What's the most useful modification you've made....

[dandimm]

I have a 1984 Ericson 30+ for the last 3 years and have made several mods. Since I am on a lake and primarily shore power, I wanted it as comfortable and functional as possible.

I took out the stove and used the cooktop from it and cheap $10 microwave from a thrift sore and built as new storage area. Since I didn't have a seawater foot pump, I replaced the faucet with an integrated counter dish detergent pump, I added a black water tank monitor (it only takes one time to overfill you blackwater tank to learn that lesson), added ladder PVC rung covers made from home depot pvc trim, ladder extension, converted the icebox to refrigeration with an isotherm conversion kit, made shelving in the wet locker, added nonslip step covers to stairs. Replaced the plastic shower floor insert in the head with matching flooring (never would use the shower but I have insert in the head cabinet, just in case.

 

[Loren Beach]

added ladder PVC rung covers made from home depot pvc trim

Nice for the feet! How is the PVC attached?

 

[dandimm]

Nice for the feet! How is the PVC attached?

I ran it across my table saw a few times to route it out to the width of the rung (It's cuts like butter) Attached with 5200 and 3 stainless screws from the bottom. Been on for 2 season, solid and has not faded.

 

[bigd14]

Great upgrades! What color Formica did you use in the microwave area to match the original?

 

[dandimm]

Great upgrades! What color Formica did you use in the microwave area to match the original?

I reused the original one that covered to cooktop from the stove. I removed the cooktop from the oven and mounted it to the new shelf at the correct height to match the surrounding counter tops.

 

[bigd14]

I reused the original one

Good plan. I'm in the midst of a similar project and may be overthinking it (as usual). Thanks for the photo.

 

[Kenneth K]

Well, maybe not the most useful, but some simple and helpful storage ideas nonetheless:

A little wooden stop at the end of footwell under the nav table. This space gets more use as storage than a footwell, so the stop prevents things from sliding onto the sole. It doesn't stick up high enough to trip on when sitting at the table.



Cutting the quarter-berth cushion into a nav table seat cushion and dedicating the area behind for storage.



Converting the tilt-out cabinets to normal, doored cabinets.

 

[Saverio]

these are some modifications 38 200

 

[Saverio]

these are some modifications 38 200

 

[Saverio]

these are some modifications 38 200

 

[Teranodon]

Here's my answer to the age-old question of where to stow the hatch boards. It works for me because I use the quarterberth as a "garage".

 

[Kenneth K]

these are some modifications 38 200

I like the idea of keeping the stove but gutting the oven. Wonder if a microwave would fit in the E32's oven.

 

[Saverio]

I like the idea of keeping the stove but gutting the oven. Wonder if a microwave would fit in the E32's oven.

Hello, the classic gas oven, in all our boats that I have had has never been used. Our family, on the other hand, cooks a lot with the microwave. I tried to collect it, there was nowhere, seeing it resting on the kitchen top, as well as dangerous at sea, I did not like it, for this reason, I sacrificed the kitchen. Best regards Saverio

 

[Mr. Scarlett]

On a previous boat removing the pressurized alcohol stove and going with an Origo allowed me to add a substantial house bank, plus a tiny bit more storage. Vented panel to hide batteries not shown.

 

[Loren Beach]

On a previous boat removing the pressurized alcohol stove and going with an Origo allowed me to add a substantial house bank, plus a tiny bit more storage. Vented panel to hide batteries not shown.

Is this a picture of your current boat or a previous boat? We *have* enjoyed our OEM Origo model 6000 galley range for decades. Great stove.
A quibble, if I may. Your batteries appear to be sitting on a shelf. I had to install a liquid-proof tray under my AGM battery (our emergency bank) to meet the ABYC standards even tho my battery is a "sealed" type of construction. The tray was easy to install, tho. I found one with a search on the 'net.

 

[Mark F]

I may have already posted this here but putting this guy in rates right up there.

 

[Alan Gomes]

On a previous boat removing the pressurized alcohol stove and going with an Origo allowed me to add a substantial house bank, plus a tiny bit more storage. Vented panel to hide batteries not shown. View attachment 44930

That's a substantial amount of weight, also on the same side as your ice box. Has that affected the boat's trim?

 

[Mr. Scarlett]

Is this a picture of your current boat or a previous boat?

It's a previous boat

a liquid-proof tray

If you look closely, you can see that the fit was so tight that I had to raise #1 and #3 by about 1 1/8" to squeeze them in. I realize it's not up to ABYC standards, but younger me wasn't thinking of anything else but amp hours.

Has that affected the boat's trim?

Not at all. Removal of the stove plus two more 6V batteries on the stbd side kept things balanced. This is a 1968 S&S Classic 37. A very pretty 21000 lbs of very thick fiberglass and lead.

 

[Scrinch]

This is my wife's choice for the most useful modification. I took an old cockpit table and mounted it with two hinges and a hatch support. It gives her additional galley space and folds out of the way when not in use.

Ray Rhode
S/V Journey
E35-III, #189

Yep, did that too... Easy and utilitarian.

 

[Scrinch]

Cutting board/drink holder

This was from my previous boat. I made a cutting board that fit in the top of the sink. I cut two holes in it to hold drink cups while pouring drinks under way and it also provides a nice way to scrape garbage off the cutting board into a bag underneath when prepping food.

Great idea. I am just up the coast in Rockland.