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Dragon Tail - Main Cabin Bed This tip submitted by Ken Cave
I picked up a couple of pieces of one half-inch indoor plywood for the job as well as three legs and brackets. I also picked up a piece of L beam made of aluminum to hold the plywood in place against the seat. I also purchased a "single" bed of foam from Eagle Hardware to cut out the pieces necessary to make a bed. The covers are simply plastic garbage bags-and they work out great!
Although I purchased most of my materials from Eagle Hardware, most good hardware stores carry the same items. The varnish I used is from SavCote as it is a plastic varnish and lasts a lifetime!
If you notice, I simply took off the wood holding the seat cushion, used screw holes in the wood for a pattern for the L beam, and drilled holes to accommodate the original screws that held die wood in place. I then put the beam under the wood, and used the original screws to screw the wood and beam into place, using the same holes as before.
Be sure to round off the edges of the L beam and smooth any cuts.
The short piece of plywood goes between the seat and trunk. This piece needs two legs and brackets (about two bucks apiece) which have to be cut exactly to fit.
The long piece of plywood fits over the table which came equipped with one lee. The third leg I installed next to the keel trunk to give the table extra strength. (You may not need it. but it will sure creak under weight without it!)
As you note in the pictures, I made a strip of half inch plywood and glued it onto the edge of the plywood sheet. This gives it the height needed to keep the four-inch foam inserts even with the existing cushions.
Do paint or varnish the unit, as you will find lots of moisture on the boards in the morning. morning.
The only addition to the unit that I made was a foam pad (see picture) It helps protect the fabric as well as gives that extra inch of comfort,
The whole unit is strapped onto the starboard side of the V Berth as you can see in the picture where I leave it just in case my wife kicks me out the house (kidding of course!)
Makes a GREAT bed! No more trying to play monkey in the V Berth. And, there is also much room in it that we even have a 5 inch TV (Black and White) that fits beautifully between us!
