Altering accomodation -adding quarterberth

[CharlesM]

Hello all

What type of costs could one expect in doing relatively (?!) minor modifications to the internals of a boat. For example adding a quater berth to an aft cockpit boat which has deep lockers and nothing else underneath. Or bringing the setee inboard and adding a sea-berth above and behind (does that type of berth have a special name?)

Thanks for any pointers

Charles

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[Spuddy]

Heard them called a pilot berth.

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[davidbuttriss]

With regard to costs for your addition of a quarter berth, how long is a piece of cordage? Depends on amount of cutting and rebuilding of lockers, building of the berth, any bulkheads etc etc etc.. The list is endless.
Secondly I have always referred to a bunk above a saloon settee berthset outboard as a pilot berth.

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[Vara]

Depends on the boat,a similar exercise on a Nic 32 resulted in losing some lockers and constructing an additional berth on the lines of a couchette as found on French railways.
Putting in a quarter berth was just too difficult.
Resulting berth was excellent in harbour but too high to use as a passage pit.
Cost £260(1979)

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'Day CharlesM,

Some points to ponder would include.

Lockers:
When shortening, if possible and or practical, make the bottom of the locker a little higher than the cockpit deck, you can than add a drain into the cockpit, makes for easy cleaning.

When shortening; if possible cut the bottom out of the deep locker first, make your cut about 3 inches above the base. now re-cut to allow re-fitting of the base at the required level, this will save you time and money, by simply re-glassing the bottoms back on you only require some glass and epoxy resin, do the glassing on the outside so no join in visible inside.

Constructing an extra berth; no small task as access is not good at all, having said that you might like to consider what the extra weight will do to your trim.

Marine ply treated for rot and coated with an epoxy resin is strong and will last for many years, but it's not light, foam or other composite laminates are strong and light but will cost more (about 40% on average) and will take longer to build.

Make sure the bunk has a good size rail on the inboard side that will prevent a mattress slipping inboard, and give it a rounded top.

Placing some bulkheads inside will give good support and provide good stowage for very light but bulky items via a few simple hatches with finger holes in them; with well rounded corners please, use the bit you cut out for the cover.

All joins should be made with epoxy resin and micro-fibres, very strong but a bugger to sand, so mask up and wipe off any excess before it cures.

Do not run the berth all the way to the stern, it will be too narrow at that point to be of any use and will restrict access to the rudder post/tube, steering gear and transom.

And last, have you considered a pipe berth, very good if you need a kip when underway and at 25 degrees.............

Avagoodweekend.




<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[CharlesM]

Hi OldSaltoz

Could you explain a pipe berth to me please? I guess part of the idea behind adding a quaterberth is a sea berth, but it seems a quarterberth is not really a sea-berth anyway - 2 wide?

Cheers
Charles

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[oldsaltoz]

G'day CharlesM,

If you don't mind having a little more weight to leeward, a quarter-berth is not a bad bunk, you just need to pull the mattress up the wall, however it can be a bit of a problem when tacking.

A pipe berth is as the name suggests, it's a bit like a big pipe you slide into, so even if a tack is made you don't fall out of the cot, you just roll over.

Best version is a large 'V' with a flat bottom and generous rounding at the base, the sides of the 'V' need to be high or wide enough to fit 75% of your body on the inboard side, the hull will form part of the 'V' on the outboard side, maximum needs to be around 30*, and if you want to be super sure, add a lee cloth to the inboard side so you don't fall out if you get knocked down.

Not everyone can sleep in a pipe berth, as they can feel a bit confined and any claustrophobic tendencies will soon surface. Personally I find them very comfortable, knowing that I'm not going to wake on the floor wondering what the hell I'm doing there.

Avagoodweekend.........



<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[Goodge]

re :'A pipe berth is as the name suggests, it's a bit like a big pipe you slide into...'

I thought a pipe berth was a temporary berth made from two poles ( pipes) with material in between to support you. Pipes are fixed to points attached to the saloon or bunk. These can often be above the settee in the saloon.

Pipes are often in two halves ie four smaller poles joined together to make larger poles which can be easily stored.

This maybe a good (cheap) solution to the problem.



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[oldsaltoz]

G'day Mark [Googe]

If you take away one pipe, you have described what we call a lee cloth, a pipe/rod or straps on the top and the lower end fixed to the inboard side of the bunk to prevent the inevitable roll out when tacking.

A pipe berth, normally located under the cockpit is just that, a huge pipe you slide into, the version I have tried to detail is a variation with an open top, on smaller craft the inboard side of the 'V' is fixed to the underside of the cockpit.

But hey, I could be dead wrong here, but I not talking about a berth above the saloon table or settee. Any I agree it could be a cheap alternative.

Avagoodweekend......



<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.