The interior is the most-seen and least-supervised part of the boat. A well-built interior looks good, and is also light, unaffected by damp, and lets you reach the systems behind it.
Principles of interior joinery
- Materials
- Moisture-resistant plywood or lightweight panels; veneers and adhesives suited to the marine environment.
- Weight
- The interior is a significant share of the boat's weight; the weight estimate is checked against the design.
- Attachment
- Panels are fixed to the structure at controlled points; direct fixing that creates hard spots on the skin is avoided.
- Access
- Every panel hiding valves, pumps, cables or hoses must be removable. An interior without access makes every later survey and repair harder.
- Ventilation
- Air circulation behind lockers and linings; prevents mould and condensation.
- Fire
- Material choice around the galley, engine room and switchboard.
Check points
- Before fit-out. Systems are seen to be complete and tested; linings close only after that.
- Attachment. Fixing points and reinforcement.
- Access list. Which panel gives access to each system.
- Final check. Doors and hatches working, surface quality, noise and vibration.
Continue with this topic
- Systems installation first: Completed before linings close.
Timber and moisture
The moisture content of timber and plywood for the interior is measured before fitting. Joinery made from damp material moves as it dries inside the boat; doors stick, joints open and veneer cracks. So material is conditioned in the shop close to the boat's interior conditions and the readings recorded.
Access for maintenance
A good interior is as accessible for maintenance as it is handsome. Valves, pumps, filters, junction boxes and tank hatches should sit behind panels reachable without removing joinery. Their position and size are checked on the joinery drawings before fitting. A permanently closed-in service point means extra work at every service for the boat's whole life.
Securing
Furniture aboard takes heavy loads in a seaway. Lockers, tables and shelves are firmly fixed to hull and bulkheads; doors and drawers have catches that stop them opening under way. Mounting of heavy equipment such as fridge and oven is checked separately.
Heat and sound insulation
Insulation between engine room and living areas is completed before the joinery goes in. The insulation's fire performance and behaviour in damp are written into the specification.
Ventilation
The backs of lockers and linings must be able to breathe; unventilated voids gather condensation and mould. Ventilation gaps and vents are shown on the joinery drawings.
At acceptance
Every door is opened and closed, catches tried, and equipment behind service panels checked for access.
Finish
Varnish or lacquer is applied in dust-free conditions with the coat count agreed; edges and end grain are sealed so moisture cannot enter.
Sequence with systems
Joinery closes up only after wiring and plumbing are installed and checked. Pulling cable or changing a hose once furniture is in is hard and costly. So the joinery programme is tied to the systems installation check point, and linings are not closed until it is done.
Good joinery shows years later in doors that still close as on the first day and service points that are easy to reach. That quality is the sum of small checks made during the build, and is much harder to fix after delivery.
Every door and drawer is tried one by one before handover.
Any shortfalls go on the snag list and are closed.