Double Berths

[roblpm]

This is a pointless rant..........................

Why is it that all new boat builders seem to put in double berths everywhere. What proportion of sailors go on extended trips with other couples.

For me I go with 2 or 3 male mates so need as many single berths as possible. Even when I go with my kids it would be better with single berths.

An old Bowman 36 I have been on a few times has 2 v berths in the bow, a cabin with 2 bunks (which is in with the engine and smells of diesel!) and space for 1 in the saloon.

I would go for 2 v berths, 2 saloon berths and a quarter berth thus leaving space for ample cockpit locker space etc. But doesn't seem possible!

I was looking at the Ovni 365 which is 40 feet. The 2 cabin version still wastes space with a stern double cabin and a double bow cabin.

As I said, all pointless musings as I dream of my retirement expedition yacht!

I suppose if I get it built new then I can have what I like!

 

[FullCircle]

Our aft cabin berth is nearly 7ft square. I can get a football team bunked down in there.

We have a well padded sprung mattress in a well furnished forecabin, and don't really care where the rest of the troops hang out on board.

 

[LadyInBed]

Doubles for me, I like to be able to roll over in my bed and not 'scotch' around fearing that I might fall out.

 

[stevebrassett]

I absolutely agree. My 23-footer has a v-berth, a dinette double and a quarter berth. That is three berths as far as I am concerned. When I spent the long, lonely evenings choosing my "Lottery" boat, it is surprising how many have three doubles, which is also three berths, as far as I am concerned.

 

[LionsDen]

You can spec the berths generally according to your needs

 

[pvb]

Mrs pvb and I like a nice big double berth. And when I'm staying on the boat on my own, or with mates, I like the space.

 

[oldvarnish]

I've never had a boat with double berths. Aren't they useless at sea when it starts to get lively?

 

[nimbusgb]

I've never had a boat with double berths. Aren't they useless at sea when it starts to get lively?

My Gawd! You sail at night? In a seaway?

Next thing you'll be talking about lee cloths!

 

[prv]

I've never had a boat with double berths. Aren't they useless at sea when it starts to get lively?

Pretty much. However, assuming that at sea some of the crew will always be on deck sailing the boat, you don't need every berth to be a good sea-berth. I don't currently have anybody to share a double bunk with, but if I did then I would want a good one to share on the vast majority of nights that us coastal cruisers spend in relative shelter.

Pete

 

[RupertW]

Pretty much. However, assuming that at sea some of the crew will always be on deck sailing the boat, you don't need every berth to be a good sea-berth. I don't currently have anybody to share a double bunk with, but if I did then I would want a good one to share on the vast majority of nights that us coastal cruisers spend in relative shelter.

Pete

I don't rate the forward double birth at sea in waves but the aft cabins are fine - either you are leaning against one wall or the other and if the person on helm is rolling the boat violently they need some gentle advice on broad reaching instead.

We tend to sail as couples with couples and if not then more room for the singles.

 

[rob2]

I tend to agree. Just like tents, for a single person you need at least a two berth... A lot of quarter berths are a bit wide for a single, but if you settle in the coma recovery position, you don't roll around. The forepeak cabin on my boat has a Vee double, but the foreward end is so narrow you have to play footsie with any other occupant. The main cabin double is fine so long as you're not over six foot, otherwise it's a foetal psition, and the quarter berth has room to roll around. All in all it's really a three berth!

Rob.

 

[Vara]

Double berth in a boat ideal if you're young and in lust, while secured to pontoon.

Otherwise, comfy singles with decent lee clothes at all other times.

 

[jerrytug]

Double berth in a boat ideal if you're young and in lust, while secured to pontoon.

Otherwise, comfy singles with decent lee clothes at all other times.

+1 (minus the 'young')

 

[alahol2]

Double berth in a boat ideal if you're young and in lust, while secured to pontoon.

Otherwise, comfy singles with decent lee clothes at all other times.

+1 (minus the 'young')

+1 (minus the 'secured to pontoon', what's wrong with anchoring, or even drifting?)

 

[PabloPicasso]

Double berth in a boat ideal if you're young and in lust, while secured to pontoon.

Otherwise, comfy singles with decent lee clothes at all other times.

Just fit a lee clothe down the middle of the doubles and lo and behold, twin berths

 

[geem]

+1 (minus the 'secured to pontoon', what's wrong with anchoring, or even drifting?)

Two doubles and two singles plus two more in the saloon covers all bases. On passage with just me and wife we usually sleep in saloon. At anchor or marina two doubles at opposite ends of boat is great. Next week we have friends with kids visiting. We will have 7 onboard and a full house

 

[oldbilbo]

Our aft cabin berth is nearly 7ft square. I can get a football team bunked down in there. We have a well padded sprung mattress in a well furnished forecabin, and don't really care where the rest of the troops hang out on board.

That sounds rather like a 'fornicatorium' ( Latin.... )

 

[LadyInBed]

Double berth in a boat ideal if you're young and in lust, while secured to pontoon.

If only! My aft double is lateral so I can sleep either way round, depending on tack.
If I start slipping down the bed then I've got too much sail up

 

[kennyh]

Well I've got a double berth/cabin with a bed bigger than my king size at home - super comfortable; in fact I'd rather sleep in the boat than at home, whether on the pontoon or at anchor. Along with a double v berth forward for guest (but big enough for 2 adults and a child or two.

I've a MoBo, so perhaps single berths are not as practical / needed as for a (sailing) yacht!

 

[Slocumotion]

I don't rate the forward double birth at sea in waves.......

Oh I don't know about that - it sounds like an episode of "Call the Midwife" I'd watch again!