RANGER 25 SC BEDDING OPTIONS

[Steadfast]

HI

Red'd some info from yacht bedding for mattress cover, sheets, etc. They actually had two suggested options for the ranger 25:

1. Stow and Go Sleep System for $695.00. This system with a bag to store everything. I think it is based on sleeping bag with a choice of a light or a heavy cover depending on how one positions the bag.


2. Topper Sleep System for $ 1400.00. This system seems more complex with mattress pad, etc. I think you leave this on the bed most of the time.



Anyway-----anyone familiar?? The second system is twice as expensive. Is it worth it? I don't mind the cost if it really makes a difference.

Any other bedding ideas?

Thank you all.......

 

[guidothesquid]

I was looking for the same thing. I thought, wow! $700 for BEDDING? Seems awfully high. Curious to know what others have done.

 

[Spinner]

I have used Yacht Bedding topper systems on my R 29 and R31. The topper is extremely comfortable, and I like having bedding that fits well. The sleeping bag type option solves the problem of bedding for odd-shaped mattresses but doesn't add the extra layer of "cush."

 

[wincrasher]

Travasak. Works great and much cheaper.

 

[Red Raven]

We have the stow and go system in our R27. Interestingly, ours never came with the storage bag. We didn't bother to complain because we keep it laid out as the first mate likes the look with the pattern laid out (plus we didn't realize till much later that it was supposed to come with the storage bag). The primary benefit (and what you are paying the high price for) is the custom fit to the R27 Vberth and the removable sheets that attach to the sleeping bag with Velcro.

We did not go with the topper system because we were were concerned with access to the storage under the Vberth with that system and the added cost. Since we did not chose the topper system I cannot comment on it but would. Be interested in others opinion of the storage access issue.

After using ours for a season, we are considering adding a latex topper to increase comfort. In retrospect, the topper system or self made system with off-the-shelf foam/sleeping bags may have been the better choice. Personally I like The remove able sheets though.

 

[rick&sue]

Our boat came with a foam mattress pad that had the separate insert, which is nice to remove during the day - makes access to v-berth and storage under it much easier. Sue dragged out the old sewing machine, cut up king size sheets and bedding and sewed a custom set keeping the insert removable. Works great.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Last I heard, Travasak is no longer in business. There are some companies who still sell replacement sheets for the Travasak. We have a Travasak that we used in a Class B campervan - it was a good solution for that situation.

For a while, Travasak did offer v-berth shaped bedding. Travasak is essentially a queen-size sleeping bag with a thicker weight on one side (winter) and a thinner weight on the other side (summer). You just turn it over to get the thickness you want on top. Inside is a full-length top/bottom sheet that Velcros in place. Think: one REALLY LONG sheet. When you need to launder the sheet, you peel the Velcro apart and toss the sheet in the washing machine... then, Velcro it all back in place when done.

I like the premise. My wife didn't. She basically didn't like the idea of sleeping in a sleeping bag, no matter what you call it.

If you are a bit handy, you can make bedding for the V-berth. Since I am not the handy one, my wife made ours by starting with a king size sheet and shaping it to fit our V-berth, with elastic to keep the bottom sheet in place. Maybe I am over-sharing here, but I like to kick a leg out of the covers on occasion, and it is easier with separate sheets than with a Travasak-type system. She left the top sheet over-sized. Then, just a normal blanket/quilt on top of that.

What the Travasak (or other similar "system") has going for it is: it is simple to make up the bed each morning. Helpful if you don't have "walk around" space around the bed.

From my perspective, bedding on a boat is... bedding. You can make regular bedding fit/work. You don't have to spend $700 or $1400, if you wouldn't spend that much for your home bed. We added a king size memory foam topper, trimmed to fit the v-berth shape. Your bed size may vary. Then, regular bedding shaped to fit on top of that. We always slept great in the boat.

 

[Captain Steve]

We use a Travasak in our R25. I still see them on Ebay.

 

[Sweet_Pea]

We went with Yacht Bedding's topper system and love it for the additional comfort/cushion the upholstered mattress adds and ease of making up the v-berth.

We liken it to a marriage saver...ever try making up the factory mattress on a 90-degree day? Fastest way to put your First Mate in a foul mood. The corners of the topper mattress lift much more readily when you're kneeling on it so you can slip the sheets underneath. We upgraded the factory mattress, but found it was still too firm. The topper makes it feel just right.

I could have cut a template out of a foam mattress and upholstered it. But, when I factored in the cost of materials and my time (not retired yet, so I jealously guard my cruising time!), I just decided to have Shannon do it. I did buy king sheets and cut them to fit, as I wanted a color that YB didn't offer.

One custom piece we asked Shannon to create was a duvet cover with an upholstery fabric on the top and a warm fleece on the bottom. It looks nice when the berth is made up and the additional weight and warmth of the fleece is great, even in the summer.

Amy

 

[wincrasher]

I got two Travasaks for my RV last fall from Camping World. I just decided to use one of them on my 27.

But there are many versions of the same idea out there. Superbags is another. All are much less costly than anything made specifically for boats. Generally around $200, which I thought was alot when I was looking for the RV.

 

[Scuffy]

We pulled the factory cushions and laid them out on a piece of 4" memory foam. Using an electric knife we cut out the memory foam. Then we added the cushions back in the boat placed the memory foam on top. Bought a statin queen sized comforter as we have a R27. Placed the comforter on top of the memory foam and use a lighter queen sized comforter to pull on top of us. It works for us. We don't really feel the need for sheets. Comforters go in the washing machine. We had a travel sack on our previous boat. The sheets on the Travelsak (sic?) Velcro in and I didn't care for the feel of the Velcro on my back when moving around. Just winding down our trip to the Florida Keys going back home to Pa in a few days. Been on the boat since early February sleeping has not been a problem.

 

[Steadfast]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply.