Lee Cloths

coopec

coopec

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Right now I am busy finishing off the aft cabin double berth and the berth beside the center cockpit and my thoughts have turned to lee cloths.

I am horrified at most of them. I had just considered lee cloths attached to the bulkheads (nothing attached to the underside of the deck) Is there anything wrong with that idea?

With the double berth in the aft cabin I will have two mattresses made up but with one set of blankets for the two mattresses. Can I fit the "middle" lee cloth above the blankets? (It would be taut enough to avoid a person rolling under it)

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JumbleDuck said:
Two of my bunks have leecloths. Both are up to bulkheads at each end; neither is attached to the deck. Much like the one you ringed in red. The ones with a web of string up to the deck look most unsafe. I want to be able to get out of mine in a hurry if needed.
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Thanks for that.

What about lee cloths on the "V" berths? Would "Y " shaped lee cloths be OK?
 
All my lee cloths, aft cabin and fore cabin are V berths, just have a lanyard in each corner passing up to the strong points near the cabin roof. The bunks in the V berth have single lee cloths with the V end sharing the same strong point; remember only one load at any time will be applied to the strong point because of the heal of the boat. This has been a fairly standard way fitting and tensioning on many yachts I have sailed: upward and and longitudinal pull to keep the lee cloth taught. You can get as fancy as you want with multi purchase mini blocks and self jammers, but a simple lanyard and knot works fine.
 
When I made lee cloths I made then to fit under the cushion so the weight of the person lying down would hold the lee cloth in place. The length was such that the persons head could be accessed around the side and the support to the bulkhead was high enough to keep the lee cloth vertical but not too high so tht the person in the berth could release the side so as to get out unaided.

My double bed in my aft cabin does not lee cloths as its unlikely it would be used on a passage as I would use the single berth in my wheel house and SWMBO and I would hot bunk. I have 4 other single berths with lee cloths if more then 2 crew. My V berth as 2 single lee cloths or set up as a double with a centres infill and cushions but again not used in that configuration on a passage.
 
The strongpoints need to be very strong!
A bloke putting his weight on the middle of the cloth is lot of tension on the line, if there's only one line running the length of the bunk.
 
coopec said:
What about lee cloths on the "V" berths? Would "Y " shaped lee cloths be OK?
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I haven't bothered on mine. Whoever is in the forecabin just sleeps on the low side, and rolls across if needed. If I was sailing with two in there I would probably put a lee cloth on each side, attached to the underside of the foredeck at the front and the bulkhead at the back, but the need hasn't arisen.
 
coopec said:
............... With the double berth in the aft cabin I will have two mattresses made up but with one set of blankets for the two mattresses. Can I fit the "middle" lee cloth above the blankets? (It would be taut enough to avoid a person rolling under it) ............
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I dont think that will work. I have sailed passages that involved a lot of upwind work and in heavy winds and the force on lee cloth is significant. Stuff will bunch up at the base, including legs and arms and be forced under the base. I don't think you can get it taught enough. On my own boat we have the cushion split down the middle with the lee cloth fastened with batton full length at the base. The lockers under the double berth are split as well so there is a structure to connect the lee cloth batten into. When on passage we use sleeping bags, when not sailing we use the double quilt. I think that a lee cloth not secured at the base will just be a hassle and will not work.
 
I think it is important that the underside of the lee cloth extends at least to the center line of the berth. In use, the lee cloth will curl the mattress and help hold the occupant securely across their hips and shoulders. They will be as one with the boat and not be rolled backwards and forwards like a bit of pastry.
 
lw395 said:
The strongpoints need to be very strong!
A bloke putting his weight on the middle of the cloth is lot of tension on the line, if there's only one line running the length of the bunk.
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Yes, I was thinking about the loads on the lee cloths. Thanks.
 
I have a berth that we can make up in the saloon when on passage so the table leaf acts as a lee cloth, but I sail single or short handed.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
On my own boat we have the cushion split down the middle with the lee cloth fastened with batton full length at the base. The lockers under the double berth are split as well so there is a structure to connect the lee cloth batten into. When on passage we use sleeping bags, when not sailing we use the double quilt. I think that a lee cloth not secured at the base will just be a hassle and will not work.
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Sleeping bags(y)

In the morning I'll check what structure I have under the bed base to see if I can utilise that to give more strength to anchor the lee cloth.
 
Like Sandy I sail single or short handed so only the saloon berths have lee cloths. The bulkheads at either end have U brackets in which a bannister rail sits. The lee cloths are velcro strapped to this at intervals.

I can be out of the bunk in seconds by using a hand hold and vaulting over the rail! I use a wrap around duvet☺️
 
My lee clothes, only in the two bunks in the saloon, have a lee cloth fastened at the front clamped between the bunk edge and the wooden trim and the corners go a strong point in the roof, with a simple lanyard. The vee berth does not have one or the two singles in the aft cabin as not had a need for them.
 
Have slept in bunks with lee cloths in seriously heavy weather, the attachments do have to be strong but the idea of a cat's cradle of lines to the deckhead is horrible. Best of all are solid leeboards, but rare nowadays. Have also once given up on leecloths and slept on the cabin sole, as the (racing) boat was going near airborne at times off waves and you were less likely to fall out once already on the cabin sole. Only problem was the boat itself was leaking substantially and if the on-watch crew were delinquent about regular pumping you got water sloshing over you, an even worse wake-up than someone prodding you and saying you're due on watch.

I might write an article on wet bunks I have known......
 
JumbleDuck said:
Two of my bunks have leecloths. Both are up to bulkheads at each end; neither is attached to the deck. Much like the one you ringed in red. The ones with a web of string up to the deck look most unsafe. I want to be able to get out of mine in a hurry if needed.
Click to expand...

Just two issues with saloon LC's. Must get in and out fairly easily, even in some deck gear. Second must be able to take strain of body thrown against it - suggests straps and definitely not anything with bungee cord; fixing point for top straps could be problem if grab rail or some such not to hand.

Have two LC's for my saloon - made with love and care. Never used them in 20 years - possibly my best advice to you!

PWG
 
peter gibbs said:
Just two issues with saloon LC's. Must get in and out fairly easily, even in some deck gear. Second must be able to take strain of body thrown against it - suggests straps and definitely not anything with bungee cord; fixing point for top straps could be problem if grab rail or some such not to hand.
Click to expand...
My bunks are quite narrow, so there is no scope for getting up a head of speed before hitting the cloth. Since there are just two of us we normally just sleep in the downhill bunk. Changing the tilt suggests tacking, tacking suggests beating to windward and as a gentleman I don't do that ...
 
JumbleDuck said:
My bunks are quite narrow, so there is no scope for getting up a head of speed before hitting the cloth.
Click to expand...

I assumed he was thinking more of someone standing in the saloon falling against the leecloth. The same reason saloon tables need to be very strong against sideways shoving.

Pete
 
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