Show Me Your V-Berth

[Nomdaica]

HI Everyone,

My girl friend and I who liveaboard are looking to completely redo our vBirth. so, to help us brain storm ideas....we would love to see some pics....or great explanations of your set ups!

Some points:

• We are not rich. We own a small Alberg 30.

• we live in the PNW...so its cold in the winter!(have dickson propane heater)
• Condensation makes GF angry.

Thanks everyone!



Joel


ps: please hide your stuffed toys before showing pics of your bed.

[senormechanico]

Cat's not stuffed.

The overhead hatch has velcro around it with light blocking fabric which is easily stripped off and put away when you want the light.

The overhead clock is double sticky taped to a bit of SS metal which is slid under the light.
It's easy to see what time it is in the middle of the night by pushing a button for backlight.

We added hypervent? hydrovent? under the mattress which made a world of difference in keeping the mattress from absorbing moisture. No more clammy sheets!
We also added a 2" memory foam topper to the pathetically skinny foam pads which came with the boat.
Admittedly the boat was designed as a racer/cruiser, but sleeping on the original foam was an ordeal we weren't willing do do in the tradeoff between boat speed and human comforts!


A tip about insulation, we are redoing our fridge with Aerogel insulation. It's expensive, but you might think about using this for hull insulation. It's a blanket which has much better R value per inch than foam.
It would be easier to conform to hull shape, and thinner as well.

http://www.aerogel.com/

First though, if you're new to liveaboard, you have to vent moisture. Keep the airflow going through the boat.
It's a small space.



http://www.aerogel.com/

[cchesley]

I like the clock idea!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Nomdaica

HI Everyone,

My girl friend and I who liveaboard are looking to completely redo our vBirth. so, to help us brain storm ideas....we would love to see some pics....or great explanations of your set ups!

Some points:

• We are not rich. We own a small Alberg 30.
• we live in the PNW...so its cold in the winter!(have dickson propane heater)
• Condensation makes GF angry.

Thanks everyone!

Joel

ps: please hide your stuffed toys before showing pics of your bed.

Might need a new G/f...........



Double bed for in port comforts in the aft cabin.

[Nomdaica]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Cat's not stuffed.

The overhead hatch has velcro around it with light blocking fabric which is easily stripped off and put away when you want the light.

The overhead clock is double sticky taped to a bit of SS metal which is slid under the light.
It's easy to see what time it is in the middle of the night by pushing a button for backlight.

We added hypervent? hydrovent? under the mattress which made a world of difference in keeping the mattress from absorbing moisture. No more clammy sheets!
We also added a 2" memory foam topper to the pathetically skinny foam pads which came with the boat.
Admittedly the boat was designed as a racer/cruiser, but sleeping on the original foam was an ordeal we weren't willing do do in the tradeoff between boat speed and human comforts!

A tip about insulation, we are redoing our fridge with Aerogel insulation. It's expensive, but you might think about using this for hull insulation. It's a blanket which has much better R value per inch than foam.
It would be easier to conform to hull shape, and thinner as well.

http://www.aerogel.com/

First though, if you're new to liveaboard, you have to vent moisture. Keep the airflow going through the boat.
It's a small space.

http://www.aerogel.com/

I will look into aerogel! Thanks!

[daddle]

Party pad ... and the Zen of a Bill Lee design.

[LauderBoy]

Here's my origional v-berth, I hated the sectional cushions. Would always separate in the middle of the night.



So I bought one of these: 8 inch memory foam mattress

And then I cut it down to size with an $8 Walmart electric knife.




Then muscled the damn thing in(this was the hardest part), put the old cover back on and bought some real nice sheets from Bed Bath and Beyond for it.




The thing sleeps like a dream.

[tartansail]

Originally Posted by Nomdaica

HI Everyone,

My girl friend and I who liveaboard are looking to completely redo our vBirth. so, to help us brain storm ideas....we would love to see some pics....or great explanations of your set ups!

Some points:

• We are not rich. We own a small Alberg 30.

• we live in the PNW...so its cold in the winter!(have dickson propane heater)
• Condensation makes GF angry.

Thanks everyone!



Joel


ps: please hide your stuffed toys before showing pics of your bed.

You have a boat that was well designed to fit a lot into a limited volume. Measure the clearances in your v-berth very carefully before you shift to much thicker foam. When we redid the cushions on our earlier 34 footer, we added two inches to the foam. It turned out to be enough to make it hard for me to turn over under the shelves along either side of the v-berth. It was a reminder of how carefully everything had been designed to fit together.

[Nomdaica]

Originally Posted by LauderBoy

Here's my origional v-berth, I hated the sectional cushions. Would always separate in the middle of the night.

So I bought one of these: 8 inch memory foam mattress

And then I cut it down to size with an $8 Walmart electric knife.

Then muscled the damn thing in(this was the hardest part), put the old cover back on and bought some real nice sheets from Bed Bath and Beyond for it.

The thing sleeps like a dream.

Excellent! Best detailed response ever! Thanks!

[Nomdaica]

Originally Posted by tartansail

You have a boat that was well designed to fit a lot into a limited volume. Measure the clearances in your v-berth very carefully before you shift to much thicker foam. When we redid the cushions on our earlier 34 footer, we added two inches to the foam. It turned out to be enough to make it hard for me to turn over under the shelves along either side of the v-berth. It was a reminder of how carefully everything had been designed to fit together.

Good point!

[southace]

This is not a v berth
but my aft cabin re-build.

[cpa]

We are in the middle of varnishing the boat's interior. This picture was taken when we first got her.

[atoll]

complete with bodies on the signet 20 ft

[atoll]

mackwester 28 ft in the process of rebuild,with twinkle toes,and the nanny from hell on different voyages.

[Steve A]

My forepeak is now a "Mermaid's grotto", faux finished and with added shelves. And a wood burning fireplace.