Perp or Parallel to Centerline?

[KuparukGypsy]

If you were designing your boat, and you had the opportunity to set up your aft cabin berth with what you know now, would you set it up so that the sleepers were perpendicular to, or parallel to the centerline? We'll be doing serious cruising but of course this berth will nearly always be the one used on the hook. And please don't throw the sea berth or v-berth into the discussion - this is an aft cabin question.
Thanks ~

[Bash]

I've had them both ways, and I prefer a centerline berth for the simple reason that Person A no longer has to climb over Person B to use the head in the middle of the night.

[Cheechako]

Parallel, it really bugs me if the boat is rocking if not....

[skipmac]

Prefer the aft cabin berth set up so one sleeps parallel to the centerline. However, I put a lot of sea miles on a Morgan OI36 and a Lohi 10M that both had a very large aft cabin bunks and occasionally I would sleep sideways on the bed, feet downhill, when sailing for long periods heeled over.

[DumnMad]

Same as Bash and also easier to make the bed. OTOH, at my age I need the compulsory stretch exercise required for the climb over.

[delmarrey]

Which direction would most likely make someone sea sick? I believe this is why almost every boat has the bunks with the centerline.

Although a lee-cloth would not be necessary on a P/S berth, except in a storm at sea. But on a sailboat one will either be standing on their head or on their feet, until that sudden tack.

[jackdale]

Another vote for the centerline.

If you are planning going offshore, use a split mattress and run a lee cloth down the middle.

[MarkJ]

I would stretch the bed right across the aft cabin then yo can sleep anywhere, on either heel.

[daddle]

Seriously? Your boat or cabin is so small you cannot lie down in any direction? Then fore/aft is the only way on a monohull.

[KuparukGypsy]

Originally Posted by daddle

Seriously? Your boat or cabin is so small you cannot lie down in any direction? Then fore/aft is the only way on a monohull.

Hmmmm? My bed is 6'2" e-w and I'm more than that. n-s at present is about 5'. I'm considering a change, a big change. Can you really fit in either direction on your boat? Sounds like a big boat!

[Hydra]

I had the occasion to try an aft cabin berth (master cabin) set perpendicular to the centerline, on a catamaran (Lagoon 380). On moderate or rough sea, I couldn't sleep at all, I felt better lying fore and aft on the deck in the saloon.

Then, it's fore and aft for me.

Alain

[Kettlewell]

Fore and aft--most boats pitch a lot less than they roll, especially at anchor. Also, then you can have your head near some nice aft ports that let plenty of air in while also being sheltered from driving rain enough they can be left open most of the time. I also find it handy to be able to peek out and see how the boat is doing at anchor, and it is usually better to look aft to do that rather than to the side.

[Hudson Force]

We can "box the compass"in bed, but we settle out parallel to the rhumb line!

[SkiprJohn]

Fore and aft for sure!