The MK 1 Gull has a relatively small foredeck to allow for a foreword mast position. This is a fantastic feature that adds to the versatility of the boat but it makes it a bit wet in a bit of chop.

Modern Gulls have just the rear mast position and long foredeck with under deck storage.

In one of my early DCA cruises I met one of the South Coast stalwarts who has cruised an Enterprise for 25 years. This has under foredeck storage and as we talked he showed me the simple netting that keeps everything in place.

Inspired, I built simple cheap plywood foredeck extension with some nets attached to the forward tank bulkhead. It worked fine but was slightly too low for storage and the netting was difficult to access.

In the bilges there is a cross board holding my battery box and this (two jobs for everything) keeps the bags out of the bilge water.

At Cobner, sitting outside my tent cooking dinner and looking lovingly at my Gull I schemed.

After Cobner I had a week until the next cruise. Rapidly the foredeck extension was cut in two down the centre line. A triangle of ply was spliced in place on the boat. This was held with tie-wraps while glass tape and grab adhesive created a structure in half an hour.

A few bits of reinforcement and the netting fixed to the foredeck extension and all was good and tested on an overnighter.

The foredeck extension is simply attached to the forward chain plates at the rear and tied at the front.

Now I’m the first to agree it looks like rubbish but it’s all part of the philosophy of disposable design. With winter rapidly approaching I want to prove the design with the idea of a proper build over winter.