Small SailBoat Cabin Design

[CarlosK2]

Interior of a small sailboat cabin—British-inspired, after a lifetime of both enjoying and enduring French designs that, as I see in 2026, have followed the same path since 1964.

"Scow"

DIVINITÉ 5.83m

DIVINITE 5.83m Scow/ plywood. Plans available!!! Full Security / Almost autonomous. Potential construction in Poland . She is the big sister of Divinité 4 3/4 and ....the Aviateur 5,70m in Scow version. Ocean-capable SCOW, strongly built in plywood with 4 berths and volume inside. Headroom...

hensevalyachtdesign.jimdofree.com

C: Large Queen-sized bed; c1–c4: clothing stored behind canvas; the large bed features an area with huge cushions for lounging—half-sitting, half-reclining

B: An area offering the immense luxury of hanging clothes on hangers, with storage underneath

A: A 240 x 60 cm surface serving a triple function: it is the large chart table, the navigator's berth, and the spot where the portable stove sits. And, of course, there is no sink; naturally, Eric and Susan Hiscock had no sink inside the cabin of "Wanderer III", let alone "Wanderer II"

 

[CarlosK2]

It is important to distinguish between heating and cooking.

It is one thing to simply warm up a can of food in the middle of the Atlantic, another to make tea, and something else entirely to arrive at a small fishing port and buy half a kilo of tuna.

A proper galley is essential for enjoying life on this beautiful asteroid and horrible world.

Hence the need for a portable stove: one for cooking in the cockpit and for heating water or food inside the cabin.

 

[CarlosK2]

In the cockpit, there is a powerful 24-volt electric pump for the seawater ballast tanks used when sailing upwind, and a manual pump to fill a plastic sink

... and to supply that pinnacle of Civilization: the bidet.

Bidet - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Whether sailing or in port, "the final question" is easily resolved; but at anchor, true Civilization means a Throne fit for a King, accompanied by that crowning achievement of Civilized peoples: the bidet.

And a sailboat with bidet is a yacht.

 

[CarlosK2]

Instructions for using this pinnacle of civilization’s ingenuity will be provided to the passenger in a brief leaflet:

1) seawater
2) paper
3) moist adult wipe
4) whatever you wish

There are other scientific schools of thought, but I believe this reflects the consensus within the research community.

 

[CarlosK2]

This is the portable gas stove I use on my old Mini Transat (luckily, I pay 1,400 euros a year for a berth that includes water and electricity)

I also use it at home on the terrace

I mean a real stove, not a Jetboil

I also have an alcohol stove that I don't use. I used to think that being a true adventurer meant needing an alcohol stove—haha. The alcohol flame is alluring, but impractical.

If my new Mini Transat ever becomes a reality, I’m currently considering an portable electric induction cooktop.

This summer, I found myself in a bit of a tight spot twice with my 2-horsepower gasoline outboard motor. After giving it a lot of thought, I’m considering a powerful 24-volt electric motor: the Mini Transat I’ve been dreaming of and planning has less wetted surface area than my old Mini Transat from the 1980s.

 

[CarlosK2]

57 cc (2 HP) --> 294 Newtons
68 cc ---> 368
85 cc ---> 400-460 Newtons
139 cc (4 HP) ---> 654 (?)

Nowadays, with a 24-volt, 1600–2500-watt setup, maybe you can get electric outboard motors roughly equivalent to 3 or 5 horsepower; plus, electric motors excel at low speeds—which is exactly what I’m looking for when maneuvering. I once tried entering under sail and caused a scene, only to be bailed out by some helpful young guys.

A 24-volt LiFePO4 battery weighs 20 (!) kilos, but the electric motor itself is only about 12–14 kilos. And ultimately, the spreadsheet—with that mountain of items I’m constantly adding, removing, and swapping—doesn't really change.

And everything would run on 24 volts: the motor, the powerful electric pump for moving the seawater ballast, and the galley

And two 100-watt solar panels

 

[CarlosK2]

And the massive keel is raised using a 4x4=16 cascading tackle system (a variation of the "Double Spanish Burton") and a winch powered by an electric drill-screwdriver.

In other words, the keel rests outside the cabin.

