Sleeping Forward with a Chined Boat

[defever]

spent a little time on a friends trawler that had a chine which started about a foot from the bow about 8 inches above the water line. at anchor even a 6 inch wave slapped on the chine and sounded like a cannon was going off in the fwd stateroom---not much sleep there. had to move to the salon on the couch. just something to think about when looking at a boat to buy if you plan on anchoring out much or only have a vee berth.

[u4ea32]

I'll agree: chines, or really any more-or-less horizontal surface (e.g., swim steps, flat on the bottom stern counters on sailing yachts, low bridgedecks on catamarans) is a very bad idea.

[djmarchand]

There is a solution. Get a couple of the childrens foam swimming snakes. They are about 4" in diameter and have a 1" hole in the center. Then cut them into 4-6" lengths. Thread them on a piece of 3/8" nylon and tie a knot in between each one. Space them about 4" apart. Then once you have about twenty feet strung together, toss it over the bow and tie it off on each side. It will nicely dampen the waves before it slaps.