Interior Cabinets and Furniture
Below you’ll find more than a dozen real-world boat cabinet and furniture projects from MotorCity Boat Werks, including V-berth cabinets, galley storage, refrigerator enclosures, cockpit tables, cabin furniture, storage lockers, custom cowlings and other interior components. Each project demonstrates practical methods for designing, patterning, fabricating, fitting and finishing custom furniture for sailboats and trawlers. Projects use a variety of boat-building materials and techniques, including PVC foam board, Coosa Board, marine plywood, fiberglass, epoxy and teak trim. Detailed project plans, technical articles, construction information and material lists for selected projects are also available to MotorCity Boat Werks Patreons.
V-Berth Cabinets and Storage
Unused space along a V-berth is an ideal location for adding custom boat cabinets and accessible cabin storage. In this video, I build fitted V-berth cabinets from scratch, starting with cardboard patterns to match the curved and irregular shape of the hull. I then fabricate and fit the cabinets using Celtec PVC foam board and the screw-and-glue method with epoxy. The project demonstrates a relatively simple approach to building lightweight, waterproof and rot-resistant marine cabinetry that adds useful storage without taking away valuable space in a small sailboat or trawler cabin.
Custom Cockpit Dining Table
Building custom boat furniture allows you to design around the exact space and function you need rather than adapting off-the-shelf furniture. In this video, I take a custom cockpit dining table from an initial sketch through final construction, using PVC foam board for the structure, teak for the trim, fiberglass and epoxy fabrication techniques, and a clear epoxy pour to encapsulate nautical charts and antique postcards. I cover patterning, cutting, bonding, sanding, finishing and epoxy pouring to create a removable and adjustable dining table designed specifically for the boat’s cockpit.
Aft Cabin Cowling — Part 1: Pattern Making and Mockup
Building custom boat furniture often starts with figuring out how to reproduce the irregular shapes and tight spaces found inside a fiberglass hull. In this video, I begin building the aft cabin cowling, a custom cabinet and enclosure designed to add storage and finish the aft cabin interior. I use my pink EPS foam pattern-making and mockup method to establish the shape, dimensions, clearances and fit before cutting the final cabinet material. The full-size foam mockup allows the furniture to be designed and adjusted directly inside the boat, reducing mistakes and wasted material before construction begins.
Aft Cabin Cowling — Part 2: Building the Cabinets
With the aft cabin cowling designed and patterned, the next step is fabricating the actual cabinetry, storage cubbies and enclosure. In this video, I build the aft cabin furniture using Celtec PVC foam board, cutting and fitting the individual panels before assembling them with my screw-and-glue method using epoxy. I also demonstrate forming epoxy fillets, reinforcing joints, routing and sanding the panels, and fitting the completed furniture into the cabin. The result is a lightweight, waterproof and rot-resistant custom cabinet system designed specifically around the limited space and unusual geometry of a small sailboat or trawler cabin.
Aft Cabin Cowling — Part 3: Finishing and Installation
In the final stage of building the aft cabin cowling, I finish and install the custom cabinetry and storage system inside the boat. I show how I sand, route and finish the Celtec PVC foam board and epoxy construction, make final adjustments for a proper fit, and install removable steps with hidden storage compartments. I also look at boat headliner materials for finishing the surrounding cabin, including options that can conform to complex curves while resisting moisture and mold. This completes the aft cabin cowling from the original mockup and pattern through fabrication, finishing and final installation.
Mounting Boat Furniture to a Fiberglass Hull
Mounting cabinets and furniture inside a fiberglass boat can be difficult when there are no stringers, ribs or structural surfaces available for fasteners—and you don’t want to drill through the hull. In this video, I demonstrate my “cheater block” method, similar to using cleats in woodworking, to create hidden mounting points for boat furniture. I fabricate the mounting blocks from Coosa Board and fiberglass, then bond them directly to the inside of the fiberglass hull with WEST SYSTEM epoxy. The blocks provide solid attachment points for screws, allowing cabinets, bulkheads and other interior furniture to be securely installed while remaining removable and without penetrating the hull.
Forward Cabin Bulkhead Steps
Building new cabin steps on a small boat can also create an opportunity to add structure, storage and finished interior furniture. In this video, I fabricate a new structural bulkhead and forward cabin steps using Coosa Board, fiberglass and epoxy, integrating the assembly into the existing cabin layout. I show how I shape and round the Coosa Board, fiberglass the structure, then sand, fair and finish the exposed surfaces to create a smooth appearance similar to molded fiberglass or gelcoat. The completed assembly provides safe access to the forward cabin while creating additional usable storage and a permanent piece of custom boat furniture.
Custom Refrigerator Cabinet
A built-in marine refrigerator often needs a custom enclosure to fit cleanly into a small boat interior. In this video, I design and build a custom refrigerator cabinet for an Isotherm Cruise Elegance 85L 12-volt refrigerator using Celtec PVC foam board, epoxy and teak trim. I demonstrate the screw-and-glue construction method, forming epoxy fillets, fitting the enclosure around the refrigerator, and fairing, sanding and finishing the cabinet for a clean, built-in appearance. The project shows how lightweight, moisture-resistant PVC foam board can be used for non-structural galley cabinetry and custom boat furniture where traditional plywood isn’t necessary.
Trawler Cockpit Locker Storage Bins
Deep cockpit lockers often provide plenty of volume but very little practical organization. In this video, I design and build custom removable storage bins for a trawler cockpit locker, creating usable storage above the electrical systems, batteries, bilge pumps and other equipment that still needs to remain accessible for maintenance. I fabricate the bins using plywood, fiberglass and epoxy, then mount them on stainless-steel supports so they can be easily removed. The project demonstrates a simple way to turn wasted space inside deep cockpit lockers into organized, accessible storage without permanently blocking access to the boat’s systems.
Sailboat Cockpit Locker Storage Bins
Small sailboat cockpits often have unused space beneath the settees that can be converted into practical storage. In this video, I build and install custom watertight cockpit locker bins by repurposing plastic storage bins and reinforcing them with fiberglass. I show how to cut openings into the cockpit, fit the bins beneath the seats, reinforce them with fiberglass cloth, and install watertight deck hatches using 3M 5200 marine sealant. The finished lockers create additional dry, accessible storage while making better use of otherwise wasted space in a small sailboat cockpit.
Custom Trawler Helm Station and Dashboard
A custom helm station needs to integrate the steering controls, navigation electronics and electrical systems into a clean, functional piece of boat furniture. In this video, I continue building the custom trawler helm station, helm pod and navigation dashboard, adding teak trim and fabricating a new dashboard from cast acrylic. I show how I cut openings for Simrad and Garmin electronics, work with acrylic without cracking or melting it, and use templates and mockups to establish the final instrument layout. The project demonstrates how custom fabrication can transform an older boat helm into a finished, integrated command station while preparing it for the final electronics and electrical installation.
Custom Overhead Navigation Pod
An overhead navigation pod can add electronics, controls and storage without cluttering a small boat’s helm station. In this video, I design, build and dry-fit a custom overhead nav pod using Celtec PVC foam board, creating dedicated locations for the VHF radio, windshield-wiper switches, air-horn controls and compressor, along with a storage cubby for binoculars and other helm gear. I also plan the electrical routing using surface-mounted raceway and conduit so the pod can be wired cleanly and remain accessible for future maintenance. The project demonstrates how custom boat furniture can integrate navigation electronics, electrical controls and useful storage into a compact trawler helm.