Graceful vee berth exit?

[Mattdwyerva]

Chartered a Catalina 36 Mk II last weekend on the Chesapeake Bay. Had a great time, but struggled a bit exiting the vee berth. Haven't used vee berth in awhile, and getting old, of course, but wondered if I was doing it wrong . Had head towards main cabin.

How do you swing your legs around without kicking your better half? Feel slightly foolish even asking this question....

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Mattdwyerva

Chartered a Catalina 36 Mk II last weekend on the Chesapeake Bay. Had a great time, but struggled a bit exiting the vee berth. Haven't used vee berth in awhile, and getting old, of course, but wondered if I was doing it wrong . Had head towards main cabin.

How do you swing your legs around without kicking your better half? Feel slightly foolish even asking this question....

That's what I hate about V-berths. Not enought shoulder room forward for two people. So ha have to go in bass ackwards.

If your not too old you could rollover on your knees then sit back and kick the feet out first.

[ontherocks83]

you sleep in the salon and let the kids sleep in the v-berth. I never understood as a kid when my parents wouldn't want to sleep in the v- berth and would always let us sleep there, now... I get it

[Mattdwyerva]

I want to cruise with adults, and I like the theory of a living space where the sleepless can pace and fidget without disturbing the sleep of the just. In other words, I like keeping the saloon for those who may be awake, and sleeping is in quarters - and yet I want the boat to sail like a J boat(ha).... Guess that I need to give up on something somewhere.

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[ontherocks83]

realistically 2 options.
1) lose weight and get more flexible
2) get another boat.

not many other ways around it. i have a catalina 30 so i feel your pain the v berth is horrible to get in and out of. Have fun in yoga class!

[Mattdwyerva]

I kept wishing there were handholds overhead - I could have just pulled myself out %-)

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[ontherocks83]

Originally Posted by Mattdwyerva

I kept wishing there were handholds overhead - I could have just pulled myself out %-)

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Thats actually a really good and feasible idea. The best part is they would be duel purposed for frisky nights

[Mattdwyerva]

Ha! You're never gonna let the kids use the v berth again!

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[Stu Jackson]

On back, swing around, exit feet first. My handhold is the cabinet that's a great backrest for reading, too.

[Strait Shooter]

I generally somersault into mine (the grand grrlies love when I do that), and placed a grab bar where I can grab it and pull myself upright.
I'm 56 now and hope to keep doing it for as long as there's little grrlies to impress

[IdoraKeeper]

If you get rid of the deep fat fryer, you will eventually be able to get out of the V berth like a 15 year old. I sleep on the Starboard side as the stack for the furnace is on the Port side. Don"t want to get 3rd degree burns responding to the anchor alarm when the CQR lets go. Head to bow to keep the feet clear to move fast. That puts things I might want to grab (nay, caress) within reach of my grubby mitts.

[JK n Smitty]

This is why I love my Catalina 310: walk-around queen berth. No acrobatics needed.


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[Strait Shooter]

You have a walk around queen in the V Berth?
Holy Cow!

[JK n Smitty]

Originally Posted by Strait Shooter

You have a walk around queen in the V Berth?
Holy Cow!

On a 31 foot boat.


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[Strait Shooter]

Sweet!