How to install pad eye on v-berth ceiling for infant lee cloth attachment point

[skunther]

The title sums it up. I tried some dent puller suction cups as attachment points, but they don't stay attached. I'm worried that if I screw some pad eyes into the ceiling above the V-berth, that they may not be structurally strong enough to hold the lee cloth (which is simply retaining fabric screen to keep our young 'un from tumbling onto the sole), expecially when our daughter chooses to lean into/on it. I don't want to be left with some unsightly holes in the ceiling and still no successful lee cloth attachment point.

My boat is a 1993 Hunter Legend 35.5.

Any thoughts?

 

[MikeHoncho]

Attach a pad eye to a nice piece of mahogany with though bolts and install it with 4200. That way you can remove it later without leaving a hole.

 

[Joe]

Try thinking of options that ruled out attachment to the ceiling . On my boat I used a length of 3/8" line in the lee cloth's seam for support. The line had hooks on each end that I clipped to a couple of small folding pad eyes attached to the forward bulk head and a dinette backrest aft. Rarely used it at sea, because the pilot berth was the "hot" bunk and a lee cloth wasn't needed. But It worked really well when I had friends with kids that need a nap while out day sailing. You could insert a closet hangar pole if the toddler was really active. Then you'd have a playpen.

 

[jssailem]

Putting a “padeye” that is secure means drilling a hole and backing plate. The backing plate would be unsightly in the middle of the fore deck.

If you really want to do this try attaching a piece of wood to the inside surface with 5200 adhesive caulk or Epoxy.

A better idea might be to get a playpen that you put the baby into. Collapsible so you can take down and store. When set up it will sit in the VBerth well back from the edge. And be self supported.

I would be careful to keep things soft sided. And padded. When you deal with that surprise 4ft wake from the container ship passing by, every thing that is not tied down or stored inside the boat will go flying inside the boat.

 

[dlochner]

Are there hand holds in the ceiling? If so use some nylon webbing and a buckle to support the lee cloth. We do that for our adult sized lee cloths. Loop the webbing from the lee cloth up through the hand hold and back down to a buckle.

 

[skunther]

Try thinking of options that ruled out attachment to the ceiling . On my boat I used a length of 3/8" line in the lee cloth's seam for support. The line had hooks on each end that I clipped to a couple of small folding pad eyes attached to the forward bulk head and a dinette backrest aft. Rarely used it at sea, because the pilot berth was the "hot" bunk and a lee cloth wasn't needed. But It worked really well when I had friends with kids that need a nap while out day sailing. You could insert a closet hangar pole if the toddler was really active. Then you'd have a playpen.

Thanks Joe, the problem is we don't have any adequate attachment points to attach such a line to. Trying to figure that part out...

 

[skunther]

Are there hand holds in the ceiling? If so use some nylon webbing and a buckle to support the lee cloth. We do that for our adult sized lee cloths. Loop the webbing from the lee cloth up through the hand hold and back down to a buckle.

No hand holds nor any other attachment points unfortunately... there is a sill, but I would have to drill through or into it in order to attach anything to it.

 

[skunther]

Putting a “padeye” that is secure means drilling a hole and backing plate. The backing plate would be unsightly in the middle of the fore deck.

If you really want to do this try attaching a piece of wood to the inside surface with 5200 adhesive caulk or Epoxy.

A better idea might be to get a playpen that you put the baby into. Collapsible so you can take down and store. When set up it will sit in the VBerth well back from the edge. And be self supported.

I would be careful to keep things soft sided. And padded. When you deal with that surprise 4ft wake from the container ship passing by, every thing that is not tied down or stored inside the boat will go flying inside the boat.

I like the idea but 5200 seems a bit too permanent.

 

[skunther]

Attach a pad eye to a nice piece of mahogany with though bolts and install it with 4200. That way you can remove it later without leaving a hole.

This seems like the way to go - solid enough to support the kid's weight, but removable without leaving a scar. I like it!

 

[Ron20324]

In/on the headliner of my B323 I was adding additional rope clutches to the outside cabin top. In the process I thru- bolted eye straps in the ceiling of the head, using the rope cltch bolts alread in place.. These were mainly to attach a shower liner to make a shower stall in the head.

 

[jssailem]

but 5200 seems a bit too permanent.

I just understood it was for your baby girl. Nearly Permanent for attachment points seems reasonable. At least this way they will be “nearly “ indestructible.”.

 

[skunther]

In/on the headliner of my B323 I was adding additional rope clutches to the outside cabin top. In the process I thru- bolted eye straps in the ceiling of the head, using the rope cltch bolts alread in place.. These were mainly to attach a shower liner to make a shower stall in the head.

I like the creative multipurpose solution. I unfortunately don’t need any additional hardware on deck anywhere near where I need the attachment points.

 

[MitchM]

why not attach a nice vertical plank with eyebolts to the anchor locker at the bow, and have a plank running on the beam across the entrance to the v berth is ? then divide v berth into 2 sections with a phifertex lee cloth. remove plank at v berth e ntrance when you want adults to enter...

 

[DArcy]

In my last boat I installed a lee cloth on a settee with a piece of 1" stainless tubing running the length of the settee with this style of brackets. I would put one end of the rod in the round bracket then lift over the U bracket and drop it in. It was very secure and kept the kids in the bunk. It was easy to roll up and it slipped under the cushion for sitting. No attachment to the deckhead required.

 

[skunther]

I like all the input, much thanks to all. We just got back into our home port, and many projects have made themselves apparent. My instinct regarding the lee cloth install is to go with 3M 4200 on some pieces of wood and attach eyelets to the wood as suggested by @jssailem and @MikeHoncho. It seems once the kids outgrow the need for the restraining lee cloth, 4200 would be removable without leaving a mark. Or am I fooling myself? Is 4200 a good thing to use here, or is there something better to use to adhere wood to the v-berth ceiling that could later be removed without leaving a mark?