(Underway) Boats to sleep on

[Mirelle]

No question about it

The pilot berth of a Tradewind 35 is very good, but the pilot berth of my beloved old cutter is, I have been told by almost everyone who has slept in it, the best.

I submit that the ideal pilot berth is amidships, aligned accurately fore and aft, has substantial panelling between its outboard side and the side of the boat to cut down those irritating swishing noises, has at least 36" headroom over it, so you can sit up (this is where a lot of pilot berths fall short) is 80" x 24" and has a solid, hinged, leeboard.



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[BrendanS]

Re: No question about it

You wouldn't be a tad biased? The berthing arrrangements on the Bavi in a pretty rough sea were fiine

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[Sybarite]

Re: No question about it

Surely the ideal pilot berth is a gimballed one?

John

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[qsiv]

In Devon we were prone to adding a measure or two of Calva to take the sweetness off the cider. Some people used to find it messed with their spatial awareness, but I never could understand why.

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[Mirelle]

Biassed? Moi?

I am indeed biassed - I hope all boat owners are biassed in favour of their own boat!

Seriously I thought I would just note down the dimensions - I got them out of Don Street's "The Ocean Sailing Yacht" and the CCA's "Desirable and undesirable characteristics of offshore yachts", when I was rebuilding the interior, and subsequent experience has shown that, indeed, the experts are right!

The only reason why I might want a bigger boat is that there is only room for one such pilot berth - with 12ft beam one could have two.


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[Mirelle]

Gimbals....

Hmm, interesting idea.

There would have to be a gimbal locking mechanism, to allow the occupant to climb in and out without capsizing the berth and tipping him or herself into the bilge.

The lock would have to be operated from inside the berth.

In order to prevent the bedclothes fouling the sides as the gimballed berth rises and falls, it will need separate sides, which rise and lower at the touch of another button.

The console should fold away automatically as soon as the occupant starts to snore.

Soundproofing is also indicated, broadly along the lines of the engine bay...

In order to prevent the occupant from becoming disconcerted, and perhaps made seasick, by the relative motion of mattress and cabin, a separate ceiling might be needed, perhaps along the lines of the dining hall ceiling in Harry Potter? A design featuring an English country garden in May, with a soft breeze, bird song and the scent of the sun on fresh grass should do the trick.

Yes, I think we have something here.

On the other hand, RT McMullen used a hammock in "PERSEUS".

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