I purchased a 1975 Catalina last summer and was very lucky to find one in great shape. One issue is the build up of condensation in the cabin when we spend the night on the boat. Another issue is my wife is claustrophobic. Any advice on adding a deck hatch over the V-berth is very much appreciated. I am especially concerned with compromising the structural integrity of the deck. Has anyone done this? Thanks and good sailing- Rico
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C22 - 1975
When it gets cold outside at night, and you're warm inside, you'll get condensation. It's like when the outside of your lemonade glass gets wet during the summer. Not much you can do except keep the boat hatches open somewhat to obtain ventilation. If your boat doesn't have a forward hatch, you should be able to add one, since the newer (post 1975) boats were made with forward hatches. If your wife is claustrophobic, then get out of the V berth altogether, and build the fill in board that lets you sleep in the main saloon with the dinette table down. Just cut a piece of thicker plywood and put a couple of fiddles on the bottom and place it between the starboard settee (with the kitchen slid back) and the dinette table down. It's a relatively normal C22 do-it project. Stu
When it gets cold outside at night, and you're warm inside, you'll get condensation. It's like when the outside of your lemonade glass gets wet during the summer. Not much you can do except keep the boat hatches open somewhat to obtain ventilation. If your boat doesn't have a forward hatch, you should be able to add one, since the newer (post 1975) boats were made with forward hatches. If your wife is claustrophobic, then get out of the V berth altogether, and build the fill in board that lets you sleep in the main saloon with the dinette table down. Just cut a piece of thicker plywood and put a couple of fiddles on the bottom and place it between the starboard settee (with the kitchen slid back) and the dinette table down. It's a relatively normal C22 do-it project. Stu
Like Stu said
I don't like to sleep in the V-berth either. You can do what Stu suggested or just have one person sleep in the dinette table area and the other on the starboard seat area. Not as romantic but it leaves the middle of the cabin open. Also, I have a friend who put a hatch over the V-berth and the deck structure is fine.
I don't like to sleep in the V-berth either. You can do what Stu suggested or just have one person sleep in the dinette table area and the other on the starboard seat area. Not as romantic but it leaves the middle of the cabin open. Also, I have a friend who put a hatch over the V-berth and the deck structure is fine.
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