Best Buy for Tri Cabin or Chop up the V berth?

[Dave Brengelmann]

With our kids, now 4 and 6, it seems like high time to pick up a three cabin Hunter; either that or we split the V berth on our 35.5 down the middle with a sheet of plywood. So, I've got a couple of questions.1). Which Hunters out since 1990 have been produced with a three cabin option? Do you recommend one over the other? Naturally, we're hoping that we don't have to suffer in a tiny forward master cabin while the kids live the life of luxury in their aft quarters.2). Any good ideas for splitting up the V berth? I haven't come up with a great design for securing the vertical panel but I'm thinking of putting a horizontal sheet on top of the vertical panel and securing it to the shelving on the port and stbd. side. Thanks to another 35.5 owner, we've got an extra set of cushions that we can hack up!

 

[M Kolbenschlag]

Space for kids

Back in the early 90s I looked at a new Hunter Legend 43 that--at that time-- had an interesting feature for a family. It had a cabin to starboard that was dedicated to a chart table, radio room and "bunk-births"--one above the other. I have never seen that arrangement again. I suppose it was for the paid crew in a charter. But it seemed ideal if you had a couple of kids that you wanted to keep separate but still together and away from you. I subsequently heard it did not sell well and Hunter changed the config in later models.

 

[Andy]

This might be a solution

Last year my kids, age 6 and 9, started asking for a "wall" in the V-Berth. I started to put something together but realized it really wouldn't help the going to sleep giggles so I gave them an alternative.Instead of splitting up the V-berth I offered them a 13'TV/VCR set on a mount forward. They loved the idea and it's a great "tool" for me as I control the power, ie, "go to sleep now or no TV tomorrow!!. I'm also glad I didn't split up the berth because this year my oldest has started inviting friends down for the weekend, they get the privacy of the V-berth and the youngest sleeps in the salon. BTW, having three is even easier than two aboard.

 

[Jim Kolstoe]

Nothing permanent

If you absolutly must create a divider for your Vee berth, I would not not make it any more permanent than a piece of heavy fabric and velcro or similar easy change hanger. All things considered, Vee berths, even on large boats, are not all that big.  With my kids (14 yrs, 12 yrs, 9 yrs) the older two, both girls, share the vee berth, as both in-common bedroom and in-common play area/reading area. The tv idea is also worth while. We've kept a tv on our h23 for years, and the power to ground them from using it can be useful. The flip side is the pride when you discover them ignoring tv for boat and outdoors.Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo