Goblin came with a microwave. The thirty year old machine has sat, unused, hulking in the corner of the galley, taking up space since we moved aboard. I stored baking dishes and measuring cups in it but otherwise, it was a dead space corner of the kitchen.

One winter day, after greater than normal annoyance at my tiny kitchen, I grabbed a flashlight and a two foot screwdriver as a pry bar and set to work attempting to remove it. A small boat project, pull out an unused appliance, add a shelf, have a new storage area. Little did I know…

Have you ever wondered how many tools it takes to remove a thirty year old microwave that was installed before the cabinetry was finished? Ever wondered how many hours it would take to dismantle a microwave from the inside out? Ever wondered how much said microwave weighs?

This beast was screwed in place from below. How did someone get below? Good question. There’s no access to below now that both a freezer and a stove are in place. Turns out they screwed it to a piece of plywood and then glued the plywood into place.

Bit by bit, with more than a little swearing, brute force began to win.

For once, I thank the corrosive nature of salt air. The screws holding it to the plywood below were entirely rusted and gave way to a proper application of leverage.

It took a dock cart to carry the remains off the boat. At least thirty pounds of twisted metal and scrap.

Here’s what used to fill the inside of the microwave. I have just a bit more room now.

The space stayed mostly empty for a month as I debated between a shelf or one large basket. What do I want to keep in the space now, what might go in later, how can I take full advantage of my new four cubic feet of space? Final decision, shelf and baskets. Time for boat yoga.

And now, with a new shelf in place, My kitchen storage has increased by a third.

Conclusion, there is no such thing as a small boat project.