How to get a softer berth?

L

Les Blackwell

Active member
Joined
Sep 26, 2016
Messages
36
Fluid Motion Model
C-26
Hull Identification Number
FNLR25121617
Vessel Name
adagio
Actually, this is an old topic but my search didn't reveal any answers for me. What have people used (particularly on a Ranger Tug 25SC, although all answers would help) for a pad for the forward berths. I just finish sleeping for a week in the forward compartment and my back really aches. My wife did fine but she likes hard beds. My back is not happy .

I've checked out REI and they have a number of air pads for mountain climbers. Has anyone tried those? However, when I search the web and Amazon I get large sizes of 3 inch form. Cuttable? Has anyone tried this?

Any answers would be helpful at this point. First day home and my back still feels the effect.

Les
 
Many people have used a memory foam pad cut to shape of V-berth cushion with great success. The simplest means for cutting the memory form is to use an electric carving knife.
 
Ditto on the memory foam, a King size pad will just about cover the width of the berth. We have a 3" and are happy with it.
 
I had a complete set of custom cushions made for my EC-21. You can see pics in the Ranger Tugs for Sale section under Red Owl for sale. The cushions also allow for easier access to the storage area underneath. I made simple hatches to cover the access ports. It you have custom cushions made you can select the firmness and the cushions are much lighter than the standard cushions mounted on boards.
 
Les,
Here's what we did. I have no regrets and we sleep great. We bought the 3 inch memory foam mattress and I cut it to the shape of our berth. The first time we stayed out I placed the memory foam over the V-berth and covered it with a sheet just to see how it felt. Amazing! Slept better than I do at home with our select comfort adjustable, keeps track of your sleep pattern, costs more than you think mattress. So, we took the memory foam and our V-berth mattress to our local upholstery man and he removed the berth cover cloth, put the memory foam over the factory foam and then recovered the whole thing. There was enough material on the original berth to accommodate the extra memory foam addition. It looks great and it is sooooo comfortable.

Sweet dreams!

Karl and Sara
 
We are not fans of foam so purchased the "Topper" mattress from YachtBedding.com for our 25. Expensive ($850) but a real mattress and extremely comfy. We are happy we made the decision to purchase the product. I customized sheets and a comforter, which wasn't that difficult, so we saved a little there. The mattress bends easily so we can get to the V-berth storage without too much trouble.

Pictures in our album "Mott Pelican."
 
How about employing/using memory foam PJs..... :lol:
 
Hello all, what a great response to my question and need. I like the idea of a whole new mattress but think that is not in our future. But the ideas that several of you suggested in using memory foam are formulating in my brain. I'll start locating memory form sources in the morning. I wonder if there are companies that will cut it to size for me?

But still, thank you all. I'll keep you informed if success is in the picture.

Les
 
Memory foam. Since discovering it a few years ago I never boat without it. The down side is that now I'm a terrible anchor watch. Waking up every hour or so through the night may be hard on the body but it's great for security.
 
My wife is still not enchanted with spending nights on the boat. I love it, but I realize that the stock foam beds are not my cup of tea, or hers. I've been considering upgrades to the bed. A few commenters have touched on my idea. That is, this fall, I'm thinking of getting a slab of memory foam (3"). Bringing home the 5 bed cushions and stripping them down to the boards. Removing the stock foam, duplicating their shapes with the memory foam and stapling the covers back onto the boards.

I have done some upholstery work in the past and this really isn't a tough job. If you have a staple gun and are a reasonably careful craftsman (woman) you'll do a good job. The electric carving knife is perfect for cutting foam, not just turkey. These are not complex parts and all the tailoring of the covers has been done. This has to be the ultimate solution.

The more I type, the more I think I should do it the next rainy weekend.

"If you like your memory foam, you can keep your memory foam."
Or should I say... "Making the v-berth great again!"
 
Just came back from a quick trip to the boat today. I measured all 5 mattress cushions on my 2012 R-27.
Came back and drew them up to scale and made paper dolls. All five pieces can be cut out of a queen size piece of foam with 80% efficiency.

I can get a queen size piece of 3 inch foam from WalMart for $82. The foam has excellent reviews. Cool thing is that it is vacuum packed and sealed in plastic to come in a box that is about bread-box size. Cool idea.

Wished I'd thought about this last winter. The existing foam is 3-1/2 inches thick. I could just go with three inches or I could add an extra bottom layer of ~1/2 inch. Gotta think about this. I think I could do this on a two day rainy Noreaster.

