Subject: Comparing storage space - R29 CB vs. R27/OB
This is a comparison between a 2019 R29 CB and a 2018 R27/OB.
R27/OB
One of the most impressive storage aspects of the R27/OB was the huge center cockpit storage area, that was a significant item on top of my storage list requirements when purchasing the R27/OB. It could easily swallow up my 1st Mate's wheelchair, my deflated Sea Eagle Fastrack 12' Kayak ( incl. paddles, 3x seats, WaterSnake electric motor, 50Ah Lithium battery and portable electric pump+battery for inflating the Kayak), along with canvas covers and 2x large fenders and still left room for more stuff.
The cockpit table was stowed above the bow thruster and under the V-berth's bow mattress where it barely fitted laying flat down and did not interfere with the mattress laying flat down on top of it.
Without listing all the gear I typical stow I found both side cockpit lockers quickly were filled up; all the galley draws cupboards and other storage areas (Incl. under port side Nav seat which is quite large and deep), areas under V-berth mattresses, shelving and cubby holes at aft area of the V-berth section. In total, I had filled all the storage areas efficiently as I could and had to employ extra space in the Cave for larger items such as my tool kit bags, Coffee/Tea maker, small Vacuum, table pedestals, several gallon sized bottled water, and so on.
After all the above was stowed and space used up I had only the Cave to add more stuff as needed.
Before trading in my R27/OB I removed all my stowed gear and took it all home.
R29 CB (North West Edition - not having A/C nor Genset)
Between having the R27/OB and the R29 CB my 1st Mate passed away and the need for storing a wheelchair onboard was no longer needed. However all the other gear I had on my R27/OB was now needing to find storage space on the R29 CB. If I did have the need for a wheelchair it would either be stowed up against side of cockpit or possibly into Cave area after removing its wheels and folding the wheelchair frame (and this would be awkward as the wheelchair is quite heavy and maneuvering it into the cave would be a strain on my body).
So now all my gear I had removed from the R27/OB was taken down to my R29 CB in its many bags and several trips from car to the boat's slip. I spread it all out on the dockside and started to ponder where would each stack go in the R29 CB.
I should add here, that for my R29 CB I had purchased a portable propane BBQ - a Dickinsons Spitfire BBQ as it did not have the nice electric BBQ that came with the R27/OB. I did not want to have this BBQ always installed on the R29 CB's aft cockpit or swim step railing - I wanted to stow it inside the R29 CB somewhere along with its nice cover to keep it looking pristine and secure from prowlers etc. 😉 I noted that Jim Favors has this same BBQ and stows it in the cockpit side locker on his R29 S. So was hopeful it would be easily stowed in a similar way when not needed.
I have the stock RT 4x black fenders that are kept at the ready at all times. I also have an extra two of these and typically stow/secure them on the cabin roof inside the hand rails on port and starboard sides when on a cruise. While not cruising I stow them safely inside the boat and on the R27/OB they fitted nicely into the huge center cockpit locker.
I have found that I can stow the two large black fenders and the Dickinson Spitfire BBQ in the port side cockpit locker quite easily without interfering with the 5x batteries in that area. The R29 CB cockpit side lockers are quite wider than on the R27/OB side lockers and from their elevated floors from the stringer liner avoids water from sitting/collecting on the locker floors (very welcomed and will keep things dryer). All the gear I used to stow in my R27/OB's starboard side locked was easily swallowed up in the R29 CB's starboard side locker with room to spare.
The R29 CB has a built in step assembly on the starboard side that can be accessed internally via three hatches and this storage area is quite voluminous and easily holds my collection of boat spares (oil and fuel filters, impeller, serpentine engine belt, spare lines and other odds and ends), and stacks of free space remaining.
Without having a Genset, there's a vast area opened up at the transom that is accessed by removing a fiber glass lid under the transom flip seating. So far this area is totally empty.
Moving now to the storage areas on the port side galley area; the cupboard floorings have removable floors that open up large areas with builtin trays glued down to the inside hull surface. These were used for storing rarely used items such as 2x Camfro 110v dehumidifiers, a fairly large 110v electric operated flatplate grill, a small ceramic 110v heater and so on. The remaining cupboard space under the sink were filed with dishes, glasses, some canned food, large 1 gallon bottle water and so on. All the draws easily swallowed up all the other kitchen related stuff, and the lower draw took up all the small junk gear. After loading up all the galley stuff I had from my R27/OB I still had room left for more!
I placed my tool kit bags in the large storage area under the helm seat and behind the Microwave. I will also place the console display covers in this area when getting ready to cruise.
