The persistent V-berth bedding choices - once again ?

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Subject: The persistent V-berth bedding choices - once again ?

I know, I know.... the V-berth bedding comfort issue has been discussed ad nauseam.....

In my case I thought I had solved this to a large degree when owning our R-25 (Classic) by shaping a 3" memory form mattress to the contours of the V-berth. I did this and shaped the foam to be triangular such that it filled the entire V-berth area. This aspect meant having to crawl head first into the V-berth and then repositioning to get tucked up into bed. I managed this without too much hassle. However, my 1st mate had a real challenge doing this and it eventually lead to having to find land based accommodations at places we cruised to. This was inconvenient and costly at times. It eventually lead to us using the boat less and less for extended cruises.... and eventually reached the point where we sold the R-25. In retrospect, I guess I could have shaped the memory foam differently by notching out a rectangle at the V-berth entrance that was equal to the aft central V-berth's rectangular stock cushion. This would have made things easier to get into the bedding. For long enough I simply would roll the foam mattress up into the V-berth's bow area when underway and removed the entrance cushion for making it easy for 1st mate to sit sideway in the V-berth.

We had the R-21EC for a period of time and we had no intent on sleeping in its V-berth and use land based accommodations when overnighting at marinas.

We are now entering a 3rd phase with having to deal with sleeping on the boat as we will have a new 2018 R-27 by mid Aug 2017. This RT model has a much improved V-berth arrangement and can be used as an easy to enter forward saloon during cruising. With its convenient raised center table it has seating for 4 comfortably.

I'm now trying to figure out the best approach for V-berth sleeping arrangements and I'm convinced I can make it work far better than in our previous R-25.

First, I'm abandoning the use of memory foam as it's just to cumbersome, is heavy, is bulky when rolled up and would simply give me the same result as we had for the R-25.

Instead, I'm thinking of having sleeping bags for 1st mate and me with full zipper sides making it easy to slip into for nighttime. The stock mattress shape at the V-berth entrance is conducive for allowing this so no changes need to be made. For each sleeping bag I intend to use an REI Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap Mattress measuring 20" x 72". These mattresses are 3" thick with "bump-swallowing loft" (using the sales jargon here 😉 ). They are "self-inflating -- that is, compressible foam core that expands to inflate with maybe a few breaths for desired firmness". The reviews I've read so far give me positive thoughts that this type mattress will work for us. The important aspects for me using this approach is that it has a high degree of being successful, the sleeping bags and the mattresses can be rolled to very small sizes using compression straps and weight is next to nothing when compared to a queen size 3" memory foam mattress that simply isn't practical for being rolled up to a small size.

I had been in contact with http://yachtbedding.com who have yet to make the proper patterns for the new 2018 R-27. They make a good product but could not say when they would have something for the new R-27, plus they were unsure how they would shape and construct the toppers etc. They are also quite expensive and the toppers would mean I would be faced with the same challenge as I had on our previous R-25. Thus, I've abandoned the Yachtbedding.com approach.

I've run dollar numbers for my sleeping bags and Therm-a-Rest mattresses and have reached a figure of around $410 total.

If anyone sees any flaws with my new approach for V-berth bedding comfort please let me know.

Thanks for once again having the patience for dealing with this bedding issue. 🙂 🙂
 
Well, on our 27 I cut the foam to match each cushion and then made fitted sheets for each one. We leave the front center cushion out for access to step into the v-berth. We will even sleep leaving the aft center cushion out with our heads facing aft. We have twin fleece blankets. It has always worked fine for us. And it is easy to access the storage and easy to remove the sheets for washing.
 
Mike: When you write "foam" are you referring to memory foam that's very dense and heavy and when rolled up consumes a fair amount of volume ?

One of the issues with memory foam is the amount of storage space required to store it. I don't want to have large pieces of memory foam to deal with in morning time rolling them up and stowed so that the R-27's forward saloon can be used as it is designed for.

I guess these individual sections of memory foam could be pushed into the storage area under each port and starboard bunks.... but that means using up valuable storage space compared to very compact/compressed sleeping bags & the self inflatable mattress I'm considering.

