Sleeping arrangements on a Kingfisher 20+, and under-berth arrangements generally

  • 06 Mar 2013 00:40
    Reply # 1234675 on 1213057
    Deleted user
    We altered the arrangement under the mattress in the berth with slats made of 1"x3". When only on plywood or the plastic deck mats the mattress really got wet when we were out in cold and freezing conditions.

    On our previous boat we used a roll of some kind of furnace filter material that was the ultimate answer. It was dense enough to not compress and porous enough to let air and moisture travel between the mattress and the plywood below. We would find condensation pooled under the dry mattress. One morning I awoke to find my beard frozen to the hull but the rest of me was warm and dry.

    We have not been able to find this filter material again. I'll keep looking!
  • 05 Mar 2013 20:58
    Reply # 1234498 on 1213057
    I've found that slats leave alternate dry and damp patches.  What works very well is to make the bottom of the cushion cover out of a waterproof fabric such as vinyl.  The moisture from your body stops there and during the day, comes back out of the cushion.  I've had this arrangement on two boats that I've lived on, with a standard plywood bunk base, and found it satisfactory.  If your winter nights regularly get down to freezing or below, I'd also recommend
    • making the sides of the cushions out of vinyl
    • insulating the hull sides (i just use closed-cell foam camping mat in a tasteful shade of peach.  It looks surprisingly attractive and is cheap to replace!)
  • 05 Mar 2013 18:04
    Reply # 1234306 on 1213057
    Even if you make them yourself, slatted wooden bases for beds and settees are much to be preferred over plywood bases. Mine are made from 70mm x 20mm softwood, varnished, spaced 50mm apart, and the mattress and cushions can breathe well. In contrast, plywood bases, even when perforated by large holes, tend to encourage black mildew on the underside of the cushions, when in full-time use.
  • 05 Mar 2013 06:56
    Reply # 1233895 on 1213057
    Deleted user
    hm…
    fortunately i live within europe… :-))
  • 27 Feb 2013 22:18
    Reply # 1229242 on 1213057

    Ikea sell replacement curved wooden slats for bed bases quite cheaply. They might even be worth considering for normal bunks, as they allow air to circulate below the foam cushions and provide a little springing. They could be easily cut to sit on rails between the bunks.

    Outside Europe there must be other companies selling similar slats.

    Cheers,  Slieve.

  • 27 Feb 2013 14:28
    Reply # 1228755 on 1213057
    Deleted user
    sounds like a good idea to me…
    cheers, mate!
  • 27 Feb 2013 13:24
    Reply # 1228702 on 1213057
         George , best and simplest is get a sheet of ply thick enough to take your weight cut it in strips about 2 ft wide to bridge the gaps then stoe them under the berths in the daytime , or go to a motorised caravan sales site and have peek at there caravanetes and pick up some tips .  cheers. 
  • 25 Feb 2013 19:20
    Reply # 1225976 on 1213057
    Deleted user
    thank you! :-))
  • 24 Feb 2013 21:07
    Reply # 1225304 on 1213057
    Deleted user
    Hi Georg - try this on the KYOA site. It's like the infill board we used.
    Last modified: 24 Feb 2013 21:08 | Deleted user
  • 24 Feb 2013 11:26
    Reply # 1225083 on 1213057
    Deleted user
    thank you.
    do you know by chance where i can have a look at it, some pictures?
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