A New Berth - Adding a Fold-Down Pilot Berth to our W32

[blahman]

Hi all,

Another project we completed to the boat a while back was adding a berth to our main salon. When we purchased our boat, the starboard area in the salon had a large series of shelves, but they were of very odd sizes and not really suitable for storing things securely, thus they were often empty to prevent free-flight. Our W32's interior layout was such that there was only two secure sea berths; starboard settee in the salon, and starboard side of the v-birth. We wanted a 3rd single, narrow, lee-cloth enabled berth, so we decided to convert the bookshelf area to this.

The wood is 3/4" mahogany ply, with wood cleats on both ends on which it rests, connected by a full-length stainless piano hinge. The fiddle attached to the length of the fold down board adds plenty of rigidity, and with the lee-cloth in place, the berth is very secure, and there is ample room for the person in the lower bunk. What's best is when not in use, the berth folds up and makes a great "throw area" for pillows, purses, my horns, and other stuff that needs a bit more room, but needs secure stowage.

The photos below show fairly obviously what we did. Perhaps it could work for someone else!

Shady quarters,
Aaron N.

[brutb]

Nice job on your W-32 berth.. looks very useabe.

[Adelie]

Nice.

[MichaelC]

Very nice work. I have been thinking about doing a similar thing in the forepeak of my schooner. [but it probably will not be so nicely done, if the truth be known].

[David_Old_Jersey]

Nicely done (looks like was fitted originally)