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Make-over of the  Sailing Vessel Serenity

Phase 1: Main Salon - Build a "U" Shaped Settee from a straight settee.

Kemah, Texas - SE Houston Area

This is where it all began

Table in the UP position against the bulkhead

Table in the DOWN position and the leaf open.

Table in the UP position against the bulkhead

1976 39' Allied Mistress Mk III Aft Cockpit Ketch Rigged Sailboat

Step 1: Remove the pull-out sea berth located on the port (left) settee.

There is a teak board that runs along the port (left) settee. It is located just below the cushion. When you pull it out, it is attached to 3 white oak beams that slide in a wooden track just under the settee seat. There is also a plywood board which is located behind the back cushion. This will rest on top of the 3 beams. Then the back cushion is placed on top of this  and you have your sea berth in place.

Unfortunately, I did not take any photos of this but, no biggie because it has been removed.
Step 2: Making a template.

I am going to be building two (2) boxes. One for each end of the settee to extend outward to form a "U". Since no two corners are square on a boat a template sure makes life easier when it comes to duplicating the angles and getting a tight fit.

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Mark out the location of the boxes on the floor (sole). Rather than mark on the sole itself, I laid down some masking tape and drew up my lines and notes on it.

1). Aft Section

2). Forward Section

I now took a sheet of 1/4" Luan Plywood and cut several 1" wide strips. A 4' X 8' sheet of Luan plywood is very cheap - like $10 or less. These strips are easy to cut with a saw, score with a box cutter or snap in two with your fingers.

3). Start laying the strips down along the drawn lines and cut or break to size.

4). Now that the perimeter pieces are made, use an electric glue gun and glue them together. 

5) Outside frame of template is now complete

6). This frame is very weak and will need cross bracing.

7). Here is the start of the cross bracing.  Just make a bunch of 45* braces. Sometimes it's easier to glue one end of the brace on top of the frame and the other end under the frame piece

8). Here is a close-up of the cross bracing. Noticethe over and under the frame brace in some spots
9). The aft template for the base of the 'box' is complete
Follow the same procedure for the 'box' for the forward section of the "U".

10). The forward section is com-plete with cut-out around electrical wires coming from mast.

11). here is a slightly better view of the completed forward section of the "U".