Athwartships berth

lesweeks

lesweeks

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Theoretically my restoration project sleeps four but this means three abreast in the main cabin with a sort of fold out double bunk - not very convienient and rather awkward. There isn't enough space for a quarter berth but I might be able to design in an athwartships berth behind/under the companionway. Has anyone done or seen this anywhere? It may not work but it's worth a thought.
 
A boat will gyrate around its longitudinal axis much more readily than it will pitch, so that in a rolly anchorage, anyone in a transverse berth will be subjected to being up-ended frequently, which might be unsettling in the digestive department. Keep a bucket handy!
Peter.
 
Thanks Peter, that's the worry that I have, although there seem to be a number of AWB's with transverse bunks in the aft cabin. I chartered a Hunter in the Whitsunday's the August before last and had a long, rolly, uncomfortable night off Whitehaven beach in such a bunk (not stopping me going back again next month though!). But apart from that night it wasn't too bad.

But a hammock..............Hmmmmm
 
We had one on Alice Alakwe a Herreshoff leeboard ketch ( without the leebds!) in which we circumnavigated 1982 -1988. We had a tough time going E to W aroiund Cape of Good Hope, and after 2 weeks beating against strong Westerlies our knees got very sore and swollen. We where in the middle of winter as we had to work i n Durban for $.Rest of the time was fine though. So as usual it depends on your type of sailing.
 
Got one on Cleone. Very wide under the bridge deck with great access to lockers and engine, but low headroom. A knee comes over the top of your head. Bang. ouch.
I've not tried it, but a mate has. Says "fun but weird". Not good on a rolling anchorage I suppose.

Having rebuilt the cockpit over the last couple of years, I wanted to make a quarterberth, but there wasn't really enough space. The big advantage of this is that I've a huge "bag space" for stuff behind the companionway ladder if I'm not in a "neat" mood.
 
Thanks for the thoughts and comments; as mixed as my own really. Seagreen has obviously been there and done it. I guess I'll sit down with some paper and sketch out some possibilities. Haven't totally given up on the hammock!
 
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