I'll probably be up all night thinking about it. Never slept on memory foam but I've never heard a negative story.
All comments welcome!
 
First, thank you to all who gave me advice--it was valuable. I do appreciate it. During the last week or so I ask a number of local people what they would do and one suggested that the Squalicum Marine Upholstery could probably help. I didn't even know they existed and yes, they could help. I would have to get the 3 inch memory foam--not a problem from Amazon and only slightly more expensive then Costco or Walmart. And they delivered. So now SMU has measure my forepeak bunks, order some cloth mentioned by one of you. The future is looking up. I can't wait to take a nap. With my cat.

I'm getting there with my new tug. Thanks all.

Les
R-25SC adagio
 
My 3" queen sized memory foam arrives tomorrow and then the piece-by-piece reupholstery begins.
Stay tuned.
 
I put 3" memory foam topper on my R27 that claims to absorb some of your body heat. Normal memory foam may not draw away the heat from your body so it may be hot for sleeping in the tropics. Interesting observation when I was in Alaska, that in the morning the foam outside of my body print was very firm from the cold, 50 degrees, but where I was was, still soft. I would use the memory foam as a topper and not a stand alone foam, because memory foam does not have enough substance to support your hips or shoulders, the memory foam bottoms out. If you kneel on it your knee, it will hit the hard bottom of the berth. If you take apart a memory foam mattress you will find it is a composite of different foam densities the most dense being at the edges of the mattress so you don't fall out of you bed at home, but not an issue in the V berth 😱 . If you choose all memory foam, think about getting a 6" thick piece, it will be heavy, but you will definitely sleep "IN" the mattress. (think of the glass of water ad). but by all means make a slip cover for it. I cut down a waterproof mattress pad and made a slip cover for the foam so if the hatch is left open only the sheets get went, not the foam. Sleeping is personal, no one answer fits all.
 
Mattress Update: Well, I got my 3 inch (brand name - Lucid) memory foam. ALICE J is correct. It is not dense enough to go it alone as the mattress. It is very nice and soft, but I'll have to think of a composite approach with dense foam on the bottom and memory foam on top. I guess that is why they call it a "topper". Duh. The existing fabric covers would probably help spread the load but I think the memory foam is still too soft.

I think a one inch dense base might be easily combined with a 3 inch topper. (Or 2" + 2" ?) With the existing fabric covers made for 3 inch foam, I think overstuffing the mattress would be possible? It may even be possible to use the existing foam cushion just cut down to 1" (or 2") .

Stay tuned, the project continues.

As a side note, my memory foam is "lavender infused". The first mate likes that idea, as opposed to some of the other "traditional" boat smells.
 
RPM, I will be expensive to slice the RT foam to reduce its size. I would use the RT foam as is, maybe take the cover off and staple furniture Sunbrella over the memory foam and RT foam, maybe a scooch larger, get some foam spray glue and adhere both foams together,cut foams, then staple. The outside edge maybe have a few small wrinkles since it's a curve, but you can space the wrinkles out starting the middle and working out to each end with even gussets. All the rest of the edges are square, so folding corners is a no biggie.
 
All good ideas.
I enjoy upholstery. Got a Binford 2000 staple gun!
 
Note to first mate, the lavender scent is temporary, to cover up the real foam odor, but this soon disappears (both scents), but if you go to Bed Bath and Beyond, they have a wide array of scents and placed properly will provide appealing ambiance. 😀
 
Certainly, a replacement fabric cover could be arranged. For me, at material cost only. Cutting and sewing isn't really difficult but the time for me to fabricate would be the big cost.... that is, time away from the helm on the boat.

The more I try out the memory foam, I love the softness, but I really sink in. It is almost claustrophobic. (I tried it folded up double and you REALLY sink in.) I think the cover material helps spread the load out to alleviate the claustrophobia. The research and thought process continues.

Thanks all, keep your ideas coming.
 
rpmerrill":q7lv41iv said:
The more I try out the memory foam, I love the softness, but I really sink in. It is almost claustrophobic. (I tried it folded up double and you REALLY sink in.) I think the cover material helps spread the load out to alleviate the claustrophobia. The research and thought process continues.

Thanks all, keep your ideas coming.
Click to expand...
Memory foams, like all foams, comes in different densities. What density foams are people buying?? Higher density foams, 4 or 5 lbs/in density, tend to be more expensive, and I think would be more appropriate for a mattress. Rather than just a 'topper', which I believe tend to be only 1 or 2 lb/in density. The best would be a multi density Tempur foam, but I suspect it would cost over $1000 to do a Ranger berth.
 
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