Wher do you store your stuff on a 2520?

[TheOtherLine]

I recently purchased a 2520 and while I really like her, I do have to say that she's a little tight on storage. I'm an organizational freak and I don't like "stuff' just stuffed in the berth. I'd like to hear from anyone who has any tips on storing:

Boat Lines
Extra anchor, props,
Fenders and all of the rest of the "stuff" you might have on board.
Thanks

 

[Megabyte]

I recently purchased a 2520 and while I really like her, I do have to say that she's a little tight on storage. I'm an organizational freak and I don't like "stuff' just stuffed in the berth. I'd like to hear from anyone who has any tips on storing:

Boat Lines
Extra anchor, props,
Fenders and all of the rest of the "stuff" you might have on board.

OK... When you see the photo of my v-berth, you'll probably say to yourself... WTF!
... but let me explain.

At first glance, this looks like a mess... but it makes sense (to me). :lol:

I store my 'stuff' in tote bags, plastic storage containers, and purpose made bags to keep everything sorted and available.

See that green tote bag in the upper left? That has my docklines in it - each one 'chained'.
Emergency equipment (pyrotechnics and such) are in the yellow ACR 'ditch bag' within reach lower left.

A complete set of foul weather gear, sweatshirts, hats, gloves, sunglasses and related clothing is in a large blue waterproof BPS tote. Utility lines in another tote.

Extra PFD's are in a PFD bag all the way forward.
Onboard electronics manuals, maps, charts, cruising guides, NavRules, and other reference material are in a plastic 'tupperware' storage box. I have another smaller tupperware storage box that contains extra sunglasses, antiseptic soap, bug spray, and sunscreen.

My 'lunch-hook' and rode are in an old leather tote bag.

The tow hawser and sea anchor both occupy their own canvas tote bags.

Fenders are on the right side of the berth (behind the helm area) so I can just reach in and grab the hang lines that are attached.
The anchor float is stored in the same area, with the ring on a hook so it's easy to grab.

Finally, all of my fishing gear is carried in soft sided BPS bags with my tackle in plano 5600 and 5700 boxes.
Two bags for trolling gear, one for LTJ, one for bait fishing, one for creek lures...
I also have some of those give-away lunchbag totes... one for leader material, one for extra plastics, one with extra hooks and specialized items like liveline rigs.
Then I have a 1/2 size plastic 'milk crate' for 5700 boxes of lead, topwater lures, terminal tackle, baitboard, and bait knives.

Koozies, air horn, mini-maglight, and other 'stuff' (including paper towels) are organized in 'drink holders' on both sides of the pilothouse.

Fire extinguishers are mounted on both sides of the pilothouse.

Sharp knives are mounted at the helm (on the side of the sounder), and in the cockpit in case of emergency...

Swim 'noodles' are used to hold lures while fishing, which keeps hooks out of your feet (a good thing). :shock:

Oh! Those under-deck storage boxes in the v-berth?
Tools, extra filters, Ringfree, StarTron, Sta-Bil, measuring cups, funnels, fuel 'diapers'... all stored in (you guessed it) canvas tote bags.

I'm always 'collecting' tote bags. That's why my v-berth is so... colorful.

Now I need to work on rod storage.

 

[TheOtherLine]

Megabyte, I have to tell you that when I first saw your berth, I about fell out of my recliner. :shock: I mean, I am new to the site and as I was browsing some old posts and looking at the pics you took of your bilge, I thought, "This Capt. is obsessive about cleanliness and organization". I can relate.

Then...the berth photo. HAVING SAID THAT, I can honestly say that I can see why you have things the way you do. Makes perfect sense and It's more important to be able to put your hands on things when you need them then anything else.

Thanks for the ideas. I'm definately going to use the bag idea for a few things, the noodle idea is perfect and the starboard cup holders are a go.

 

[dcunniff]

I have a 2530 so there are more storage places, but there is some gear on the 2530 because of some of the features.

For common areas, I have a magazine rack in the vee for manuals and papers in plastic protectors. I have a rack, like for binoculars and gear, Lysol, air freshener are there, also in the vee. I store some rarely used spare parts in the vee storage.

For those with transom fish boxes, sponges and brushes, solar shower, urinal!, propane cylinders for grille, go there when not needed.

I only carry a spare anchor when I plan on using it.

Extra fenders, lines, and the like under the dinette, but again only for those that have some setup like that. I leave a lot of fenders on the boat, as I'm on a slip. I used to take them on and off each time when away, now we just pull them up on the side while underway otherwise we would trip over fenders all the time.

I lean fish rods against a seat when I'm away.

Other stuff is more unique to the 2530, though I have some small shelves mounted in the cabin.

And, though my wife doesn't like it, a small stash of vodka, rum, and bourbon is in the electrical panel.

