Bending hardwood

[Divemaster1]

I've wanted to make an insert in one of our twin cabins to make two single beds into one large double for a while and have wondered on how to bend the support for the insert whilst it still looking OK and not dis-jointed... so this WE I tried making up a steamer for the wood and bend some samples onboard... so here is the result...

A wallpaper stripper connected to a hose to insert the piece of wood to get bent....

Tried steaming for 15 min and did a mistake going for a careful fixing screws (pre-drilled holes) into each of the holes... and got a break...

Then I did another one ... steaming for nearly 30 min and fixing screws with approx. 35 Cm apart .... one on straight .... and one at the extreme corner, and here is the result.... incredible how flexible hardwood is ...

Next we will see rounding edges, replacing initial screws with brass and getting inserts and foam cut.... and oiling the wood...

 

[PCUK]

We use a similar set-up and one of those small domestic steam cleaners. You're right how easy it is once steamed long enough!

 

[Tam Lin]

Used the same sort of set up to bend the rubbing strakes on a dinghy. I impressed myself!

 

[vas]

Alf,

are you setting up a mid section to create a queen size bed on the port cabin?
Hardwood bending looks excellent (being a plywood man myself, i'd probably bend and epoxy a few 6mm ply strips and line it afterwards with vinyl )
How are you going to fit the mid section and what are you doing with the chest of drawers at the head of the beds? Looks like you don't have them?
Confused as I thought the port cabin layout was similar/identical to the Mystere.

cheers

V.

 

[Divemaster1]

Alf,

are you setting up a mid section to create a queen size bed on the port cabin?
Hardwood bending looks excellent (being a plywood man myself, i'd probably bend and epoxy a few 6mm ply strips and line it afterwards with vinyl )
How are you going to fit the mid section and what are you doing with the chest of drawers at the head of the beds? Looks like you don't have them?
Confused as I thought the port cabin layout was similar/identical to the Mystere.

cheers

V.

Port cabin is similar to yours and yes, creating an (actually two pieces as they will stow easier) insert in marine ply to have the possibility to make an alternate double berth out of the two singles.... with foam insert (will change to slightly thicker foam than we have now ... perhaps a memory foam topper ...

The chest at the back is as you can see, not in use as that actually is part of the engine room (think my port cabin is pulled back further than yours ...), but as the top of this is level with the bed (and new insert supports), I will have the foam insert to go all the way back as the twin beds... Think if you wanted to do something similar, you'd have to loose the top drawer and have the chest lower... like mine (can take some more pictures next WE if of interest...

 

[vas]

OK, I see,

Port cabin "belongs" to my son. At 15 I can see him wanting to "use" the boat when it's moored at the marina with his g/f soon. I don't find any reason making things easier for him! So no, not interested on joining the two beds there

Was thinking of a similar approach to extend daughter's stbrd cabin bed which is not enough if she wants to have one of her g/f on board when cruising. So may do that in her cabin (but she'll be thinking along the same route with her b/f soon..)
Got to think about it and discuss with the wife.

Do post a few more pics as you go ahead with this project. There's a bit of a problem with the curved 18mm ply forming the bed sides protruding to keep the mattress in place. Now you have to add another piece of mattress (I guess memory foam is a good idea) and I wonder if when sleeping and moving about as you do, you will feel the two long strips of ply on your ribs...

cheers

V.

 

[jfm]

Nice steam bending divemaster. I've seen the theory and youtubes many times and always wanted to do it, but never had a project that needed it for the last few years. One of these days...

Vas I think you are right about ribs. In a perfect world you need to remove the stick up bits of plywood. On my current boat I have the wood strip around the mattress removable. I have and s/s angle 30x30 screwed along the inside of the bed edge trim on the inside ,and this attaches to the bed box via about six M8 button head set screws going vertically down into threaded inserts in the top face of the bed box, so no fasteners are visible on the outside. The edge is therefore removed when the single beds slide-convert to doubles. But installing removable edges as retro-make is a PITA and generally not worth the effort, so I think Alf is doing the right thing especially if double bed status is "occasional use only"

 

[Divemaster1]

Vas,

As JFM (thanks) say, it is an "occasional double", so not worried about inserts etc.... and the highest part of the ply ... (actually two thinner pieces as it bends easier .. ) is at the head/shoulder area and when lying down you will have pillows that provides additional cushioning...

In respect to BF/GF's ... I see things a bit more simple (my daughter is 23 and I have been through the paces...) ... and I can:

a) enable/facilitate for your child (or young adult) to be with you with their selected partner where you can exert some control... and let's be honest... just behind 18mm of ply, 2M away from your parents ... would you ????

b) loose the control completely with them refusing to come with you in the family past-time of boating

Rest assured... the kids will find a way to be together .... and most likely will do so when you are not there, single bed or double ..... just wait until the first time your son ask you if he can borrow the boat for a day out with mates....., that is when you get anxious in a different way..

I'll take some more pictures and post here....

 

[Divemaster1]

So now I have done the main part of the job onboard and in principle have an occasional double in the Port cabin... actually approx. 170 Cm wide x 186Cm Long..

Got the last piece of the hardwood bent completed and oiled the wood, cut the marine grade ply to shape etc. (need painting... but that is for another day).

Looked at the "challenge" with he protruding wood (bedframes) and decided to move from 4in thick foam to 5in ... so when you compress the foam with body weight, it does not compress below the bedframe .... well not in principle anyway.

Got a large sheet of in foam and cut roughly to fit and here's the result, which when covered and a topping sheet is put over, makes for a comfortable double which is not too difficult to get in or out of ... Need to fit the cover sheets and set in Velcro (I think) to secure the inserts from moving... and I sort of planned to use strong magnetic catches to hold the ply inserts better in place, but guess that I could always fix some bolt catches if that proved insufficient.

@ Vas, in one of the two pictures (photobucket is blocked from the office), you see the box (believe you have a similar box, but just between the beds and you use it as a chest of drawers), which actually is part of the engine room.... In the engine room this allows for movement in front of the engines to get around to the outside to perform work etc.