purpose? Is there a good way to use this as it is, or would you build a cabinet here instead of this shelf unit?
It's "pretty", but is it useful? I hate to tear it out only to later learn it would have been quite useful. Thoughts?

When I bought Retreat, she had a similar looking rolling bar that fit under the helm seat, so when put away, was out of sight, out of mind. Yours lacks only the storage place.

As my boat was 14 yrs old at the time, and I was at least 20 yrs younger than the previous 3 owners, I opted for a conversion from rolling bar to rolling tool chest. One of those red multi drawer tool boxes fit perfectly and still occupies the space.

In your case I would simply free up valuable open space. Save the teak, you may find a use for some of it.

I expect I'd leave it place for the first year or so... and then decide...

-Chris

Maybe my perception of the photo is off, but is it really there to act as somewhat of a railing?

Turn it sideways and fill it with wine !

I’d leave it for a while, too. Scar of removal. Might actually be useful. Might be seamlessly modifiable.

I wonder if that is one of those paper chart racks. I’ve never really seen a paper chart but i’ve Heard about them from the old timers.

It looks like it is held on by only 4 screws.
Remove it, make your evaluation. You can put it in your storeroom if you do not have a use for it. When you sell the boat, put it back in, if you wish.
Or sell it on eBay

Looks like it interferes with the use of the seat. Maybe the previous owner added it?

Almost certainly designed for booze and glasses. Personally, I'd put a cabinet there, but the advice to live with it for awhile is very well taken. Over the course of time, you will come up with a variety of tweaks for the boat if you're like most cruisers, so you will want to factor this one so the combination or tweaks work well together.

Can the uprights be modified to swap the shelves around and change the spacing?
It looks like it would more functional if the bottle rack was at / near the bottom and a solid shelf up top.

caltexflanc said:

Almost certainly designed for booze and glasses. Personally, I'd put a cabinet there, but the advice to live with it for awhile is very well taken. Over the course of time, you will come up with a variety of tweaks for the boat if you're like most cruisers, so you will want to factor this one so the combination or tweaks work well together.

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+1

Paper chart holder... great idea. Wish I had one so I had a place for mine. Still have not found a good place to store paper charts.

Possible flag holder?

That's the most ridiculous shelf. How much wine/alcohol needs one to consume before being eligible to the leave the dock?

Greetings,
Mr. MP. "That's the most ridiculous shelf." I tend to agree and that's sort of Mr. AZ's question. I'm #3 in the "leave it for a while" crowd. Not only shelves in this particular boat but pretty well anything in a "new to you" boat.

I would need one to hold my wine glasses...

L

Funny, I have the same kind of unit on the sundeck next to my wet bar and have no idea what it is and/or was. Mine was made out of fiberglass. I took it out and replace it with a wine cooler.

wwestman said:

Paper chart holder... great idea. Wish I had one so I had a place for mine. Still have not found a good place to store paper charts.

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Sure, except you don't want to roll paper charts, or paper anything, except a joint


Oops, did I just say that out loud???

makobuilders said:

Sure, except you don't want to roll paper charts, or paper anything, except a joint


Oops, did I just say that out loud???

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O M G.... I think that must have been what the "old time TFrs" debated endlessly. What's the proper way to store charts.... roll them.... fold them... store them flat...

That was before all the new style anchors became available [emoji33]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I think there is a lot of wisdom in the suggestion to leave it for a while and see what uses/modifications surface as we get a feel for spending time aboard.

Bradenvlp is also correct in that the shelf unit's position above the dinette does make it serve as a railing to some degree separating the salon from the area below, so something will be required here if we do remove it. Turning it into a cabinet would address that.

As for wine/alcohol, I think we found that a standard wine bottle is actually just a bit to big to fit into the holes which was a surprise and made the design more puzzling.

OldDan's point is a good one, too. It would be easy enough to put back into place if we do remove. Baccus, I agree with your thought as well. Simply modifying the spacing/order of the shelves could be a nice improvement.

It is very pretty wood, and made well enough, we just need to figure out its purpose. I'm leaning toward the advice above to just leave it for a while and see. Thanks again for the thoughts.

markpierce said:

That's the most ridiculous shelf. How much wine/alcohol needs one to consume before being eligible to the leave the dock?

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Let's not get judgy, now. In all honesty, nobody cares if you don't drink or your opinion on alcohol.

Go back and re-read Ranger 42's post. I learned a long time ago to leave things the way that they are for one year or cruising season. Then modify as needed.

tiltrider1 said:

I wonder if that is one of those paper chart racks. I’ve never really seen a paper chart but i’ve Heard about them from the old timers.

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:lol::lol::lol:

Have you considered taking it down and having BoatOutfitters make you one that’s more usable or one that’s already made...they have 100’s!

We had something similar and removed it to free up space.

Some early (1960s) high-end trawlers have "whiskey boxes" that roll out from under the helm seat with cutouts for glasses and a custom ice bucket on the top shelf. The lower shelf has a removable box base with tailored cutouts to hold assorted shapes of liquor bottles. Not sure if it would be desirable to have all those projectiles exposed as they would be in this layout, but I suspect yours was inspired by the early "whiskey boxes".