Moving into the forward saloon - Bow berth area - on port side there's shelving, a useful built in cloth hanger bar, storage lockers beneath this and the swing out TV. These shelves are only partially used at this time and I use the cloth hanger for hanging 3x Mustang PFDs. In one of the lower storage lockers I've placed two rolled up sleeping bags and blankets and spare space remains there. I keep a larger blanket and more PFDs for the grandkids in the pull out draw under the bow mattress. Place books and what not on the shelving surround the island berth. The desk-like fitting on starboard side adjacent to the head enclosure is at this time not used for things. It has a useful 110v outlet along with a cig lighter receptacle that I've inserted 2x USB unit for charge mobile devices. All my previous gear from the R27/OB's head space has easily fitted and placed and the storage lockers are still empty.
I place all the canvas coverings behind the island berths slide out draw along with three table pedestals. I place the two tables (cockpit table and Command Bridge table) under the bow mattress section with room to spare.
So, all my previous R27/OB's stowed gear is now in my R29 CB and the cave is COMPLETELY unused. 😀 ...and so far the Command Bridge for stowing things isn't under any pressure to be used.
All I can say, is that the storage area in the R29 CB is more than sufficient for holding all that the R27/OB is designed for. 😀 At this point I still have the empty space occupied by a Genset, more space in starboard side cockpit locker, more space in the storage areas under the starboard side step assembly, the empty Cave, extra space in the trays under the removable floors of the galley cupboards, extra space in the cubby hole under the helm seat and behind the microwave, Command Bridge areas, swim step platform space, unused space in the forward berth areas and unused space in cupboards in the head enclosure. My galley counter top is completely open without anything placed on its surface and ready to fly/slide off at the first evidence of the boat rolling back and forth in rough weather.
I've no good spot to mount my brass clock in the cabin at this time. I'm contemplating buying a small black/plastic covered clock and mount it on the helm console to left of the Auto pilot display.
If I decide having my Sea Eagle inflated and 'ready to launch' I will sling it on rotatable J carrier poles attached to port side rails on Command Bridge and secured safely with quick release straps. I saw this same arrangement at the recent Seattle Boat Show and it appealed to me. These are the J shaped carrier poles... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MNQSHFE/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 for $170. 🙂
Oh, the bedding for my Wire Hair Fox Terrier (Jake) easily sits under the dinette table on starboard side of the piston pedestal without it being squeezed into position as it had to be on the R27/OB..... Jake will be very happy with this arrangement. 😉
I'm very happy about this storage space available on this R29 CB.
This is a comparison between a 2019 R29 CB and a 2018 R27/OB.
R27/OB
One of the most impressive storage aspects of the R27/OB was the huge center cockpit storage area, that was a significant item on top of my storage list requirements when purchasing the R27/OB. It could easily swallow up my 1st Mate's wheelchair, my deflated Sea Eagle Fastrack 12' Kayak ( incl. paddles, 3x seats, WaterSnake electric motor, 50Ah Lithium battery and portable electric pump+battery for inflating the Kayak), along with canvas covers and 2x large fenders and still left room for more stuff.
The cockpit table was stowed above the bow thruster and under the V-berth's bow mattress where it barely fitted laying flat down and did not interfere with the mattress laying flat down on top of it.
Without listing all the gear I typical stow I found both side cockpit lockers quickly were filled up; all the galley draws cupboards and other storage areas (Incl. under port side Nav seat which is quite large and deep), areas under V-berth mattresses, shelving and cubby holes at aft area of the V-berth section. In total, I had filled all the storage areas efficiently as I could and had to employ extra space in the Cave for larger items such as my tool kit bags, Coffee/Tea maker, small Vacuum, table pedestals, several gallon sized bottled water, and so on.
After all the above was stowed and space used up I had only the Cave to add more stuff as needed.
Before trading in my R27/OB I removed all my stowed gear and took it all home.
R29 CB (North West Edition - not having A/C nor Genset)
Between having the R27/OB and the R29 CB my 1st Mate passed away and the need for storing a wheelchair onboard was no longer needed. However all the other gear I had on my R27/OB was now needing to find storage space on the R29 CB. If I did have the need for a wheelchair it would either be stowed up against side of cockpit or possibly into Cave area after removing its wheels and folding the wheelchair frame (and this would be awkward as the wheelchair is quite heavy and maneuvering it into the cave would be a strain on my body).
So now all my gear I had removed from the R27/OB was taken down to my R29 CB in its many bags and several trips from car to the boat's slip. I spread it all out on the dockside and started to ponder where would each stack go in the R29 CB.
