The layout of the Islander 23 is bordering on a work of genius in my opinion. There are very few boats that offer four separate berths, a heads compartment, a very usable galley and decent stowage space along with a good sized cockpit and all in a package less than twenty three feet long. What is more, she's no slab sided tub of lard either, to my eye she's even quietly pretty in a quaint 1960's sort of way.
The down side, of course, is a total lack of standing headroom and a noticeable lack of social space. Well there's not a lot to be done about the headroom but two major improvements / additions should address the social space issue ...
The first element of the plan is to rework the aft berths and chart table to form a two / three seat "mini"-saloon. While we're at it, we'll rebuild the cabin step into a tool box and add the necessary supports, boards and cushions to form an occasional double, at least as usable as a v-berth on a similar sized boat to Brigantia.
A spin off bonus is that by using the existing removable chart table as a saloon table and offsetting the "desmo" leg fitting, it can be rotated through 90 degrees to form a navigation planning table (it being far from easy to work at the existing chart table, it's OK for brief periods but you can't crouch there for long) and in that configuration there will still be access, albeit a bit of a squeeze, to and from the cockpit.
And whilst we're at it, we might as well fit a matching desmo socket in the cockpit so that the table can also be used as a cockpit table. Hey, four tables for the price of one! Pretty sneaky eh?
OK, so the double berth will be far from luxurious but better than nothing and should work well for those nights on board in harbour when we want to cuddle up <blush> and .. watch a film on the laptop (you filthy minded pervs, what did you THINK I had in mind?)
OK, I've got a couple of issues to resolve. One being where the extra cushions needed go when they're not in use. I think I can work out a cushion jigsaw that uses the cushions that normally live down in the depths of the quarter berths to form the base of the double bed but I'll need some accurate measuring up to hand to work that one out.
A second problem is that the aft quarter berths are rather low for comfortable seating. They have to be in order to have enough height under the cockpit seats when used as berths but a few inches extra depth off the floor would make things a lot better. An extra layer of cushion with a thin ply base to stop it simply compressing into the cushion below is probably the best solution I can come up with provided I can work out where to stow them when the berths are in use for sleeping.
You'll note a couple or three other things on the plan above, these are two projects already on the "to do" list. One is to replace the current 20 litre water container which lives in a hole between two half bulkheads forward of the heads with two x 31 litre rigid tanks under the forward part of the forward berths (in what is otherwise dead space which is all but impossible to access). The space where the current water tank is, or more accurately the space above it, would then be adapted as a wet hanging space for wet foulies (something we're sadly lacking at present).
As part of the programme outlined above, the current horrible carpet in the saloon would be replaced with plastic wood effect laminate flooring and the acres of stuck on blue/grey carpet either replaced or if retained stuck on a lot more firmly! The galley, apart from a minor mod needed to allow the cooker to be opened up for refuelling without having to remove it altogether, needs nothing more than a cosmetic overhaul.
That should sort out the saloon nicely and address many of the current shortcomings. She'll still be compact and bijoux but she'll be a lot more flexible and usable. There are still things to be done though ...
Our current cockpit tent is quite well made but not very cleverly designed! (Not entirely certain that it was originally made for our boat anyway). We could go for a modern style cockpit enclosure which would have its advantages but aesthetically wrong to my eye on a 1960's style small yacht. A boom tent just looks right because it is right so a new, better, boom tent is on the agenda.
A decent boom tent which properly encloses the cockpit on all four sides and which has entry flaps to port and starboard ... and come to think of it at the stern as well for those occasions we might which to embark or board via the stern ladder with the tent up (either afloat or ashore) would turn the cockpit into a usable social space when not under way. Add some (waterproof) cockpit cushions, and even though my backside is quite well padded these days I wouldn't say no to a softer seat anyway, and in clement weather the cockpit could even be used for sleeping. After all, we'll happily sleep in a tent.
That, apart from providing so much extra space, would solve another little niggling problem in that at least one potentially regular crew member (and he's not the only one although he is the worst culprit) snores at a level and frequency which is intolerable at a range of less than a foot when everyone is sleeping in the cabin.
One final element in the below decks project is a maybe / maybe not job and that is to modify a Portapotti loo so that the holding tank can be pumped out and flushed overboard in situ. It can be done (in the USA Thetford even sell a version of the 365 for marine use with the necessary inlets and outlets, unfortunately it's not available in Europe) but it's not a high priority.
And that should be pretty much that from a comfort perspective. Doubtful we'll manage all of this in time for the 2013 season, some of it at least is likely to be carried forward to next winter
And still there's more. Bet you can't wait! Well you'll have to 'cos I'm going to put the kettle on ....
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