When you spend the night aboard, what do you sleep under? Easily transportable sleeping bags? A full-blown bed set up with sheets, blankets, etc.? Or is it more a matter of whatever you can find aboard at the moment? Do you have other ways to enhance your rest on board? Have you replaced your foam mattress, added a Slap Silencer, or found a special way to stop a creaking boom? Share your secrets to good slumber here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
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Sweet Dreams
Right now all we use are two sleeping bags on the double berth. One below us and one on top. We have the original 4" cushions, and they make for a good nights rest. I use a small shock cord to hold the halyards away from the mast at night. Ben Allen Montgomery, AL "Wahoo" OD 26
Right now all we use are two sleeping bags on the double berth. One below us and one on top. We have the original 4" cushions, and they make for a good nights rest. I use a small shock cord to hold the halyards away from the mast at night. Ben Allen Montgomery, AL "Wahoo" OD 26
Good idea Ben .......Thanks
I like the idea of using a shock cord to get rid of the halyard noise. We use sleeping bags. They are easy to use and store. M Austin Clark Hill, Ga Hunter 25.5
I like the idea of using a shock cord to get rid of the halyard noise. We use sleeping bags. They are easy to use and store. M Austin Clark Hill, Ga Hunter 25.5
Few Suggestions
To stop the boom creak I sometimes put a preventer on the end of the boom and wrap it around a winch to stop the swaying of the boom. I am also an advocate of using a 'flopper-stopper'. These settle the boat back down to a comfortable motion very quickly if there is any wave/wake action in your anchorage. As for bedding we usually use a thick blanket on the bottom, 2 flanelette (sp?) sheets (much warmer in cool temps) with a sleeping bag on top. Now to find a way to stop the 'transom slap'!
To stop the boom creak I sometimes put a preventer on the end of the boom and wrap it around a winch to stop the swaying of the boom. I am also an advocate of using a 'flopper-stopper'. These settle the boat back down to a comfortable motion very quickly if there is any wave/wake action in your anchorage. As for bedding we usually use a thick blanket on the bottom, 2 flanelette (sp?) sheets (much warmer in cool temps) with a sleeping bag on top. Now to find a way to stop the 'transom slap'!
Throw the hook
I've come to appreciate the solitude of a quiet anchorage. In port there is the stink-boater that fires up his engines at the crack of dawn, the sailor who doesn't bungee his halyards, the car alarm going off in the parking lot, the sprinkler system that goes off and sprays your boat, the landlubbers who walk out on your finger pier and examine your boat, the people partying on the dock. . . the list goes on. Transom slap is last on my list of annoyances.
I've come to appreciate the solitude of a quiet anchorage. In port there is the stink-boater that fires up his engines at the crack of dawn, the sailor who doesn't bungee his halyards, the car alarm going off in the parking lot, the sprinkler system that goes off and sprays your boat, the landlubbers who walk out on your finger pier and examine your boat, the people partying on the dock. . . the list goes on. Transom slap is last on my list of annoyances.
Whatever
I have a sleeping bag, blankets & sheets. It just sort of depends on what the sleeping arrangement is going to be. If we're on my boat, Rob sleeps in the V-berth & I on the starboard settee - it's just too cramped in the V-berth for 2 people, especially when one of them is 6'4"! On Rob's boat, he has the v-berth made up all the time with blankets, etc. LaDonna
I have a sleeping bag, blankets & sheets. It just sort of depends on what the sleeping arrangement is going to be. If we're on my boat, Rob sleeps in the V-berth & I on the starboard settee - it's just too cramped in the V-berth for 2 people, especially when one of them is 6'4"! On Rob's boat, he has the v-berth made up all the time with blankets, etc. LaDonna
SIMPLE SOLUTION
We tie the boat up at the marina and walk over to the Ritz Carlton at Marina del Rey. It's not a long walk, just open the gate and there we are.
We tie the boat up at the marina and walk over to the Ritz Carlton at Marina del Rey. It's not a long walk, just open the gate and there we are.
Waterbed
Believe it or not I put a queen-size waterbed in the aft berth of my Hunter 29.5. It fit great and added about 300 pounds, which didn’t seem make any noticeable difference. After sleeping on it about 6 times I realized the slightest movement of the boat made it feel like I was sleeping on a life raft in about 2 foot swells…. Not good! Back to the stock foam with sheets until I see something posted here that might be better. Joe Greco SV Tanzanite
Believe it or not I put a queen-size waterbed in the aft berth of my Hunter 29.5. It fit great and added about 300 pounds, which didn’t seem make any noticeable difference. After sleeping on it about 6 times I realized the slightest movement of the boat made it feel like I was sleeping on a life raft in about 2 foot swells…. Not good! Back to the stock foam with sheets until I see something posted here that might be better. Joe Greco SV Tanzanite
Good nights sleep
The Cat 310 has a real innerspring mattress. With out a doubt it is the best I have slept on, in a boat that is. We use sheets and throw the sleeping bags over us if needed.
The Cat 310 has a real innerspring mattress. With out a doubt it is the best I have slept on, in a boat that is. We use sheets and throw the sleeping bags over us if needed.
modern pharmacology
I find the best nights sleep have come with the assistance of modern pharmaceuticals and some not so modern herbal therapies.
I find the best nights sleep have come with the assistance of modern pharmaceuticals and some not so modern herbal therapies.
Sleep...
