Teardrop4vets is building - slowly

[Guy]

Well, it was too beautiful outside to do anything but finally put my router table together and then finish the design. Tomorrow I am off to the water jet cutters to get a bid and proceed. One short trip to Dc later this week but everything else will be building. I will post a pic later, however here is the "final" design.

[Darren]

Wow that's nice Guy. I know you'll keep us updated on the progress.

[Miriam C.]

Looking good. Am I seeing it right, hot water that is usable outside and in?

Great idea.


Miriam

[48Rob]

Guy,

It looks well planned.

A microwave is a very practical appliance for a "full timer".

Don't forget about the inside of the hatch for "storage".
Thin profile items can be arranged on the surface, and held in place with elastic, etc.
As you know, drawer and cabinet space is limited, but with a bit of thought and planning, many items will "just fit" here or there.
The "everything in it's place" theory...
Your design also lends itself to "under floor" storage, that can be accessed by a small hatch in the floor.
An area say, 2' x 2' x 3-5" inces deep will hold a lot of things.

Rob

[Chip]

well since the cats out of the bag I guess this thread is on life support,,,,

[mikeschn]

You got that right Chip...

Mike...

[Guy]

YUP!

[48Rob]

Guy,

My apologies, I just found your message from Monday

Here are the photos you requested.







As you know, the design is quite simple, yet works and looks great.

The concept (not mine) is to have the cooler, either home made, or store bought, under the work counter in the galley/kitchen area.

To access the contents, one removes or folds back the bread board "lid" that is set into the countertop.
There is of course a corresponding hole in the cooler top.
Appropriate trim is used to keep the cool air in, and debris out.

By using this design, the counter space is still available, and the cooler does not have to be pulled out and opened.
If the galley hatch is so designed, only the upper half of the hatch needs to be opened for everyday operations.
It gives a "neater" look, and reduces the weight of the upper door.

Though not shown in the photos, I have installed several "extras" to enhance the cooler.
There is a full width sliding drawer/tray at the top of the cooler, and a wire basket shelf attached to the side of the cooler.
Both allow for storage of items that would be ruined by contact with the water.
I added a second drain (I glued the original shut) with a shut off valve and tube that drains below the floor, to allow the melt water out.

And finally, I installed a motion controlled battery powered lamp in the upper area of the cooler.
It turns on and "lights the way" as soon as the lid is opened (turns off by itself after 15 seconds)
Great for retrieving an item in the dark.

Rob

[Laredo]

48Rob, do those triangular pockets in the inner sides support / aid the hatch struts' operations?

[48Rob]

Laredo,

They aid in that they provide a mounting surface for the struts...if that is what you meant?

The panels with the cutouts are structural, a part of the framing.


The triangular (teardrop shaped) holes, are the access to the cabinets.
The area at each side holds food stocks and pots and pans.

Rob

[Laredo]

Sweet.

From the angle of the picture I wasn't sure if the supports "traveled" along the bottom of the cutouts or not. (I'm thinking of Roly Nelson's wooden support arms, I expect.)

The cabinets are, what, about 8'' deep either side of the galley in the dimension between the galley side and the outside of the trailer side?
And from the "top off" pics it looks like they extend the width of the
cabinet top and drop down about 3'' below the galley cabinet deck?

[48Rob]

Laredo,

Thanks!

The cabinets are 12" wide, and 24" or so deep.
They run from 2" tall at the rear, to almost 24" at the front.
Very useable storage space!

The counter area is just under 5" wide, the trailer is just under 7' wide...kind of like a teardrop on steroids...

The cabinet bottoms are deeper than the counter.

Rob

[Laredo]

That is sooooo beautiful.