Lounging aboard an R21 EC

[Texas_Steve]

We have adapted our wants and needs to fit our boat with great success and we really enjoy our time aboard. With the really hot weather here in Texas, it would be great to be able to take a siesta in the cockpit area where air movement is better. We have a nifty bimini top and I have been working on a design that would allow me to support two oversize floats to create a shaded nap area (I turned 60 last month and a nap is fast becoming a real pleasure!)

As I've thought about it, I could manufacture a few crossbeams that would resemble slats under a mattress on a conventional bed. Cut two pieces of masonite to lay over the slats, then put the floats on top of the masonite. One end of the slats would have to be boxed up to account for the difference in height between the engine cover and the gunwhale top. My thought was to have it extend from the edge of the engine cover to one side only, leaving the other sice for passage to the rear seating area. We could also store items under the slats when the bed is in place. By splitting the masonite into two sections, it would be easier to store when not in use.

Knowing the clever engineering types that contribute to this forum, I thought I would throw this out and see if someone had a better solution than mine. Kind of crazy, but something I'm thinking about.

Texas Steve

 

[SlackwaterJack]

I have an R-21 (non EC) but have also given some thought to non V-berth accomodation. I was thinking along the lines of a base for a pup-tent (top supported by the boom, so no poles needed). I was thinking along the lines of a roll-up platform of slats in pockets

 

[Texas_Steve]

See! I knew there were smarter folks out there that had thought about this! Thanks!

 

[tlkenyon]

I also have a classic R21 and have considered sleeping beneath a mosquito net hanging from the boom (and beneath the canopy) over the engine box. I figured the engine box could be extended with an adjustable height table on the aft end.

 

[SlackwaterJack]

I also thought of using a table to extend the engine box...but due to my "wide body" comfiguration I decided against it 🙂

 

[tlkenyon]

Roger on the wide-body...me, too. The engine box is about as wide as my camping cot, and I hope it is OK. As a Scoutmaster, I have spent hundreds of nights on my cot out camping, so I hope it will be somewhat the same. Any recommendations on the type of table to get that is easily adjustable thru a wide range of elevations?

 

[JamesTXSD]

Something like this should give you a wide range of adjustability...

http://www.tablelegworld.com/Table-Base ... -31-height

http://www.crownltd.com/crownltd/yacht-table-pedestals

http://www.forespar.com/products/boat-t ... stal.shtml

 

[SlackwaterJack]

If you go the Table route; Make sure the base you choose won't interfere with the engine cover stability when it is tilted back, you'll probably need a flush base. Also, a good quality,adjustable base can be very pricey. My tightwad roots would have me select a non-adjustable base and size the table as "width of engine cover X length from front of bench to rear of eng. cover". The table leg can be removed to make the lounge by resting the table on supports on the cover and the bench.