Here's one shot of the back wall of the vee.

Dana

 

[Megabyte]

I have to tell you that when I first saw your berth, I about fell out of my recliner. :shock:

Actually, I agree... she doesn't show very well in a photograph.
But... the tote bags do make it easier to organize... somewhat.
That's why the curtain stays closed most of the time. :wink:

Now if I could just get the Admiral to stop hiding ziplock bags of paper plates, plastic flatware, cups, and 'snack dishes' on her.
I keep trying to tell her this is a fishing boat!

 

[TheOtherLine]

Thanks Dana.

What is that horizontal white thing under the port hatch?

 

[dcunniff]

ScoopsAhoy, the horizontal rectangular mount is the light in the vee. There is one on each side.

Megabyte's vee showed one too.

I also put things in the vee in containers or bags. We have a boat bag with extra clothes that is left on the boat. Some basics, extra bathing suits, short and long shirts, some toiletries.

We leave bedding on the boat. There in bags and then she puts a bunch of them in the bags that blankets and comforters come in when bought. There are a bunch of small pillows in their own bags that fold, from boat and camping stores. There is a bag for the life jackets.

We occasionally sleep on it so when things are bagged, they can go in the cabin, or some things if we are really crowded can go in the cockpit, protected from moisture.

Here is a photo from last year, behind my pilot seat, though I have a wall for the galley. Has a teak spice rack-style shelf. Various things go in there including the key to the fuel and wate tank. Plastic binocular holder, usually hand sanitizer, lotion, and other tall things go there. I store my binoculars under the pilot seat. Plastic holder for cell phones.

The cheapest shelving and storage, are the shapes and styles that have suction cups or screw holes. You can find teak items on sale cheaper than StarBoard items. I've mixed and matched based on shape and need.

Dana

 

[tara11]

Your storage problem, ids the same as mine, i have the 2529xl, and storage space Su@@@, check the progress on the project I am doing, might give you some good ideas, !

 

[Porkchunker]

Kevin,

The v-berth of my 2510 doesn't look much better. After 5 years of fishing the Bay, I'm learning to cut down on the number of jigs, plugs, and baits and other useless junk I used to carry around all the time. I also use tupperware/rubbermaid tubs of various sizes to hold the junk. When we sleep on the boat, the tubs get moved out onto the deck, and if it rains, I don't care...they shed the water.

 

[DaleH]

Haha, my V-Berth is sooooooooooooooooooo much cleaner than Capt Kevin's! My V-Berth only carries soft and light stuff, like Type 1 & 2 life jackets, beach towels, fleece clothing, and foul weather gear. IMHO, one should try to keep ALL heavy gear in the stern of the boat.

Bedding:
I put my bedding into a condura storage bag and it resides in the port-side storage compartment under the V-Berth. Way up forward, in each corner of the forward V-Berth, I tied a shoelace to each corner, to this I simply tie in place the 2 adult-sized pillows for sleeping. Keeps them up and off the V-Berth, so it doesn’t look a mess, plus keep them dry and airy.

Ditch Bag:
Mine is bolted to the inside of the cabin door, so it is swung out into the cockpit while running on nice days, and then somewhat out of the way, but instantly accessible when the door is closed.
Fenders:
Here's what I did, which stores them up under the 'gunwhales' or washboards. Just make SURE to take a Dremel tool and grind smooth any of the screws that project through the hull from the outside that are holding on the rubrail. Here's a link to the full project details and 'how to', click here.

Spare Oil, Props, & Ropes, etc. :
See the hatch in the picture below? I replaced the 23” wide hatch with one measuring 30” or more. I put a few storage bins down in there, on the wood base where typically batteries are placed on some models. I have room to store a lot of HEAVY items in there, as again, I want all my heavy items out of the front of the boat. I’ll post a picture of this storage later .. though you will see that my bilge is NOT as clean as Megabyte’s.

Tackle Locker:
See above photo, I put this in the stern, handy to access from the cockpit, for more details,
click this post here.

 

[pelagic2530]

my Vee berth tops all. imagine a chart rack, 3 sets of foul weather gear, spare life jackets, binoculars, offshore rigging materials, reference books, a 40" diameter salmon net, 2 deck chairs, a blanket, towells, a bucket of spare tackle, chunking floats, a ditch bag, and all the miscelaneous other crap that people cram aboard 40+ footers headed to the canyons, in my vee berth. with no particular organizational plan. :shock: the thing is, i can jump in there and grab anything i need in a matter of seconds, despite the organizational fiasco. :roll:

 

[DaleH]

Haha, my bilge may not be clean, but I can snooze on my V-Berth is seconds. And better yet, most of my boat's carrying weight is in the stern!

 

[pelagic2530]

show-off :lol: 8)