Page updated: 28 May 2014
Introduction
During its life, the SeaHawk was available with a number of different, optional, internal mouldings forward of the bulkheads. Foremost amongst these is the V-berth moulding for the four-berth boat and galley in the two-berth configuration.
V-Berth Moulding
Four-berth boats have a single moulding forward of the bulkheads. (That fitted toPenny, a 1985 boat, is seen above.) This is set higher than the quarter berths in order to maximise the available length for the additional berths. However, there is still insufficient length in the moulding itself to provide the base for two six foot berths, so eighteen inches of the quarter-berth space is used to extend the forward V-berth. This requires that the bulkheads be removed and a completely different mast bracing arrangement be fitted.
To retain full length quarter-berths these berths must also be extended by eighteen inches. The room needed is created by fitting smaller cockpit lockers and setting them further aft than on a two-berth boat.
The Price List for 1977, indicates that this was the only internal moulding available after Moore took over production. In spite of this, the list offers an optional cooker although it is not clear where it would be fitted. The cooker is dropped from the 1984 price list, suggesting that owners were expected to cook ashore, and that the remaining hatches are for general stowage.The detail of the hatches in this example varies slightly from the undated technical drawing (532kb). It is known from this that the space under the central rectangular hatch is intended for a toilet and some boats are known to have been supplied with either a sea toilet or porta-potti type. The circular hatch, seen in Penny, gains access to a recess some four to five inches deep. Some owners keep a washing up bowl in this space. However, the recess is set too low to drain overboard.
The cushions, seen here on "Pelican", required to take advantage of the four-berth moulding were themselves optional extras, so many boats never had them fitted. These appear to be the same type as those aboard Idun. However, it is worth noting that the brochure show the middle cushion in three pieces, so that the central section, where the toilet was designed to be fitted, could be lifted independently.
Galley
Undoubtedly the most common option in the original two-berth variant of the SeaHawk was the galley unit always fitted to the port side. (This example comes from the boat Clocharde.)
The moulding consists of a platform is designed to take a two burner cooker, with a locker underneath. Reedcraft used to recommend fitting an Origo spirit cooker, as keeping a boat "gas free" would keep insurance premiums lower, but a gas cooker was an option.
Forward of the cooker shelf is a circular bowl with drain. This part of the moulding is set necessarily high so that the base of the bowl remains above the waterline. The drain itself discharges beneath the water line.
The hand pump supplying water to the bowl is not an original fitting. As there is no provision for a water tank it was expected that owners would simply have filled the bowl from a portable container.
Toilets
The option of either a sea toilet or Porta-Potti has already been mentioned for boats with a V-Berth. A similar choice of toilets was available from Reedcraft for the two-berth boat. These would be fitted to starboard, forward of the bulkhead.
Above,
is an example of a sea toilet, seen aboard Skylark, #154.
The alternative was an Elsan chemical toilet. If an Elsan was ordered, a platform was added to the hull, seen on the right aboard Jemima, #232. It was similar but bigger than the mount for the sea toilet, and was designed as a location to stow the toilet. Stow, because it was rather high to be used in this position.
Flock
Both the boats illustrating the Toilet options offered on a two-berth boat have the rare flock finish to the cabin. This was a condensation-resistant option offered by Reedcraft up to, at least, 1973. Another boat is known to have a similar brown flock finish. The full range of colours offered is not known. Applying the flocking involved charged Nylon fibres being sprayed on the specially coated hull. Electrostatically charging the fibres, as they were applied, meant that they stuck to the surface on-end, so forming a velvet-like finish to the hull.