Martha Jane modification

A Proposal for a Martha Jane Modification

I have been working on a birdwatcher-type design modification for the Martha Jane. I think I have come up with an attractive compromise, more headroom and light, without adding too much weight topside. (See drawings below)

First, the birdwatcher-type cabin is only part of the cabin roof. The floor plan and bulkheads are left the same. The stern end of the cabin roof is raised up about a foot (more later on the exact height). It is only about four feet long, the BW part. It ends at the foot of the forward berths, leaving them under the original cabin roof. I accidentally drew this at about six feet at first, and I do like the longer lines also. It would leave about four foot of the original cabin roof.

The open width of the BW cabin is the same width as the hatch opening of the original plan. There are two windows (smoked lexan?) on each side of the raised section, and one in each roof section. There are also windows on the forward and stern ends of the cabin on each side. The forward windows have a short sun visor extending out over them. The BW section construction is light, using 1/4 inch ply and the lexan. There is no need to ever go on top of the cabin, since it can all be reached from within.

The original cabin roof should probably be reinforced because there is no longer a need for the hatch stringers, although a hatch in the cabin roof might eliminate all need to go onto the original roof except to get to the forward cockpit. There can be a couple of deadlights on each side of the cabin.

In the BW section folding shelves allow both for a galley and berths under. The stern end of the cabin is still the original cabin end, but extensions of the raised wall run about two or three feet towards the stern along side of the cockpit, and curve down to meet the gunwales. There is a lexan window in each extension, and a triangular piece as a roof on each side. This will provide a bit of shade and weather protection in the cockpit (my wife is very sun sensitive). The overall silhouette is much like the Tennessee, or older commuter boats. Without these extensions, it looks much like an AS29.

The exact height of the new roof should be determined by someone sitting on the cockpit seat; the roof needs to be high enough for comfortable sitting under the roof. Unlike most BW cabins, I didn't set this one up for watching from inside the cabin, but for sun shade in the cockpit. Taller seats or longer windows (down into the hull) would make viewing from inside possible. Actually, higher seats in the cabin under the higher roof make sense to me, and sitting headroom would also allow for a folding table with some leg room. It could be a folding shelf opposite the galley shelf. Folding seats from the wall? Really thick seat cushions?

This is my concept (still years away from building...anyone have one for sale cheap?), and I would appreciate any comments.