You have given me motivation to re-think my V-berth bedding arrangement along with your method of making separate memory foam sections for the bunks only. The new R-27 has individual port/starboard bunk cushions, one very large bow section and a center section that rests on the lowered table. Thus there are 4 cushion sections with the bunk sections being the smallest and very easily lifted to expose the storage beneath them. I could then simply make sheets to cover the simple shaped memory foam (they would be close to being rectangular) for the two bunks and use a nice colorful blanket or small comforter for each bunk to easily throw back and slip under. If this will work it should be less cost than my sleeping bag + mattress solution. 🙂 Plus 3" memory foam is actually more comforting than the self inflatable mattress I was contemplating to use. Reviews say these type mattresses will not inflate quickly and properly from a rolled up state unless they are left and stored flat.

Thanks Mike.... You've certainly given me food for thought. 😀

This is the current V-berth cushion arrangement. However, Ranger Tugs has had difficulty figuring out the best arrangement so this may not be the final design.

Note that there's a slight gap between the lower edge of the surrounding bolsters and the cushions. This facilitates easy removal of the cushions and especially for the bunk cushions removal to expose the storage space underneath them. There's also storage space underneath the bow section cushion and easy access to the bow thruster gear.

http://www.tugnuts.com/gallery2.php?g2_itemId=48973&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

main.php
 
Mike:

Upon reflection while considering your solution/suggestions to V-berth bedding arrangements I'm apt to think the dense memory foam when stored below the side bunk and bow storage areas will have the affect of deadening hull sound from water splashing/hitting the forward sections of the hull when underway. This will be beneficial. 🙂

It sure helps chatting about these issues and alternatives ahead of time... 😎
 
We never have to remove our cushions so storing them is not an issue. The convenience of the separate cushions is when we need access under the cushion. I can just lift up the entire cushion without manhandling and entire v-berth of memory foam. The table in the V-berth area is a nice idea, but I think setting it up and breaking it down everyday while cruising will get old quickly. Kind of like the "folding office chair" in the cave. Many an owner has removed them, me included.
 
1) I need to remove the memory foam mattresses and store them in order to setup the V-berth forward saloon with table raised as that is how 1st Mate will want it while we're underway. 1st Mate always lays or sits in the V-berth when we're underway. It's the safest place for 1st Mate due to her Parkinson's and terrible balance. The V-berth's central table raises easily on a pump pedestal after a clip or two is released so that's not a problem -- easy peaseee. Leaving the memory foam mattresses on top of the stock cushions will make the seating level too high so they have to be stowed. I suspect I will practice this setup several times to convince myself it's as easy as I've mentioned here. The V-berth arrangement in the new 2018 R-27 is very different from what was done for the R-25 and R-27 Classic models. Along with this is the fact that the head/toilet is immediately adjacent to the V-berth's forward saloon area and this is a huge benefit for 1st Mate.

2) Access to the bunks storage areas is made much easier on the new 2018 R-27 compared to previous R-25 and R-21EC because they're smaller, lighter and there's a gap between the bolster's lower edge and the bunk cushions making it so much easier to slid them out and lift up to gain access to the below storage area.

3) Setting up the V-berth's forward saloon will not be an issue IMO as I mentioned above.

I like the idea of fleece blankets as they should fold up to a small size and stow easily.

Thanks for you help in suggesting the memory foam as best option. 🙂 I think a Queen size (80"x60") should be enough material for my needs.
 
I was so glad to see this post on what to do for bedding for the new R-27. My husband & I are getting our new R-27 this Friday & somehow I didn't think to get the measurements of V-berth until now. It never occurred to me to have individual toppers & sheets for each section, but of course that makes perfect sense. By now you've guessed it - we're newbies to Ranger & this type of bed! You've given me lots to consider here, thank you. I sure would love to find out what you all end up doing!
 
Julie: Be aware that the V-berth cushions I've shown above have been re-designed by RT. This caught me by surprise when I visited the boat yard where my new 2018 R-27 is at having its hull bottom painted. RT has greatly improved things and the central cushions are now two pieces making it much easier finding space onboard to stow them when required.

