Under bed storage.

[thinwater]

There is a huge cavern where the engines would be in an LRC model. We keep a big fan, bogey boards, scooters, soccer balls, extra PFDs (beyond those we need to get to quickly) and other big items down there. As we all know, lifting the lids is a pain. In truth, we under utilize the space because access is so difficult.

Zero-to-cruising added sliders and cut the lid in to pieces. They also cut the matress in parts, and it seems to work for them. I suspect it is great system for the live-aboard couple, where you would store every-day things in there on the port side and sleep on starboard (I am guessing that is their practice). But we wanted to keep the matresses as-is, and may even switch to a heavier matress where cutting is no option. I also want the option of storing large items. We seem to have enough small item storage.

Yesterday I installed a piano hinge on the inside edge of the lid, along with a simple rope handle. Suddenly lifting the plywood is a piece of cake, the mattress folding neatly. Not very strenuous at all, since the leverage is improved and you are not struggling to prevent the lid from sliding a the same time. I had been considering all sorts of pulley abridgments to lift and hold the lid, but it now appears a simple wooden prop will work as well and keep things very simple. I like simple.

Has anyone tried this? I would like to attach the prop in some manner and I have some ideas (an eye-bolt swivel and a bungee or clip for storage), but I would like see what has been tried.