 

[CarlosK2]

(typical layout)

Let’s look at the advantages of this proposed design compared to the typical layout found in small sailboats:

+ We gain a well-ventilated spot for the galley, located right next to one of the two cabin entrance hatches

+ We eliminate the inconvenience of the centerboard trunk and those typical tiny cabinets that usually obstruct easy passage—features often found where the forward berth was originally designed only for small children

+ You can enter while soaking wet, sit facing the bow, and remove your wet clothes without getting the bed wet

+ We gain a deep, protected, comfortable, and safe cockpit—a huge asset on a small sailboat

+ We gain a proper, civilized cockpit bathroom complete with a toilet and bidet

+ We get good cockpit storage space; it is essential to keep the cabin from turning into a dumping ground for gear.

 

[CarlosK2]

windows, portlights

zero, none, nothing

On one hand, a completely watertight cabin is worth its weight in gold—especially one with zero screws piercing the deck. Zero screws.

On the other hand, they let in heat—particularly the most useless one of all: the decorative, non-opening window.

There are two large hatches (50 x 50 cm) facing the cockpit and two electric computer fans: one exhausting air from the cabin and the other blowing air in the cabin

The air intake and exhaust are located at the top of the cockpit seats, facing toward the center of the cockpit

Let’s recall that sailor who spent over an hour inside a capsized Pogo 8.50, breathing through the toilet pump.

The large, fully sealed spruce mast and the large centerboard suggest that righting the boat after a capsize will be quick; however, as little as possible should be left to chance.

 

[CarlosK2]

fridge

No, the goal is spirited sailing followed by sitting down with an ice-cold beer while gazing at your efficient machine anchored right there.

A good galley matters because—after hours of online research—your counter-intelligence service might fail you, leaving you storming out of that trendy restaurant in a huff;

But

An ice-cold beer is a job best left to professionals, and it offers excellent cost-effectiveness.

 

[CarlosK2]

mosquitoes invading the cabin

a night with mosquitoes is a nightmare

a small species has just appeared—I don't know if it's in other parts of Europe too—that is very hard to swat in mid-air; a biter, terrible, an unbearable beast

I need to rethink this

 

[CarlosK2]

An AI tells me that computer fans aren't up to the task for a cabin—if only all problems were like this: more powerful fans.

 

[HelmutSheina]

View attachment 210354

This is the portable gas stove I use on my old Mini Transat (luckily, I pay 1,400 euros a year for a berth that includes water and electricity)

I also use it at home on the terrace

I mean a real stove, not a Jetboil

I also have an alcohol stove that I don't use. I used to think that being a true adventurer meant needing an alcohol stove—haha. The alcohol flame is alluring, but impractical.

If my new Mini Transat ever becomes a reality, I’m currently considering an portable electric induction cooktop.

This summer, I found myself in a bit of a tight spot twice with my 2-horsepower gasoline outboard motor. After giving it a lot of thought, I’m considering a powerful 24-volt electric motor: the Mini Transat I’ve been dreaming of and planning has less wetted surface area than my old Mini Transat from the 1980s.

What is impractical (actually insane) is carrying canisters of pressurised explosive fuel made from light gauge electroplated steel on any boat. If you must use propane or butane a regularly tested, hot dip galvanised and domed pressure vessel is a minimum requirement. However most craft stop burning when they sink. I will stick with ethanol and take a bit longer to boil the kettle.

 

[montero]

Carlos has probably never been to a hospital burn unit. Neither have I.
There have been many accidents involving monohulls due to gas physics.
All charter boats keep their gas cylinders in an insulated compartment, which reduces the risk—but doesn't eliminate it.

 

[gonzo]

On one hand, a completely watertight cabin is worth its weight in gold—especially one with zero screws piercing the deck. Zero screws.

On the other hand, they let in heat—particularly the most useless one of all: the decorative, non-opening window.

There are two large hatches (50 x 50 cm) facing the cockpit and two electric computer fans: one exhausting air from the cabin and the other blowing air in the cabin

The air intake and exhaust are located at the top of the cockpit seats, facing toward the center of the cockpit

If you have intake and exhaust openings it it not watertight. You can't have both.