Sleeping Accommodations

[sailorboy1]

When I got my boat last year one of things we liked about it was the aft stateroom that had a queen berth (we aren't small and our days of having to be on top of each other all the time has passed). But while the berth is big it still requires "crawling" into feet first on a a 39' aft cockpit boat and this becomes a pain for as one of us has to get up in the middle of the night, but is the last to get up in the morning so there is always crawling over the other going on.

And the other thing we liked was the swim platform on the boat for using the dingy. But this has become a lot of boat slap noise in the aft stateroom if there is any kind of wind in the mooring of achorage.

So now we are questioning the logic of aft stateroom rooms. Even if it has a centerline berth.

Looking for comments on where you like to sleep, want to like of don't like about the arrangement. And don't need to hear about how easy it is sleep at X from people who are still 30+ years away from being less flexiable etc (ie 30 years from being in at least their 50s)

[captain58sailin]

We too have a queen berth, only accessible from one side, and I have been contemplating how we might rearrange things in the after cabin to better accommodate dual side entry, in our case it would be a chore, we would have to rearrange the whole cabin. I will have to put some more thought into that.

[navystoker]

You're 50 now not twenty, put in two singles and get a good night's sleep so you can enjoy the next day together.

[captain58sailin]

Yeah, but I have only been married 4 years and I still like to snuggle.

[Laidback]

Maybe the appellation of the term "State Room" to a simple aft cabin is a contributor to the illusion ?

[captain58sailin]

How about "Master's state room"? or "Owners cabin"? or "Admiral's Quarters"?

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

And the other thing we liked was the swim platform on the boat for using the dingy. But this has become a lot of boat slap noise in the aft stateroom if there is any kind of wind in the mooring of achorage.

)

You'll learn to live with this and probably grow to love it. It'll remind you you're not living in the condo, townhouse, split level, bungalow etc. (take your pick) anymore.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

How about "Master's state room"? or "Owners cabin"? or "Admiral's Quarters"?

or storage?

I don't think there is any magic solution to the 1/4 berth layout access gymnastics. apart from using them for crew or storage.

from my brief googles would seem the solution could be forecabin in port. and saloon berths underway.

[Pelagic]

Interesting question and I would like to see photos of other solutions and priorities.

On a smaller boat, the bottom line is you have to prioritize more on the primary use, with less space to create multi functional areas that could be used as a comfortable bed for different conditions.

However coming up with inventive solutions for the type of sleeping comfort you want is still possible. (Cats we know have great space options, but I think we are discussing mono hull solutions)

Perhaps converting the dining area to a double as we do or the cockpit to a double by using inflatable mattresses is possible on your boat

As a live aboard I like my comfort, this is why I chose the bigger Stargazer for her multifunctional ergonomics.

I like a large aft “stateroom” to maintain my privacy and with a traditional stern it is quiet. It should have a working office and internal access to a large storage lazarette at the stern as well as its own head and shower.

I prefer to compromise with the queen against one side, so as to gain a useable pilot berth on the other side with lee cloths, thus giving us individual bunks on both tacks and a nice settee at anchor, with increased useable storage.

More importantly to me, the steering quadrant/packing gland is easily accessible for maintenance and/or inspection on long trips, rather than hidden under the bunk and forgotten.

For major passage making the off-watch couple usually sleep in the convertible dining area, which has a slide down table to make a queen size bunk (complete with dancing pole).

Being amidships, it is the most comfortable spot to sleep and we all prefer it as it has a privacy curtain, so the on-watch can still quietly use the galley at night.

Here are some photos of our layout which may not help the OP but might others

[TexSail]

Nice ride Pelagic.

[MarkJ]

Beautiful, Pelagic.

[SaucySailoress]

For major passage making the off-watch couple usually sleep in the convertible dining area, which has a slide down table to make a queen size bunk (complete with dancing pole).

Being amidships, it is the most comfortable spot to sleep and we all prefer it as it has a privacy curtain, so the on-watch can still quietly use the galley at night.

She certainly is beautiful!!! And I love your ideas about the dancing pole and the curtains. We already have the dancing pole, so about the curtains..... I think it's a great idea, but can't see how we safely could put up wafting billowy swatches of material next to the cooker..... how do you do yours??? More photos, please!!!!

[Pelagic]

Thanks guys, hopefully others will give the OP some ideas on alternate sleeping solutions.

Forgot to show my convertible dining where a stainless pipe carries the table on a strong clamp and brace to slide up and down or swivel to fix in any position. All the way down and the brace is spaced perfectly to line up with a filler cushion around the pole.

We remove the seat backs and there in 6’ 3” sleeping length. On passages, we keep the underlay and just change flat sheets and pillows between watches. You can see the dark blue curtain….. works well so galley across from it is not an intrusion.

Let’s see some other ideas for an alternate berth

[Sandero]

There's not much one can do with smaller 3 cabin boat accommodation plans. Shiva has high freeboard and more volume which enabled a decent aft cabin. You can only stand in the corner of the forward end, but then again, you don't stand when you sleep. The bunch is effectively 75x75 which allows sleep fore-aft or awthwartship and there are lee board to use to allow for and aft sleeping in a seaway. However we use the saloon settee for sleeping underway heeled and th aft in at anchor.

Our head is a walk through aft of the V so it's removed from the aft cabin and a bit more private (so to speak). We are two so the V is effectively a storage closet, cleared out if on rare occlusions someone else sleeps on board.

The aft cabin is also quieter in windy conditions when the bow is dancing to waves etc. However slapping on the stern from wakes made by fast dinks and so forth is noisy back aft. We have plenty of light, lockers and ventilation aft.

So... we sleep aft and athwart ship at anchor. Wife sometimes take a snooze underway there as well.

[Blue Stocking]

Pelagic, do you take in boarders? if so, yes please.