I'm back! I really apreciated the discussion that ensued from my question re: shoal draft and it helped tip the scales for me in the purchase decision..... (towards performance). I'm ~ 6'3" and my wife is 5'9". Does anyone have any comments on where they end up sleeping most of the time on the boat (in general use and passage making). My wife isn't wild about the "climb" into the forward berth (which I didn't mind) and we weren't too sure about the aft berth in terms of ventilation and "overcoziness" under the cockpit. Consequently, has anyone modified the existing layout. Any comments?
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Ramsay Selden
Where I Sleep
I am 6'2" and my sailing partner is 5'2" or thereabouts. I find the fore cabin/v-birth not big enough, in addition to the problem of climbing into it. The best place when it's one or two of us is the dinette with the table down. This makes a big bunk. I sometimes sleep on the settee in the salon if I feel like it, but it's really too narrow. Finally, if I'm on the boat without my "partner" but with some other people, I sleep in the aft cabin.
I am 6'2" and my sailing partner is 5'2" or thereabouts. I find the fore cabin/v-birth not big enough, in addition to the problem of climbing into it. The best place when it's one or two of us is the dinette with the table down. This makes a big bunk. I sometimes sleep on the settee in the salon if I feel like it, but it's really too narrow. Finally, if I'm on the boat without my "partner" but with some other people, I sleep in the aft cabin.
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Larry and Carol Schroeder
We like the Aft Cabin
We are 6' and 5'9". We spend a LOT of time living on our boat. In terms of ventilation, we have never had a problem in our 320. When it's cold, it's cozy. When it's hot and we're at dockside, we use the A/C, if necessary. In general, it's very comfortable, and we don't feel lacking in ventilation. We don't use the forward berth for sleeping unless we have guests, and not keeping the board and cushion on hand all the time frees up valuable space.
We are 6' and 5'9". We spend a LOT of time living on our boat. In terms of ventilation, we have never had a problem in our 320. When it's cold, it's cozy. When it's hot and we're at dockside, we use the A/C, if necessary. In general, it's very comfortable, and we don't feel lacking in ventilation. We don't use the forward berth for sleeping unless we have guests, and not keeping the board and cushion on hand all the time frees up valuable space.
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Craig
you have a bad combination
we sleep in the v. i am 6 2 and she is maybe 5 on a good day. i stretch right alon the hull side to get the most distance possible. she wont sleep in the aft. says its too closed in. the aft has lots of leg room though. maybe 7ft. in the v you will wake up with a headache from a sore head and your feet will hurt from being lodged in a discombobulated postion for 8 hrs. good luck. craig
we sleep in the v. i am 6 2 and she is maybe 5 on a good day. i stretch right alon the hull side to get the most distance possible. she wont sleep in the aft. says its too closed in. the aft has lots of leg room though. maybe 7ft. in the v you will wake up with a headache from a sore head and your feet will hurt from being lodged in a discombobulated postion for 8 hrs. good luck. craig
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Terry
Hi Geoff, we have a P42 and sleep in the
aft cabin. Guests sleep in the forward cabin, which has lots of room. The aft cabin on the P42 is almost as comfy as our bedroom at home. Terry
aft cabin. Guests sleep in the forward cabin, which has lots of room. The aft cabin on the P42 is almost as comfy as our bedroom at home. Terry
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Rich Wallace
Varies On How Much Trouble I Am In
Just kidding...... It really depends upon several factors. The V berth is too narrow for both of us to sleep there on a regular basis but is fine for one. She is short and the climb into the V is tough for her. If it is warm, she likes to sleep on the settee and I will sleep in the V berth. If it is cold, we will both sleep in the quarter berth. When we are traveling on the 34 we end up using either the V berth or the quarter berth for storage for folding bicycles, extra bumpers, etc and that dictates the sleeping arrangements. If we have guests, we give them the V berth and we use the quarter berth. I can't remember ever setting up the dinette area as a berth although it would not take more than a few minutes. We now also have a P42 but have not spent a night on it yet. We bought it because of the large aft cabin (and the AC) so I expect we will be sleeping there in the future. I cannot immediately think of any way to modify the 34 that would open up the cabin for better sleeping other than figuring a way to move the head and sink to lengthen the V berth. That would be a major mod.
Just kidding...... It really depends upon several factors. The V berth is too narrow for both of us to sleep there on a regular basis but is fine for one. She is short and the climb into the V is tough for her. If it is warm, she likes to sleep on the settee and I will sleep in the V berth. If it is cold, we will both sleep in the quarter berth. When we are traveling on the 34 we end up using either the V berth or the quarter berth for storage for folding bicycles, extra bumpers, etc and that dictates the sleeping arrangements. If we have guests, we give them the V berth and we use the quarter berth. I can't remember ever setting up the dinette area as a berth although it would not take more than a few minutes. We now also have a P42 but have not spent a night on it yet. We bought it because of the large aft cabin (and the AC) so I expect we will be sleeping there in the future. I cannot immediately think of any way to modify the 34 that would open up the cabin for better sleeping other than figuring a way to move the head and sink to lengthen the V berth. That would be a major mod.
