In order to prepare for the trip, we had to open up as much available space as possible. This page describes some of the modifications we made from the standard design Esprit where most of the space described below is not accessible. The changes include:
Two "cubbyholes" inside the cockpit coamings, both accessible from inside the boat. The port side, in the galley, is about 2-3 CuFt and is used for food stowage. The starboard side has about 5-6 CuFt and has a long section comprising the ceiling above the quarter berth.
We created a pan locker under the flat area below the stove by making a cutout. Some Esprits seem to come with this already built in. All the large plates and frying pans go there.
We installed a Beckson 6" Dia round access hatch on the side of the shower settee. We were able to stow 8 months of TP, a few rolls of paper towels, and a bottle of rum. And it all stayed dry through showers almost every day. The rum bottle somehow developed a leak I think.We installed shelves on the port and starboard side as well as retainer shock cord to hold the items in place offshore.
One of my favorite stowage schemes is under the cabin sole; we were able to stow 4 sealed plastic containers that were held in place with a board that slipped into two slots i epoxied into a floor just behind the mast, and one about 4' aft of that. This was on the starboard side. On the port side, we had spare hose, wire, and other bulky but flat items.
Another great addition was the chart stowage I built in over the quarter berth. There is one long one fore and aft along the hull that takes rolled up government charts, and a wider flat one that takes about 10+ Chartkits or the same depth in folded charts like Imray.
Other storage nooks we found:
Beneath the starboard lazerette we hung extra anchor lines from hooks fastened inside the coaming. They hung above Alf, the Autopilot Life Form. On the port side, we were able to get the storm jib and trisail stowed below the propane locker.
(please excuse the mess inside Passe Partout. The pix were taken over the winter haulout.)
