Pictures of the interior of the hull, starboard side facing forward as well as
a shot showing the general cabin arrangement. The web frames and longitudinals
are clearly visible in the picture on the left. Bench seats port and starboard
have inserts to span the area between the seats, converting them into a double
berth as shown on the right.
Is the interior normally this spartan? Almost. There is a blanket (for naps), and life jackets that usually live on the seats. Years of racing have taught me that the only things that should be aboard are the things needed while sailing. Since the boat is used only as a day sailor, this philosophy is followed as much as possible. It also makes maintenance much easier.
The planking, frames and underside of the deck has Sikkens applied, the
house and seats are varnished. The cabin sole is oiled mahogany.
Sitting below with the oil lamps lit, in a snug cabin totally surrounded by
varnished wood is an enjoyable way to spend some time. The cabin is a light sink at night. The dark wood reflects almost no light
making the interior difficult to illuminate. If the boat got a lot of use after sunset, it might make
some sense to paint the inside of the planking a light color. I can’t bring myself to paint something
that is natural so painting isn’t going to happen any time soon.
L.F.H. got a little too cute when specifying the construction method for
#96. The web frames rob the interior of valuable space in a boat that is
already quite narrow. The longitudinals are a constant source of
aggravation, especially in the cockpit as it is a constant battle trying to
keep the limber holes from clogging and trapping water on the top side of the
longitudinals. On the plus side, it is a construction method that is
incredibly strong.