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Offset
04-27-2011, 08:57 PM
Not a lot of room in the Donzi classics for storing equipment, safety and spares. Anyone have any unique storage ideas? I think I have figured out how to make a bracket to hold paddles under the deck but I wonder about everything else.


Who has some words of wisdom on this.

Thanks

silverghost
04-27-2011, 09:44 PM
I too, have also wondered what could be done to make the under deck floor hatch covered storage bin area in a Donzi 16 or 18 larger & more usable above the actual lower bilge itself.
Has anyone here done anything to enlarge this under cockpit floor deck storage bin area ?

As others have gotten much more useable access to the bow front ski storage locker & under deck storage area on a 22 "Classic" as has been posted on several threads here
I suspect the 16 & 18 could be altered in a similar manner.
Has anyone actually done this type of alteration ?

fegettes
04-27-2011, 10:26 PM
Under my hatch, port side where there is some room, I took some measurements and bought a large Tuperware container to fit from Wal-Mart, did some twisting and stuffed that sucker down in there. It holds a couple life jackets, throw cushion, fire extinguisher, flares, extra ropes, and miscellaneous stuff that just does not fit else where. Taking the container out is a pain though.

Steve

jstrahn
04-27-2011, 11:06 PM
I'm curious about this too since it's so cramped. Also curious what people use for a cooler and where they put it. I have a small soft sided one but it only holds about a 12 pack.

If someone could describe a typical setup they take with them for a day on the water, I think that'd be helpful.

Just Say N20
04-28-2011, 06:36 AM
Depending on how ambitious of a project you are looking for, on a 16 (1+3), there could be quite a bit of additional storage space beneath the side portion of the L-lounge seat.

You could cut a hole in the seat bottom, make a drop in container to keep things from sliding forward/aft, and create a lid.

The pictures show what I was thinking.

Carl C
04-28-2011, 07:23 AM
Like fegettes, I also put a box in the engine room to hold the anchor. It could hold more but I only use it for the anchor since I wanted that weight aft and starboard. Jstrahn, this is my cooler. They come from AO Coolers, http://www.american-outdoors.com/?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=22 And of course by opening up all that unused space under the deck your problem will be solved!
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/CARLC222/Pictures408Large.jpg
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/CARLC222/Pictures411Large.jpg
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/CARLC222/Pictures407Large.jpg
http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/CARLC222/Pictures410Large.jpg

zelatore
04-28-2011, 09:35 AM
I'm pretty much right there with Carl.

I have a 22 as well, and following his theme I've cut out the fwd ski locker and am in the process of creating a huge storage area

Here's my build thread:
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=60635&highlight=turning

And Carl's:
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=44706&highlight=bow

Other, such as Yeller and GeorgeC have done this as well.

I used to hang a Danforth anchor and rode on the fwd engine room bulkhead with a couple small bungees to keep things from swinging back into the belts, and I made a small fender holder on the starboard side of the engine room to secure a pair of 6" fenders.

My dock lines and life jackets live in the in-floor locker; a couple back-up life jackets live under the rear seat along with a 100' rope and anchor bungee for securing to shore.

My cooler is one of Dr. Dan's soft sided Donzi coolers - looks very similar to Carl's above but with more pockets for storage and is competely kick-ass!. It normally rides just aft of the helm seat and has extra pockets to hold sun screen, charts, wallet, keys, snacks, etc. When we stop, this gets stuffed under the dash in the ski locker, but once the conversion is complete it may just ride up there full-time to stay out of the sun. I usually have one of Dr. Dan's Donzi towels (in matching red, natch) stuck under the bow while running as well, and it typically comes out to cover the cooler or seats when at rest until we need it for a swim.

That about does it for a typical day on the water.

MOP
04-28-2011, 05:42 PM
One area few take advantage of is the coamings, there is quite a bit of room in there great for lines and small stuff. It can also afford easier access to get at wiring and the like that is tucked up in there.

silverghost
04-28-2011, 06:04 PM
While my deck is still off the benchseat 18 project I was thinking of building a big shelf/box between the stringers & bulkheads in the floor deck storage area; and just a few inches above the lower center bilge area.
It's a very big area down there.
I could then put several big sealed storage bins down there before putting the boat's deck back-on.
It might be a bit damp & wet down there.
I guess I will also need drain holes in the shelf/box bottom ?