Building a Booth / Settee

[Boracay]

I've attached a photo of my settee and some dimensions (in millimetres).

[Extemporaneous]

Originally Posted by Boracay

I've attached a photo of my settee and some dimensions (in millimetres).

Thanks Boracay.

Extemp.

[nautical62]

First - I think it's great you are putting so much thought into this. I'm sure that will pay off.

I've had two pocket cruisers one of which had a similar dinette, the other I gutted and rebuilt to have a settee.

I much prefer a settee arrangement to dinette in small boats when possible. It gives a feeling of more space, and I like being able to come in and have a settee available rather than having to convert a dinette. Settees allow you to keep one half folded down to move forward.

One question I'd consider is: How much do you need the sleeping space and if so for who? Kids under 5-6: yep, it makes sense. If not, maybe you'll have more freedom leaving out that conversion possibility. Over 8 years of cruising, I never used my 5-6 dinette to sleep on except to try it out once. (I'm also 5-8 which is why I never used it again!)

I think your 1.5 foot seat height is good.

If you want it for sleeping, make sure the seat and back cushions end up being of the proper size to make it a bed when in the bed position.

All the best with your project.

[Extemporaneous]

Originally Posted by nautical62

First - I think it's great you are putting so much thought into this. I'm sure that will pay off.

Thanks, sure hope it works out.

Originally Posted by nautical62

I much prefer a settee arrangement to dinette in small boats when possible. It gives a feeling of more space, and I like being able to come in and have a settee available rather than having to convert a dinette. Settees allow you to keep one half folded down to move forward.

The Booth butts into the starboard side hull leaving enough room to walk past it to the head on to the V-berth. There is also a Settee on the Port side.

Originally Posted by nautical62

One question I'd consider is: How much do you need the sleeping space and if so for who? Kids under 5-6: yep, it makes sense. If not, maybe you'll have more freedom leaving out that conversion possibility. Over 8 years of cruising, I never used my 5-6 dinette to sleep on except to try it out once. (I'm also 5-8 which is why I never used it again!)

I don't know how much it will get used, but I do want the potential.
It will actually have a length of 6' 2" once it is setup (which I will make sure is simple to do).

Originally Posted by nautical62

I think your 1.5 foot seat height is good.

On top of the 1' 5" (I assume that's what you meant by 1.5) there will be 4" of foam. Do you think that will make it too high?

Originally Posted by nautical62

If you want it for sleeping, make sure the seat and back cushions end up being of the proper size to make it a bed when in the bed position.

Yup, it all adds up once I put small storage rolls (tubes the length of the settee with a zipper from one end to the other to store cloths in and double as cushions) in the space at the foot and head where the seat back swings back.

Originally Posted by nautical62

All the best with your project.

Thank-You.

I do have one measurement that I'm still struggling with, for which I could use some advice.
How much headroom do you think would be the MINIMUM that one should allow when in the seated position?
I want to raise this booth up as high as I can so that when one is sitting in the booth, you can see out of the portholes. The portholes are quit close to the ceiling.
This also allows me to put a reasonably sized rain water tank under the booth floor.

Any suggestions?

Extemp.

[Maren]

Originally Posted by GordMay

The reference book
Time-saver Standards for Interior Design and Space Planning ~ by Joseph De Chiara, Julius Panero, Martin Zelnik

Time-saver Standards for Interior ... - Google Book Search

Has Banquette Design Critreria (dimensions etc) beginning on page 356:
Time-saver Standards for Interior ... - Google Book Search

Westlawn has just put out Interior Design Methods for Yacht Design and the Boat Building Industry to the general public. Normally you can't get Westlawn books without being a student. This might be a bit of overkill for a single project (especially one already completed) but I found this sort interior design book quite useful.

[GordMay]

Thanks Maren!
At $90, "Interior Design Methods for Yacht Design and the Boat Building Industry" may be overkill (for most of us); but the linked advertisement includes several drawings, which illustrate some important design considerations.
The ad’ is certainly worth a look!
➥ http://www.westlawn.edu/news/Westlaw...d10_June09.pdf

[drew.ward]

I have a book called the Finely Fitted Yacht.

It was about 30 bucks if I remember right and gives very simple instructions for projects like this and many others that you'd never think of on your own (until something fell onto your foot or something).

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by drew.ward

I have a book called the Finely Fitted Yacht...

I expect you could get used copies of Ferenc Maté’s excellent older books, "From a Bare Hull" and "The Finely Fitted Yacht", for under $10 each.

[Extemporaneous]

Thought I'd show a bit of progress.
I know, what's taking so long. The rest of my life .
Anyway, here is where I'm at. It working out well so far.

Regards,
Extemp.

[CarlF]

A small adjustment in the seat back will make it more comfortable. Have the back come straight up (no slope) for 4-5". Then have it slope back as you're planning. This will provide lumbar support in the small of the back. It's easiest to do this just by cutting the foam (or gluing chunks of foam together to get the right shape) .

Another trick - and this might be too much bother - is to have the seat slope down from front to back about 1" to 1.25". You could also do this just by tapering the foam cushion instead of slanting the plywood. If the slope is noticeable when used as a berth just stick a piece of 1" board under the cushion.

If you look carefully at a comfortable dining or office chair you'll likely notice these touches. It really makes a difference.

I totally agree with your urge to look out the port but 4" cushions on top of 17" is too high for most people. 17-18" to the top of the cushion is normal.

Carl

[finnarne]

Any pictures of the final result ?
And how is it working ?

Looks like the OP has not been logged in for some time, but hope he gets a message about his thread.