Lee-Cloths?

[Guest]

Hi,

I want to fit some lee cloths to the two saloon berths on my Etap 26. Does anyone have some top tips as to what the best way to do this would be? All suggestions will be gratefully received.

Cheers,

David

 

[Chris_Stannard]

The lower edge should have a batten along its length which is screwed down at six inch intervals.

The suspension points above the corners need to be reasonaably high and, if you have a handrail over the berth why not put a third suspension point in the middle for extra support

Chris Stannard

 

[Guest]

In addition to the points made by Chris Stannard, do make sure the lee cloths are secured a the outboard side of the bunk, i.e. the cloth should wrap under the mattress and not just secure to it's edge.

One boat I sailed had them the other way and it was dreadful - you spent half the night laying on the cloth and not feeling very safe.

On the lines you take to your padeyes, why not put a snap hook? This makes it really easy to rig and unrig them, much better than any knot which still requires a degree of fiddling to manage.

Don't have them go to the absolute end of the bunk, allow several inches gap to permit some ventilation.

I have read that the padeyes to which they are secured are best if in the deckhead - mine aren't but I can see the logic.

Humperdinck

Email: HJ@Seacracker.org
Website: www.seacracker.org

 

[42_South]

I would also recommend that you consider a material that does not absorb water as they will remain forever damp if of the canvas variety. Mine are a mesh type (as used for rope bags) and this allows them to breathe and not retain any moisture.......

 

[tony_brighton]

Problem with deck-head secured lee-cloths is that you cant often reach them in a bouncy boat unless you have good stomach muscles.

 

[Guest]

We have got over this problem by fitting leecloths supported by aluminium poles. These fit into U shaped brackets bolted to the bulkhead and half bulkhead at either end of the berth. Cloths are permanently attached to the poles (can be via a strongly sewn pocket or hammock lashing) and the poles stow behind the cushions when not in use. If stowage is a problem, the poles could be removed and stowed elsewhere when the berths are not going to be used at sea.

This works a treat. Pressure on the cloths, which run under the cushions from the back of the berth, prevents any "spillage" when in use and it is quick and easy to lift the poles out of its bracket to get in and out of the bunk. The cloth then hangs down the front of the berth until stowed or put back in use.

Of course, if you don't have some form of bulkead at each end of the berth this won't work. But if you do, I recommend it.

 

[tomboy352]

I had my lee-cloths made up at a local machinists. But specified pvc ( anti damp) The supporting edge is hemed over a full 1.6 Meter length of 3/8 bore flexi fuel pipe type, with nylon rope threaded through . This prevents the rope sliceing through the hem. Supported at both bulkheads with pad-eyes. The cam cleat I used for easey adjustment but found that with a sea running, it had a tendancy to slip under load , so we use the pad-eyes usually. The cloth is screwed down well under the bunk via a full length timber strip. The system works well but is a compromise to the deep barge board type or the pole type , both of which werent practical in our case.

 

[Plum]

what does everyone think of this idea?

David, I too am planning lee-cloths and thought I would share with you what my plans are.

Securely screw a length of extruded anodised aluminium luff-groove sail-track to the front of the berth-top under the cushion. The lee-cloths will have a piece of line (5mm?) sewn into the lower hem of the cloth so it can be slid into the track when required. The top corners of the cloth to be heavily reinforced with a large cringle pressed in, from which pices of line lead to pad-eyes on the deckhead. Lines run through padeye and back to a clamclear mounted on the line just above the top of the lee-cloth. Clamcleat number CL223 will do the trick for 6mm line. (http://www.clamcleat-rope-cleats.com/midaircleat.htm). I do not like the idea of screwing the cloths with battens as this means that you have to leave the cloths permantly under the cushions when not in use, where they will get in the way of accessing the under-berth stowage.

The above is my plan, yet to be implemented, but I would be interested in any other views or criticisms.

 

[Mirelle]

Variation on that theme

We used scrap lengths of heavy type (this is important!) aluminium roller reefing headsail tube, and fed the roped edge of the leecloth into it.

The advantage is that the tube is smaller, so it does not make the bunk unbcomfortable when the leecloth is not rigged; the disadvantage is that the tube, being quite a small diameter, will bend somewhat, under load, and in order to feel 101% safe, (which is essential, otherwise you do not sleep!) we have a line, through cringles, passing round the adjacent overhead handrail as well.

The U pieces should be longer on the outboard side, more of a J shape really. Makes it much easier to drop the pole in with one hand.

Lower end of leecloth passes under mattress and is lashed to stringer, so it can easily be removed and washed (wooden boats have their advantages!)