There is an old New England saying: hard work makes for a soft bed. We would also add that a good day of sailing makes for a very sound sleep no matter what one is on or in. The only problem is the sleep might be a little too sound for being at anchor with it's potential problems...! We do also respect our neighbors and shock-cord our halyards, but to us personally, the halyards clapping is music to our ears and helps put us to sleep. Carl and Jule s/v SYZYGY
There is an old New England saying: hard work makes for a soft bed. We would also add that a good day of sailing makes for a very sound sleep no matter what one is on or in. The only problem is the sleep might be a little too sound for being at anchor with it's potential problems...! We do also respect our neighbors and shock-cord our halyards, but to us personally, the halyards clapping is music to our ears and helps put us to sleep. Carl and Jule s/v SYZYGY
Under the stars whenever possible
We love to watch the sunset, snuggle down in a sleeping bag and listen to the waves. Often I am so engrossed in the goodness of the evening that I wake just to listen and remind myself that heaven can sometimes be found here on earth.
We love to watch the sunset, snuggle down in a sleeping bag and listen to the waves. Often I am so engrossed in the goodness of the evening that I wake just to listen and remind myself that heaven can sometimes be found here on earth.
After the kids go down
Quite frankly, after my wife and I go through the long ordeal of putting our 8,6 and 2 year old down for the night, we're usually so exhausted we can sleep on anything.
Quite frankly, after my wife and I go through the long ordeal of putting our 8,6 and 2 year old down for the night, we're usually so exhausted we can sleep on anything.
Down comforter....
We lived aboard for the last year in Boston Harbor and found that a down comforter was our best friend. It offers excellent warmth in the cold, but it also insulates and helps keep you cool when it is hot. We read it somewhere, and still don't understand the why of it, but it works. We lived all summer with no air conditioning and slept comfortably under the medium weight down comforter every night and had no problem. And that was the same comforter that helped us through the Boston winter previously. Versatility and comfort, our vote is for down. Sean Donaghue s/v Haven
We lived aboard for the last year in Boston Harbor and found that a down comforter was our best friend. It offers excellent warmth in the cold, but it also insulates and helps keep you cool when it is hot. We read it somewhere, and still don't understand the why of it, but it works. We lived all summer with no air conditioning and slept comfortably under the medium weight down comforter every night and had no problem. And that was the same comforter that helped us through the Boston winter previously. Versatility and comfort, our vote is for down. Sean Donaghue s/v Haven
R&R=@anchor
Sleep is only a matter of closing the eyes. Make sure the anchor is holding before relaxing, zzzzzzzzzzz. John and Mickie
Sleep is only a matter of closing the eyes. Make sure the anchor is holding before relaxing, zzzzzzzzzzz. John and Mickie
Slap Silencer
We always use a slap silencer. The difference is amazing. The noise in the aft cabin used to drive me mad, but now we slip on the Silencer, and everything goes blissfully quiet. If you ain't got one you really should! David david@ct-consulting.com
We always use a slap silencer. The difference is amazing. The noise in the aft cabin used to drive me mad, but now we slip on the Silencer, and everything goes blissfully quiet. If you ain't got one you really should! David david@ct-consulting.com
Sleep
When at the marina either early Spring or Fall, we use an electric blanket, we also made fitted mattress protectors and fitted sheets for the aft cabin, and the V berth. We replaced the original cushions with a high quality foam and covered the cushions with mattress ticking (the striped material)they will outlast us! Having separate fitted sheets makes for an easier making of the bed, we pull the cushions out to fit them, rather than try to crawl in there and try to do it. John Kudera sv 50-50
When at the marina either early Spring or Fall, we use an electric blanket, we also made fitted mattress protectors and fitted sheets for the aft cabin, and the V berth. We replaced the original cushions with a high quality foam and covered the cushions with mattress ticking (the striped material)they will outlast us! Having separate fitted sheets makes for an easier making of the bed, we pull the cushions out to fit them, rather than try to crawl in there and try to do it. John Kudera sv 50-50
They all sound great
Well from what I have read so far they all sound great, but in addition to the shock cords and the boom snubber etc, I use a shock absorber snubber on the anchor line as well, it softens the wave action against the boat when at anchor on the Pacific. Also it works very well on lakes when you have alot of traffic from other boaters. As far as what I sleep on, I use sleeping bags opened up and a sheet underneath. I do however plan to add a down comforter after what I have read here. Happy Sailing
Dave LaPere
Well from what I have read so far they all sound great, but in addition to the shock cords and the boom snubber etc, I use a shock absorber snubber on the anchor line as well, it softens the wave action against the boat when at anchor on the Pacific. Also it works very well on lakes when you have alot of traffic from other boaters. As far as what I sleep on, I use sleeping bags opened up and a sheet underneath. I do however plan to add a down comforter after what I have read here. Happy Sailing
Dave LaPereFoam pads
We are the new owners of a Hunter 460 and have only had the boat for a week. However, on our old boat (Express 35) we bought a king size foam mattress cover and cut it to fit the V-berth. It's the egg crate type of foam and it really made a difference on top of the 14 yr. old foam cushions. The new boat has regular mattresses and doen't seem to need the extra padding but if you like a softer feel, it should work well and be a rather cheap investment.
We are the new owners of a Hunter 460 and have only had the boat for a week. However, on our old boat (Express 35) we bought a king size foam mattress cover and cut it to fit the V-berth. It's the egg crate type of foam and it really made a difference on top of the 14 yr. old foam cushions. The new boat has regular mattresses and doen't seem to need the extra padding but if you like a softer feel, it should work well and be a rather cheap investment.
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