The layout for the production Southern Cross 31 does call for a quarter berth on the starboard side, behind a small chart desk. This is the same arrangement as my father's old Contest 31, and it worked reasonably well. However, in my experience quarter berths are seldom used for anything other than stowage, for they are awkward getting in and out of, and definitely not for the cloisterphobic. In addition, the quarter berth on Ruth Avery was never completed. There needs to be about another two feet of bunk beyond the cutout (aft of the wooden hatch at the back end of the berth) seen below for anyone to sleep in.
So I have decided to dispense with a quarter berth altogether and build a large chart desk which can also serve as a work bench. It will have a shallow locker underneath capable of storing 24"X36"charts (laid flat), two big tool drawers, and a small locker. Finally, it can also serve as additional counter space in case there's a big production going on in the galley.
Once again I begin tearing things apart. I glass in a small bulkhead
to support the rails for the drawers, and act as a partition
between them and the locker beside.
I make the drawers and the vertical face for them ...
The top of the chart table will be covered with Formica. I have
found both laying down and trimming laminates to be rather tricky
business. When laying it down on contact cement, one has to be careful
not to let the surfaces touch before everything is lined up ...
leaving at least an inch or so of excess over the edges certainly helps.
It is by far best to trim with a table saw where you have straight
edges, but this sometimes presents a challenge in keeping it parallel
to the ripping fence. In some cases I had to nail wooden strips to the
edges and then nail a rectagle of plywood to go against the fence, as
seen below.
Putting finished pieces together is always the fun part. Here we have
the drawers, a small locker I intend to stow my sextant in, and the
chart table top assembled.
Before attaching the top, we must insert the 5-inch deep bin for stowing
24X36" charts, laid flat.
Now the table top is attached along with the hinges for the door:
I am almost done, needing only to finish off the outer edge of the bulkhead:
