Below are pictures of the after part of the salon aboard Sandpiper, Triton 129. This is a composite work of Jack Niedringhous, James Higgins and Chris Gordon. There is a history of Sandpiper on the NTA site which details a fire aboard in 1965, and the painstaking gutting and rebuilding accomplished by James Higgins who relaunched the boat in 1967. Two owners later Chris Gordon had the boat surveyed for insurance purposes and was told that the icebox access from the cockpit was a hazard and must be removed. The surveyor was concerned that, with a heavy port heel, water would enter the cockpit over the coaming, enter the icebox and flood belowdecks, causing the boat to sink. After much protesting and with a heavy heart the icebox was removed and he made a skylight in place of the cockpit icebox access. I now have a cooler that can go in one of two places. When I'm racing the boat I will place it under the mast, but when I'm cruising I will slide it into the vacant space where the icebox would ordinarily go. That is sufficient for me for several days with no issues. The large drawer in the sink cabinet, by the way, is where the pull-out stove is installed.
The steps were installed in place of the ladder because -- from what I was told -- Mrs. Niedringhaus had a hard time going up and down the ladder. Every boat that Jack Niedringhaus owned had been modified to the pictured steps below rather than the ladder for that reason. It is quite easy to get in and out of the salon using those steps, and I believe that it actually takes less room belowdecks than the access ladder. It also allows me to put the two batteries in a location that is convenient for access and maintenance.
The entire process of stripping out the after part of the salon as shown takes about 15-20 minutes. I have been able to remove the shelf while heaved-to in pretty significant seas (for the Chesapeake) with little to no difficulty. I just have to take the "stuff" off the top of the shelf in order to accomplish that, which is not difficult. Heavy seas usually take care of that for me, anyway!
To see more pictures of the boats in the Chesapeake Bay Triton Fleet or the fleet activities, just check out http://cbtf.info.
Sandpiper's after salon. The icebox on the port side has been removed and a shelf put in instead. The deck opening has been covered with 1/2" Lexan with a stainless steel bezel in order to provide a skylight of sorts. This does allow light onto the shelf below. The shelf and steps are easily removed for engine access.
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The two steps have been removed to allow access to the engine for routine inspection and average access.
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The port shelf removes to allow access to the port side of the engine for maintenance on the exhaust, carburetor, fuel pump and fuel lines. Access to the oil plug is readily available.
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The sink cabinet removes easily with access to the starboard side of the engine for electrical (alternator), starter and water pump access, among other things.
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The after bulkhead removes easily for access to the hoses under the cockpit, and to the fuel lines from the fuel filters and to the waterlift muffler installed in the port cockpit locker.
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View of the forward end of the original fuel tank. Removal will not be trivial, but it can be accomplished in a few hours at most.