R-21EC Helmsman footboard Mod.needed

[LADY JANE]

Has anyone come up with a modification for the existing R21EC Helm's footboard? The only place a sitting Helmsman's feet can actually go is right on the 'Foot' of the bed cushion, frame, or in mid-air. Any ideas? :idea:

 

[daviduphoff]

When we bought our 21 it was used. I had several conversations with the previous owner once the boat arrived in Portland from San Diego. One question I asked was "what is the painter's drop cloth for?". He said "it is to rest you feet on in order to keep the mattress clean and wood scratch free".

If someone has a better idea let us all know.

 

[brhodes]

We spread a yoga mat horizontally over that area. This keeps the area clean - and provides a little more "cushion" to the bed at nighttime!

 

[Stevan47]

Hi all: I am actually going to design a hinged wooden footrest for my R21 ' Rhapsody'. I plan to use marine ply, clear varnish it the same as I have done to the rest of the interior woodwork, and hinge it so that it folds/drops down when not being used. Once I have completed it I will publish the photos. I am no carpenter but it is a simple design and easily made.

Kind regards to all

 

[Pearl]

I made hinged extensions for the v-berth for a little extra room. I may have to try the one for a foot rest also.

 

[SGIDAVE]

I made hinged extensions for the v-berth for a little extra room. I may have to try the one for a foot rest also.

Hello Pearl,

I think you posted sometime back about these berth extensions. Could you remind me of the details? For example where did you get the door panels? Did you use piano hinge for attachment? And where did you get the leg hardware?

Thanks!

Dave

 

[LADY JANE]

Hi Pearl, These are great photos of your R-21 footboard upgrades. Your hanging hinged panel looks like the best answer to the missing foot supports. To adjust for even more matress protection (from my filthy big feet), I'll probably have to swing my hinged panel all the way up and over, onto the bed with a second piano hinge further down. That'll alleviate the extra pressure while stepping on the original anchoring hinge. A thin Formica matching-wood-grain panel will help retain some of the valuable floor room in the process. The main change will be the extra hinge on the footboard to flip it all the way over. Thanks for the needed R-21 Helm fix Pearl, -Bill and Lady Jane

 

[Irishpilot]

http://www.amazon.com/Garelick-76007-01 ... B002FVRG4U

 

[bymiller]

PO installed pieces of HDPE (white nylon/plastic like material) on the top of the wooden ends of both beds. Looks good and keeps my feet off of the bright work.

By

 

[Boatagain]

Just a heads up. I liked the Garelick footboard brackets from the Amazon link posted by Irishmist so much that I ordered a pair last week. Two days later Amazon sent me a notice canceling my order because they are "out of stock". The notice said to try again at a later time. :cry:

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Try here:
http://www.garelick.com/Adjustable-Footrest

 

[Boatagain]

Thanks John! More choices...tres bien!

 

[LADY JANE]

For a good R-21ec Helmsman's floorboard to stretch your feet out on, a small piece of sturdy 0.60 sheetmetal (size: 14-1/2"L X 12"W) will work. Just lay it over the foot of the bedcovers. A 90 degree 2-3/16th"H radius bend (turned facing down), will tuck-into the space between the foot of the mattress and the wooden footboard. An oval (5"L X 1"W) cutout inside the bend will keep it held down in place. When removed, the oval cutout can also be used as a carrying handle. While keeping the bedcover cleaner, this Floorboard feels solid under legs and feet from the Helmsman's chair.
Also, the best Tugnuts idea for covering the wooden bed-footboard in the same area was: to get a yard of 1" Dia. clear tubing available at any Home Center. 3' should be enough for Starboard and Port Side footboards to match. Slice the tube Straight down through one side only, end to end. Then slip it over the top of the footboard and cut it to length. Clear tubing looks like a bar top finish, good to see the wood through.
Any R-21ec DIY can make and install one of these Floorboards without any tools involved. (except for duct tape and a cutter). It's the cheapest, fastest upgrade worth trying for a simple Floorboard, even though it's not actually on the floor.
We bought this new aircraft fuselage sheetmetal floorboard, precut, with the 90 deg bend, safe rounded corners, and all deburred edges. Harbor Freight sells this Mixing Board for $8 bucks. We tried one mixing board for about a dozen hrs and decided it was a little narrow. So I got another one and duct taped 'em both together. It's a good 2' wide now. The taped pair fold up for quick emptying of any dirt. This Helmsman's floorboard is non-corrosive aluminum cladding. We might cover it up with something like a laminate later on, but it's fine for now.
-Bill And Jane

 

[LADY JANE]

For the R21EC "Best" Helmsman's Footboard (described in short), we've found something called "The Mixing Board" at any "Harbor Freight" store. The .060 aluminum 2'X3' board sets on the "foot of the bed" and hooks perfectly over the end of the mattress and the tucked bedcovers. This solid, immoveable "Helmsman's Footboard" protects the R21EC mattress & bedcovers under your feet, while comfortably sitting at the helm.