How Many of You Hate Making up the V-Berth???

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Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
I'm the one that gets the job of making up the V-berth bed in both boats and I've never liked it. First we started with full size sheets and blankets and they were a pain to get tucked under the mattress and you had all of that extra material.

Then we cut the sheets and blankets to better match the V-Berths shape and that helped but I still had to climb up in there and try and do the job.

Well that is a thing of the past now I can make the bed in the Endeavour standing up at the head of the bed and in the MacGregor pretty much the same way. I'm sure someone else must of done this so I'm not saying that it is original, but it sure is handy.

The 3 pages of pictures and info starts here...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-canvas/canvas-15.html

...but I'll summarize below.

The key to this working is cutting the mattress into 3 sections...



... and making covers for them. We have been sleeping in both boats on a mattress configuration like this for the past couple years and it feels like one continuous mattress under you.

Next step is to ...



...cut big hunks out of the fitted bottom sheet then...



sew it back together.



Next cut the top sheet and hem it so ...



...that it is wide enough to go over you but get rid of all of the access material. Then attach a slip cover to the ....



...end of it like above (sorry for the color change, but the sheet was cut & sewed the same).



To put the sheets on you start like above and you can bring the foot mattress back to you where you are standing at the berth. Put the cover on the mattress like above and leave the top sheet off to the right.



Next pull the bottom sheet over the foot mattress and let the elastic band pull some of the top sheet back under the mattress section like above. Notice that the top sheet is still off to the right.



Here is how things look at this point. You don't need it all laying out like above. I did that so that it is easier to see what is going on.



Next you just fold the top sheet back over the bottom sheet and the mattress. At this point you can take the mattress section with attached sheets and slide it forward on the V-Berth platform. Slide it in a ways and then take the second mattress section and lay it on the platform and pull the fitted sheet around the sides and under it. Then slide it and the foot section forward some more into the V-berth. Finish by doing the same with the last mattress section.

Now you just made the bed without getting into it. We also cut top blankets like the top sheet (with no sleeve at the bottom). If it is cold put how many blankets on the top of the sheets/mattresses as you slide them forward




This is one of the most practical things we have done to the boat. No extra bedding down at the foot. The top sheet doesn't pull out down there and you can make the bed standing up in the cabin. You can make the bed in less time than it takes to read the above. We love it or should I say that I really love it as making the bed is my job.

Again more pictures and info starting here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-canvas/canvas-15.html

Sum

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Jun 3, 2004
1,863
Macgregor 25 So. Cal.
Nice job!

I just keep 4 single sleeping bags that zip together.

Other uses for the bags are, back rests, extra cushion for the helmman and can be hung ove the life lines for privicy in the cockpit.

Most of the time we sleep in the cockpit.

Ours are black so that they air out fast as soon as the sun hits them.
 

Kestle

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Jun 12, 2011
702
MacGregor 25 San Pedro
I do the same as Timebandit, but mine are dark green.

Jeff
 
Aug 7, 2011
496
MacGregor 26S Lakeland, FL
This is great stuff Sumner...thanks for sharing these ideas!
 
Jan 10, 2011
331
Macgregor 25 675 Lake Lanier
I am using a full size inflatable bed in the main cabin area. It has an internal motor that fills it in about a minute. It deflates in about the same amount of time. It is very comfortable. I am considering replacing my bed at home with an inflatable.
 
Aug 7, 2011
496
MacGregor 26S Lakeland, FL
It is very comfortable. I am considering replacing my bed at home with an inflatable.
We have one of the older inflatable "adjustable" beds marketed by a mainstream fitness company that no longer supports those beds, so we have a version of it already. But we also considered changing to a regular inflatable when we used it as a replacement several times when we had to replace an air bladder. But we realized that the inflatable mattress is so light, it wouldn't stay in place very well (unless we were on it, of course) and that it doesn't have the kind of edge support a regular mattress has. Those two things combined mean you can't really sit on the edge of the bed, like you do a normal bed...it slides away from you, and then it doesn't support or cushion you if you do get it to sit still... But very comfortable, yes...we've used one for tent camping for years and have talked about this same thing many times.

Hope you don't have a cat! :doh:
 
Jan 10, 2011
331
Macgregor 25 675 Lake Lanier
I use the inflatable from Walmart Intex Deluxe Pillow Rest Airbed with Built-In 120V Pump. I cannot sit comfortably on the edge. It is relatively heavy and does not move unless I move it. I only set it up when I am ready to use it. I deflate it with the motor and then roll the sheets in it. Bed up and down in just a couple of minutes and is very comfortable.
The biggest drawback is that it takes up most of the main cabin.
I set a plastic storage bin on one end with the laptop on top to watch movies in the evening if I don't feel like reading. I am right below the pop top and get a good breeze.
Now I need to make a cover for the poptop for when it rains. With the poptop down I am too close to the ceiling.
 
Jun 3, 2004
1,863
Macgregor 25 So. Cal.
This may help with your top, as you can see it is for a 25 and not a 26.


I use the inflatable from Walmart Intex Deluxe Pillow Rest Airbed with Built-In 120V Pump. I cannot sit comfortably on the edge. It is relatively heavy and does not move unless I move it. I only set it up when I am ready to use it. I deflate it with the motor and then roll the sheets in it. Bed up and down in just a couple of minutes and is very comfortable.
The biggest drawback is that it takes up most of the main cabin.
I set a plastic storage bin on one end with the laptop on top to watch movies in the evening if I don't feel like reading. I am right below the pop top and get a good breeze.
Now I need to make a cover for the poptop for when it rains. With the poptop down I am too close to the ceiling.
 
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