Ready for the shelf.
While getting ready to install the shelf brackets we moved the lid over to the sink.
Bingo it fit right into the sink and fit nicely. It does not move around because of the routed out edges. Now this is with the temporary lid not the real one but there should not be much difference. The real one will have 2” or more of insulation and the insulation will be fiber glassed over. This means as Debbie said you can put the lid on the sink, using the sink as more counter top as you load the fridges with food.
Far back left (starboard) was the first shelf bracket to get installed
First we had to find a spot for the first bracket on the starboard
side; looking aft it is on the left to put the bracket. The spot we chose is
just above the bend and is indented a bit. The other spot would be down a bit
which would be OK but would be inside more as the wall just into the refer as
there is more insulation there. This would make pulling out the shelf
problematic as the other part by the galley is wide and the shelf would fall
into the bottom of the refer. So now we have the spot and we set the bracket in
place and measured it for length. We cut the bracket with a hack saw using the alternative
work bench (the dock steps) and had to add another hole which we drilled
through into the bracket. Then we placed the bracket where it should go and marked
a hole for the screw. We then drilled a small hole in the side of the refer. We
put the FDA approved silicone on the SS screw and screwed it into the refer
wall and bracket. The brackets are aluminum. With plenty of silicone on the
screw it should seal the refer wall and the screw from the aluminum.
Now we put the shelf onto the bracket and kind
of lined it up using a small level. This is a crap shoot as there is nothing
level on the boat and there is nothing straight or even or anything in the
refer. I guess the refer floor is kind of flat but tilts forward a bit, makes
it easier to clean. Anyway we want the shelf to slide nicely and not rock at all.
With the level we can accomplish this. Does not mean it will stay that way. If there
is more weight added to the stern for example the shelf will tilt that way a
small amount. Probably not enough to notice. So now with the small level we
leveled out the shelf, then the bracket, from bow to stern and side to side.
The drilled the second hole for the bracket. Now that the first bracket is
installed we can go ahead and work off it for the other two.
The port side bracket needed cutting but would be one long
piece as the separator wall is straight and flat (enough).
That bracket was next to install, cutting it and drilling
another hole in it. Just enough space for the fan.
Everything was going great and then came the last bracket.
The same applied measure, cut and drill. Then put in the first screw. Test it
with the shelf as before and Oh no, the darn refer wall is further out towards starboard!
That means the shelf will fall off the bracket even with the shelf being
fabricated for this because of the amount of fall off. You can see what we did
to compensate for this by adding a couple nuts behind the bracket. It is not an
elegant solution however this needs to get done. We can make it look nice at
another time by either glassing in a bracket here or some other means. This
works fine and we may just leave it this way, who knows know.
Looking in from the galley
And then there was the oops hole I made trying to get the
nuts and screw into the bracket and the refer wall. Had to put some silicone in
it and will sand it down and re- silicone it over then touch up paint it 😇
Shelf in.
Shelf pulled forward to galley
Looking into back of refer with shelf pulled forward.
Shelf pulled forward with Snapware on it.
Shelf pulled forward with Snapware on it.
Shelf sitting in it's spot with Snapware on it.
Looking in from the lazerett in the cockpit. Still need to put the real lid seals on here.
You cold push the shelf forward and reach below it into the bottom of the refer if desired from the cockpit. Why would you want to do that you say? Well we are in Mexico and it is real HOT, we have the AC on in the boat and the companion way hatch is closed up nice. We want a cold drink but do not want to let all the AC out of the boat so we just reach in and grab one! Thank you Bob Perry!
The shelf slides real nice and does not rock. It does not
rub against the sides of the refer so it will not wear off the epoxy paint. It
has enough holes and spaces to allow air flow and is thick enough to hold more
weight than can be stored on it. The shelf has a small lib on the front to keep
food from sliding off. It also makes it easy to pull forward. The shelf will
not move by it’s self in a rocks boat unless it was in a real pitching sea,
then all bets are off :) Being clear the shelf does not make the refer look small and you can still see items below it. All in all it is another job well done!
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