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Barry
Same Boat, Same Height
I have an h34 and am also 6'3" tall. Used the aft cabin the first year but stopped due to poor access and very poor ventilation. I removed the top cabinet on the starboard side of the vee berth and made a cushing for there. Now the vee handles me and by mate just fine. Barry
I have an h34 and am also 6'3" tall. Used the aft cabin the first year but stopped due to poor access and very poor ventilation. I removed the top cabinet on the starboard side of the vee berth and made a cushing for there. Now the vee handles me and by mate just fine. Barry
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Neil
dinette is great
We've been using the dinette for 10 years and love it. We usully go alone, except for parrot, so don't need too much privacy. Cannot beat the room, and no sense of claustrophobia. It takes about 2 -3 minutes to take down or set up, including rolling up sleeping bag, pillows, etc.. By the way, it kinda forces us to keep things neat.
We've been using the dinette for 10 years and love it. We usully go alone, except for parrot, so don't need too much privacy. Cannot beat the room, and no sense of claustrophobia. It takes about 2 -3 minutes to take down or set up, including rolling up sleeping bag, pillows, etc.. By the way, it kinda forces us to keep things neat.
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Bill O'Donovan
Under the stars
I pull out a couple of cabin cushions and sleep on the seats in the well. Very comfortable, and just like camping out. I also use an inflatable mattress recommended for campers. No back pain.
I pull out a couple of cabin cushions and sleep on the seats in the well. Very comfortable, and just like camping out. I also use an inflatable mattress recommended for campers. No back pain.
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Gary A.
V-Berth Cabinet Modification
We always sleep in the aft cabin on our Hunter 34, but I have noticed a few other H34 owners who also removed the starboard cabinet in the v-berth and extended the starboard cushion to make a much longer spot along that side of the hull. This cabinet sits on the same surface as the cushions, and unscrews easily from the head bulkhead, so this should be an easy modification. If you do this, you might want to hang on to the cabinet so you can replace it or at least include it should you someday sell the boat. The next owners might prefer the additional storage space over the longer bed. Gary
We always sleep in the aft cabin on our Hunter 34, but I have noticed a few other H34 owners who also removed the starboard cabinet in the v-berth and extended the starboard cushion to make a much longer spot along that side of the hull. This cabinet sits on the same surface as the cushions, and unscrews easily from the head bulkhead, so this should be an easy modification. If you do this, you might want to hang on to the cabinet so you can replace it or at least include it should you someday sell the boat. The next owners might prefer the additional storage space over the longer bed. Gary
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Kelly Burgess
Port & Stbd Settees
On our 310 (probably about the same amount of space), I take the port Settee and she takes the starboard. We unsnap and remove the center back cushions to give a little more width for sleeping. We found the aft stateroom makes a great storage area or berth for one but too claustrophobic for 2. We tried the v berth once but finally settled on the settees as giving the best night's rest. Another benefit is that it's easy to get up and take a look around without waking the other person. The disadvantage to this arrangement should be obvious :-(
On our 310 (probably about the same amount of space), I take the port Settee and she takes the starboard. We unsnap and remove the center back cushions to give a little more width for sleeping. We found the aft stateroom makes a great storage area or berth for one but too claustrophobic for 2. We tried the v berth once but finally settled on the settees as giving the best night's rest. Another benefit is that it's easy to get up and take a look around without waking the other person. The disadvantage to this arrangement should be obvious :-(
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Bobby
Aft cabin with mattress
We liveaboard a 1985 H34. Had a custom mattress made (2 sections for access to stuffing box, etc.) Put in a fan for ventilation (I like red beans and rice...)and got used to the lack of headroom. I sleep in the "coffin" area behind the engine box. After 20 years Navy, that doesn't bother me. We tried the v-berth area but the lack of "footroom" bothered us.We also have a babystay and the support beam cuts down on overhead space in the foot area. We have also learned that you don't just roll over, you kind of rotate around a head-to-toe axis. We use the v-berth for storage and guests.
We liveaboard a 1985 H34. Had a custom mattress made (2 sections for access to stuffing box, etc.) Put in a fan for ventilation (I like red beans and rice...)and got used to the lack of headroom. I sleep in the "coffin" area behind the engine box. After 20 years Navy, that doesn't bother me. We tried the v-berth area but the lack of "footroom" bothered us.We also have a babystay and the support beam cuts down on overhead space in the foot area. We have also learned that you don't just roll over, you kind of rotate around a head-to-toe axis. We use the v-berth for storage and guests.
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Eric Swift
Geoff -
I have an H34 and have struggled with sleeping arangements also. I dislike the starboard locker and am currently planning to take out the bulkhead in the aft cabin (and put in beam)and plan on moving the batteries and looking at options for changing that area for sail storage and sleeping. To date I have found the port settee to be best for sleeping when single handing and dropping the table for true comfort otherwise. I have put in a fan and do sleep in the aft cabin/quarter berth but with two it would be tough (have not tried that).
I have an H34 and have struggled with sleeping arangements also. I dislike the starboard locker and am currently planning to take out the bulkhead in the aft cabin (and put in beam)and plan on moving the batteries and looking at options for changing that area for sail storage and sleeping. To date I have found the port settee to be best for sleeping when single handing and dropping the table for true comfort otherwise. I have put in a fan and do sleep in the aft cabin/quarter berth but with two it would be tough (have not tried that).
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Eric Swift
Bobby of East Coast
If you read this would you please contact me at KESwift2@aol.com and let me know how that "baby stay" is set up on an H34. I have been trying hard for some time to find someone who can help me do the same. Thanks.
If you read this would you please contact me at KESwift2@aol.com and let me know how that "baby stay" is set up on an H34. I have been trying hard for some time to find someone who can help me do the same. Thanks.
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