Folding berth

[Go Aweigh2452]

I got tired of sleeping in the forward berth in the prenatal position since it is sooo short. So, I stole the idea from GPSPowell and modified our forward berth so I can now sleep straight out without curling up. It actually gives the Admiral more room as well since I'm not stealing foot room...

Pull back the "rat fur" so the sawzall won't jam into that stuff:
http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/goaweighto/foldberth/seatbackfur.jpg
Cut along the bottom and the stbd edge making sure the stbd edge is cut at an angle so the fold back stays verticle:
http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/goaweighto/foldberth/seatpiano.JPG
Fold down...
http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/goaweighto/foldberth/seatfolded.JPG
Now I can sleep...
http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/goaweighto/foldberth/seatpillow.JPG

[bradvo]

great solution for sleeping in the V berth, I bet Bayliner would like to see this modification.

[SomeSailor]

Will make watching TV from the V-Berth easier too. :)

I've got plenty of room up there, but am trying to decide where to mount a flat panel. I think that mod answers it for me.

What are you doing to support the seat back while in the "Up" position?

[Go Aweigh2452]

What are you doing to support the seat back while in the "Up" position?

Great Question! When I cut the vertical, I did it on a slant so that when it is in the up position, it can not go back toward the bed due to the angle of the cut. It stays in place pretty well but I plan to find a clip or "U" channel like a paper binding clip (see below) that does not show when attached at the top of the vertical cut:
http://static.eway.com/catalog/3/zunv0309_pfd.jpg
Maybe a channel made of spring steel? Something I can slide toward the hull side so I can fold the board forward. I'm still thinking of what to use...

Maybe something like:
http://www.freshwatertechnology.com/pr_anixter/anc097_2.jpg

I could always place a slide lock on the front side...
http://rvtravel.com/blog/rvnow/uploaded_images/screen-door-lock-1b-787465.jpg

[SomeSailor]

At Lowes and such, you can buy "U" channel aluminum. Cut two sections and join them back to back. Then you can slide this "I-Beam" into the gap of your cut and it'll lock it upright.

[Nehalennia]

At Lowes and such, you can buy "U" channel aluminum. Cut two sections and join them back to back. Then you can slide this "I-Beam" into the gap of your cut and it'll lock it upright.

Tacoma Screw may have aluminum I beam to acheive the same thing

[Go Aweigh2452]

Todd:
Tacoma Screw may have aluminum I beam to acheive the same thing

I fixed it last night. I got some heavy duty PVC (high pressure stuff). Cut it with my pipe cutter for a clean cut then used my air saw to cut it length wise so that it fits very tight. Then I sanded down all the edges except the edge that squeezes the seat back. Now I slide it out of the way when I want to drop the back to go to bed...
http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/goaweighto/foldberth/seatpvc.JPG

http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/goaweighto/foldberth/seatslidefrnt.JPG

http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/goaweighto/foldberth/seatslideside.JPG

[Randygh]

Doug--Nice work. With the PVC clip and piano hinge base is the backboard as stable as it was before you cut it? If you're at the table and you lean against the back cushion, does the backsupport move or wobble alittle? Your modification is an excellent idea.

Our berth is long enough for us, but would be short if I was 6' tall. The Admiral is only 5'1" so she doesn't have any problem hitting her head on the magazine rack I build at her end of the birth.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Doug--Nice work. With the PVC clip and piano hinge base is the backboard as stable as it was before you cut it? If you're at the table and you lean against the back cushion, does the backsupport move or wobble alittle? Your modification is an excellent idea.

Our berth is long enough for us, but would be short if I was 6' tall. The Admiral is only 5'1" so she doesn't have any problem hitting her head on the magazine rack I build at her end of the birth.

It is very stable. Since the piano hinge goes along the entire base, it is like it was never cut. The PCV locks it into place. I was thinking of painting it brown like the cushions but the white matches the shelf lip so will not waste time doing that.

[Nehalennia]

Bada Bing ....Done!
Good deal. Worse case make one full length if you find it' not strong enough, but looks like that'll do.

[oh_wells]

Looks great and I bet it will make you sleep better, too.

Jeff is 6'2", so we would have to do something similar. I'm 5'1" so I fit everywhere.