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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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V-berth Extension

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/10/2007 : 18:02:46

Just finished my latest project, extended the v-berth by 2 feet.

To make it all work I added some teak strips on the sides of the settee's and cut a teak ring to fit over the table post to support the 3/4 inch plywood.

The wife built the cushion. We looked for material to match the but couldn't find the exact match so instead of it being different shades of blue we decided to go a completely different color.

The beige material has a small amount of blue but it also matches our throw rug and pillows so its not all that bad. Besides once the sheets are over it who can tell.

Here are a few pictures of the project, I have already lifted and stowed the table. The table post is part of the v-berth extention support.

Here's the teak strips and ring around the table post. I bolted the strips through the settees using SS bolts and nuts. I used screws to fasten the ring to the table post.

Plywood on the supports.

Cushions overlaps the joints on the plywood.

cushion in place.

The plywood will slide under the v-berth cushions for storage and the cushion can just be tossed forward too. Then just slide the table back on the post and thats it.

1997 250 TR WK (sold)
1984 O'Day 28 (sold)
1979 SISU 22
Bath, NC.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 08/10/2007 20:11:48

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2007 : 19:46:43

Comon Tom, fix the pics

1st, ok
2nd, no
3rd, no
4th. ok

Now, all ok.

Paul
Paul

Edited by - britinusa on 08/10/2007 20:09:20

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2007 : 20:05:52

Are they not coming up?

Something going on with bellsouth. I moved them over to shutterfly. They should be working now.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 08/10/2007 20:13:13

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2007 : 22:03:16

Loud and clear now tom.

So, what you gonna use the table support for, none of you smoke!

Paul

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2007 : 08:30:34

cup holder

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2007 : 10:51:27

Very nice Tom... The V-berth in my opinion is the better berth because of ventilation but didn't have quite as good sleeping space as aft. Your mod solves that.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2007 : 12:11:56

Nicely done. We slept out the other night on the boat and slept in the back berth. I found it a bit stuffy back there and agree that the V-berth is the place to sleep. Your mod makes it much more roomy up there. I think I'd want some sort of soft cover over that table support. I would manage to wack my head on it otherwise.

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2007 : 15:03:03

Excellent Tom, I still have a lot of cruising mods to accomplish, but with General getting Her 2nd knee replacement this Feb. I still have some time. You can be assured that this will be one of them. Again great work.

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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
842 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2007 : 11:16:14

Tom,
Nice project.
Did you use backing plates on the inside of the setee?
Russ #793

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2007 : 16:11:15

Russ,
Just just some large washers, I guess you could say the washers act as a semi backing plate. The side supports have four bolts/washers each and the front 2 supports have three bolts/washers each. Also with the table post used as a support, I believe the weight will be spread around pretty well.

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SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2007 : 08:42:07

Tom very nice ,

I was thinking the same thing for this winters project .

Do you find it long enough ? I was thinking a little longer to the stern . maybe another 6" to 10 " .

Did you make the cushion too ?

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2007 : 11:50:39

Sean,
Have not slept on it yet, however I've stretched out there as few times now and I'm happy with the length(I'm 5' 10"). My thinking when building it was to make it just long enough to extend a little past the table pedestal so it would be supported in the middle by the teak ring I put on the pedestal. My concern was that if I went back any further the plywood might bend in the middle when sitting on the end and slip off the support rails on the settees. The way I have it now is very sturdy.

I'm still thinking of something to cover the top of the table pedestal with. Maybe a very small table to hold my glasses or a fan. (the old rusty gears in my head are turning once again)

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2007 : 14:05:04

Considering past creativity... them wheels are ah churnin and will produce a solution. I agree with the goal of having an easy to access catch tray or box someplace. On the C22 it was the ledge behind the seat back. The stock 250 just doesn't have such a place and cries out for it.

I once wondered about a small Lazy Susan with generous fiddles perhaps twelve inches in diameter around the pole and down from the ceiling perhaps eight inches, but my diddy needs finally were resolved otherwise.

I am wondering a little about storing the table in the V berth every night and am thinking maybe there is some possibility of combining the berth expansion platform and a new table. I do confess not knowing the size of the wing keel table and how easy/hard it is to store. The wb table was a killer.

Did you study on the possibility of ditching the stock table and making your sleeping platform a transforming platform/table?

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2007 : 19:29:21

Arlyn
The very first time I looked in a 250 and saw that big table my first thought was that it must drop down and extend the v-berth.

I since removed the large table and built a smaller one. That was one of the very first things I did when I got the boat. I did keep the large table, its stowed in my basement.

I never did measure the big stock table to see if it would fit between the settees, I bet its very close. But even if it did fit I would not want to use it, the dang thing is too big. I'm sure its the same size as the one in the WB, and you know its draw backs as well.

If the stock table did not fit you could make one that did and make it a drop leaf table with piano hinges so that its easy to get around... (

this is one of those light bulb coming on moments!) I bet this is exactly what you were thinking of, not a bad idea!

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2007 : 06:54:20

lol... the world of design is an interesting one. There are many fantastic forms out there but the best of them are combined with function. To get there... the first task is to list the function requirements in order of priority, drawing a line under the last function seen as a necessity. Then it is a fight to create a form that serves all above the line functions and as many as below the line as possible.

When designing the open wire steering conversion... that process drove me nuts. Sketches approached triple digits over two months before one fit all of the above the line requirements.

The process can be a fun mental challenge, with a feeling of accomplishment when successful.

Regarding your table, somehow I'd missed that an alternative table was in use.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2007 : 18:53:43

Arlyn,
Here's a shot with my little table in place.

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2007 : 18:52:21

Parden the mess but this is our happy home , I made the drop leaf table .
the table is great but I would rather have more sleeping room .
I was thinking of a drop leaf bed with a removeable smaller table like toms size on top .
and haveing it come out about the same as the old table .

thats my honey on the right shes about 5` Im 5`7"
It seems the more you go forward the more you fight over the pillow

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Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2007 : 20:29:19

Wow Sean! How big is that plasma TV?

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SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2007 : 22:18:29

Its a 15 " with a built in dvd . I got it at walmart online .
it uses 3.5 amps

that project was like a ice burg , the tv is the least of the money spent !

Edited by - SEAN on 08/20/2007 22:30:51

Second Wind53
1st Mate

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Canada
45 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2007 : 10:24:57

Just put in the V-berth extention on our 95 model WB and it was easy as there is the small table on top of the Centerboard box. Put in a couple strips at the side and it sits on the existing table.

Slept on it last night and it is excellent. Thanks Tom for the great idea.

Peter

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