My first shelving project for my new R-21EC

baz

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Subject: My first shelving project for my new R-21EC

I wanted a Magazine Rack and also thinking where I could place it. These type racks are expensive running up to $60 to $70. They also come in specific sizes (width, length, depth, etc) and most simply did not fit dimensionally anywhere I wanted them.

So this became a DIY.

Step 1) Where to place it for convenience and to not be in the way and no bolting to the cabin walls ?

Step 2) Materials (I lucked out as my neighbor has a wood working shop and I obtained the material from there for $0). A thin 3-ply sheet and some nice thin 3/16" thick mahogony.

Step 3) The best place I came up with was the cabin/cockpit wall directly behind the helm seat.

Step 4) How to install the rack without drilling holes in cabin wall.

Step 5) Placement per 3) must not obstruct things I may place on the teak/holly counter top behind the helm seat. This is where I want to place my 1.2 liter vacuum flask to hold tea or coffee.

With a fair amount of pondering, measuring up and feeling good about the rack location I set about constructing the rack.

The method for securing the rack was actually very simple. Using a satin-brass metal angle as shown in the photos below the rack was secured. The width of the rack was made to fit exactly between the starboard wall and the cabin door jam, and its height such that is fitted exactly between the two bolt heads securing the grab handle to the outside cabin wall. So, yes, one small hole was drilled to screw the brass metal angle to the roof mounted shelf that hides the VHF antenna cable and for the curtain rail (see photos).

Currently the rack is finished with a sealer and after another 12 hours of drying time the next task will be to apply a nice teak stain and then lacquer the whole rack and install it proper.

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Hello Barry,

That looks nice! Figuring out to utilize the limited areas for storage/organization is a challenge - though fun.

dave
 
Great looking!
Good project for this winter.

Cheers!
Karl
 
Nice job! That wall does lend itself to a project doesn't it.
 
One last addition that I felt was needed was to place a concealed wooden wedge between the rack at its low point and the starboard wall. This wedge basically clamps the the other side of the rack firmly against the door jam so it cannot move outwards. No matter how precise the rack's width is made there's bound to be some minute slop/movement, so the wedge resolves that nicely.

Another approach could have been to set in a screw through the rack's side adjacent to the door jam that protruded about 1/16" and then with the use of the wooden wedge mentioned earlier, the screws point would be jammed into the gel coat some and provide holding for the rack so it simply could not move outward into the cabin.
 
Teak stain applied.... now wait for that to dry and then lay down a few coats of Varathane spar varnish... and then populate the rack with things etc and where're all done I think. 😀 ...onto the next project now :roll: :lol:

BTW.... I laid the mahogany cross bars on top of the sides to maximize the available depth for placing things into the rack...every little bit helps, right ? 😉 It would be a cleaner look if those cross bars were embedded into the sides... but what the heck.

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I have some further ideas for using this Mag Rack.... will post later. There are few places in the cabin for holding things and this location above the counter behind the helm seat is begging for inventive uses. 😉
 
The finished Magazine Rack... I ended up using some of the rubber trim used for limiting the side windows travel (I removed 2" from each side to allow the windows to fully open) and placed this between the rack and the starboard cabin wall. It compressed nicely and the rack fits very securely without budging at all. I also placed 4 silicon sticky tabs on the rack's backside to provide further anchoring to the cabin wall.

I'm pleased with the finished rack and especially its use of the space where its installed. Now I can place all my frequently needed documents in the rack, plus I can clip my portable radio to it and will place some brass screws in the lower edge to allow even more things to hang without them being flung around when underway.

I had been wondering how to place my one-handed REI/Stanley 16oz coffee/tea/water vacuum flasks so that they do not get flung or roll about when underway. I typically have a 1.2 liter Stanley vacuum flask at the start of a cruise filled with piping hot tea, with milk & sugar already stirred in. My 1st Mate and I then use our individual 16oz one-handed REI/Stanley vacuum flasks to fill from the larger 1.2 liter flask. These one-handed flasks are awesome as once the open/close button is released these flasks will not spill their contents no matter how they may be flung about. Because of their size they easily slide into the sink with the Nav seat in place and the water faucet folded over out of the way. The snug fit in the sink with a small towel to one side holds these flasks securely yet can be grabbed easily when needed for refreshment purposes. 🙂

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Looks great! i am planning to something similar as a cup holder, I was wondering if we could put screws right in the bulkhead?
 
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