One thing I also noted while at the boat yard was that the table has also been redesigned and when in its lowered position there's no support pole underneath as it's a single pole designed for the table in its raised position, and has to be removed when lowering the table. This really upset me. The previous design employed a piston pedestal that simply lowered easily to allow the center V-berth cushions to fit in. This design made it easy lowering and raising the table. When I placed money on the table that was the design and I've insisted RT return to using the piston pedestal on my boat. RT has agreed to do this. 😀 The trouble at this time with the new 2018 R-27 is that the design engineers and factory assembly workers are still refining things and in my case made unexpected changes from what I thought I was buying into. It pays to visit the factory to keep an eye on its build progress and to note unexpected changes that are not wanted. Of course I'm lucky in this respect as I'm but a 40 minute drive from the R-27 factory. 😉
 
I've seen the different threads here, and spoken with different owners at the different Ranger trips, and maybe it's just me that I'm not seeing the same issue with the V-Berth cushions from Ranger?

I have only had my Ranger since March 2017, but I have had a Bayliner 265 for 8 years prior, and I have had about 3 different travel trailers - all with the stock mattresses - I have never had an issue with the comfort of any of these cushions or mattresses, so I have not had to try any alternatives.

Is that what the issue for most others posting about this topic is? Is the issue you all just find the cushion/foam provided by the factory is simply too rigid or firm for your preference?

I think this option might have been mentioned previously - if the issue is simply the factory provided foam cushions are not matching your desired level of comfort, and you are looking to put more comfortable foam on top on the existing seat cushions - why not take the alternative route - replace the factory provided foam cushions themselves with a foam cushion material that is more to your liking?

Remove the covers from the existing cushions, use them as templates to cut out your new foam cushions to match the slip covers, and then insert your preferred foam cushions into the factory cushion covers? Now you don't have extra foam pads to worry about storing somewhere so you can still use the V-Berth seating?

Maybe I'm missing something here? Maybe it's just me and I don't yet seem to have an issue with the firmness or comfort level of the factory provided cushions to weigh in on a proper alternative?
 
Robert: Yes of course you are right about the comfort issue that people have with the stock cushions and that a simple solution it to simply replace the stock bunk cushions with a material that's more comfortable for those needing more sleeping comfort.

I'm AOK with the stock cushions but my 1st mate is not. For her I will do what it takes to make sleeping comfortable for her.

Yesterday I received the REI inflatable mattresses - Exped DownMat XP 9 (Size L) I had ordered. I'm thinking these are not only too expensive but also too large for the R-27's V-berth side bunks. I suspect I'll return them for the Size M which is 5" less in width and some 6" less in length.
 
We installed a custom-fitted mattress pad over the stock pads....the admiral is a seamstress that works wonders with fabric and that kind of stuff. We considered re-doing the stock cushions but thought that an overlay would be easier to remove for the inevitable cleaning more easily than the plywood-backed stock cushions. The custom overlay looks to be pretty effective at protecting the stock cushions.

When we start the Great Loop in 33 days, we are gonna spend a lot of nights in the berth.....

TK
 
Hi there,
Can't comment on foam. We have a cutwater 28. I purchased two 100% cotton, reversible, queen quilt/comforters on overstock.com. You need to think about the pattern of the quilt before you purchase because the corners fit perfectly in the bow end of the berth... so you are looking at the quilts on the bias. Also, want two that work together and reversible patterns work. I purchased a light weight quilt and heavy comforter. If really cool weather, I can swap and put the heavier one on top and the lighter one on bottom. Note: berth is not symmetrical so you just don't flip the "sleeping bag". Quilts need to be smooth because you might have to lay on them...no funky stuff. I altered them by cutting and binding the edges. The bow part has the two attached together by 5 buttons that are about 6 inches apart. I cut the heavy one slightly larger than the berth size and can tuck it in under the seat cushions. Most of the time, the heavy one will be on bottom. I cut the lighter one much larger to allow for people in between. Because they are reversible, when I make the berth, I simply fold back the extra fabric. I also cut both longer, from toe to head, to hang over the edge and it makes nice, finished appearance. I fold back the top quilt. Forget about sheets. We are home today from an 18 day cruise and I pitched them in the washer... They worked great! I think I have about $175 in this. JoAnne Pritchard
 
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