I should add here, that for my R29 CB I had purchased a portable propane BBQ - a Dickinsons Spitfire BBQ as it did not have the nice electric BBQ that came with the R27/OB. I did not want to have this BBQ always installed on the R29 CB's aft cockpit or swim step railing - I wanted to stow it inside the R29 CB somewhere along with its nice cover to keep it looking pristine and secure from prowlers etc. 😉 I noted that Jim Favors has this same BBQ and stows it in the cockpit side locker on his R29 S. So was hopeful it would be easily stowed in a similar way when not needed.
I have the stock RT 4x black fenders that are kept at the ready at all times. I also have an extra two of these and typically stow/secure them on the cabin roof inside the hand rails on port and starboard sides when on a cruise. While not cruising I stow them safely inside the boat and on the R27/OB they fitted nicely into the huge center cockpit locker.
I have found that I can stow the two large black fenders and the Dickinson Spitfire BBQ in the port side cockpit locker quite easily without interfering with the 5x batteries in that area. The R29 CB cockpit side lockers are quite wider than on the R27/OB side lockers and from their elevated floors from the stringer liner avoids water from sitting/collecting on the locker floors (very welcomed and will keep things dryer). All the gear I used to stow in my R27/OB's starboard side locked was easily swallowed up in the R29 CB's starboard side locker with room to spare.
The R29 CB has a built in step assembly on the starboard side that can be accessed internally via three hatches and this storage area is quite voluminous and easily holds my collection of boat spares (oil and fuel filters, impeller, serpentine engine belt, spare lines and other odds and ends), and stacks of free space remaining.
Without having a Genset, there's a vast area opened up at the transom that is accessed by removing a fiber glass lid under the transom flip seating. So far this area is totally empty.
Moving now to the storage areas on the port side galley area; the cupboard floorings have removable floors that open up large areas with builtin trays glued down to the inside hull surface. These were used for storing rarely used items such as 2x Camfro 110v dehumidifiers, a fairly large 110v electric operated flatplate grill, a small ceramic 110v heater and so on. The remaining cupboard space under the sink were filed with dishes, glasses, some canned food, large 1 gallon bottle water and so on. All the draws easily swallowed up all the other kitchen related stuff, and the lower draw took up all the small junk gear. After loading up all the galley stuff I had from my R27/OB I still had room left for more!
I placed my tool kit bags in the large storage area under the helm seat and behind the Microwave. I will also place the console display covers in this area when getting ready to cruise.
Moving into the forward saloon - Bow berth area - on port side there's shelving, a useful built in cloth hanger bar, storage lockers beneath this and the swing out TV. These shelves are only partially used at this time and I use the cloth hanger for hanging 3x Mustang PFDs. In one of the lower storage lockers I've placed two rolled up sleeping bags and blankets and spare space remains there. I keep a larger blanket and more PFDs for the grandkids in the pull out draw under the bow mattress. Place books and what not on the shelving surround the island berth. The desk-like fitting on starboard side adjacent to the head enclosure is at this time not used for things. It has a useful 110v outlet along with a cig lighter receptacle that I've inserted 2x USB unit for charge mobile devices. All my previous gear from the R27/OB's head space has easily fitted and placed and the storage lockers are still empty.
I place all the canvas coverings behind the island berths slide out draw along with three table pedestals. I place the two tables (cockpit table and Command Bridge table) under the bow mattress section with room to spare.
So, all my previous R27/OB's stowed gear is now in my R29 CB and the cave is COMPLETELY unused. 😀 ...and so far the Command Bridge for stowing things isn't under any pressure to be used.
All I can say, is that the storage area in the R29 CB is more than sufficient for holding all that the R27/OB is designed for. 😀 At this point I still have the empty space occupied by a Genset, more space in starboard side cockpit locker, more space in the storage areas under the starboard side step assembly, the empty Cave, extra space in the trays under the removable floors of the galley cupboards, extra space in the cubby hole under the helm seat and behind the microwave, Command Bridge areas, swim step platform space, unused space in the forward berth areas and unused space in cupboards in the head enclosure. My galley counter top is completely open without anything placed on its surface and ready to fly/slide off at the first evidence of the boat rolling back and forth in rough weather.
I've no good spot to mount my brass clock in the cabin at this time. I'm contemplating buying a small black/plastic covered clock and mount it on the helm console to left of the Auto pilot display.
If I decide having my Sea Eagle inflated and 'ready to launch' I will sling it on rotatable J carrier poles attached to port side rails on Command Bridge and secured safely with quick release straps. I saw this same arrangement at the recent Seattle Boat Show and it appealed to me. These are the J shaped carrier poles... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MNQSHFE/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 for $170. 🙂
Oh, the bedding for my Wire Hair Fox Terrier (Jake) easily sits under the dinette table on starboard side of the piston pedestal without it being squeezed into position as it had to be on the R27/OB..... Jake will be very happy with this arrangement. 😉
I'm very happy about this storage space available on this R29 CB.