Port setee cushion

[SV Island Jade]

On Island Jade, (p365 ketch) the port settee pulls out to make a wider, if not double, berth.  When pulled out, there is a cavernous void between the back of the cushion and the hull.  I'm guessing that there is supposed to be another cushion to fill up the void.  I have searched the archives and can find no mention of that cushion.  If you have such a cushion, please chime in here and let me know what it consists of and it's dimensions if possible.  I'm 6'2 and will celebrate the 23rd anniversary of my 40Th birthday next summer, so climbing in and out of the V-Berth is more gymnastic than I care for.  I'm usually on board alone, so the port birth is my choice.

[Jim Cozy]

As far as I know, what you have is stock. Talaria is the same. Maybe someone has addressed the issue but we use it as is. Jim

[S/V Laelia]

I just bought Laelia about a month ago. She came with a pair of cushions to fill that void. Each was 1/2 the length needed so they are fairly easy to handle and stow. Normally, they live in the forepeak.

I live aboard and use the forepeak berth so the cushions are a nuisance for me. It isn't as bad as I expected getting in and out even though I am 6'0" and celebrated the 28th anniversary of my 40th birthday last year. My wife and I managed to get in and out without beating each other up too badly. It seems like less trouble than making up the pullout every night.

Given all that, I am probably going to get rid of the cushions for the pullout. They just take up room I would rather use for other things. Any takers?

I am using the starboard sea berth for storage. I can't imagine trying to crawl in and out in any kind of sea conditions so that cushion is available too.

[POG]

Like Ralph's LAELIA my POG came with two cushions which I assume are meant to fill up the void when you fully pull out the port salon bunk.  As they are strictly rectangular and the big permanent cushion is sewn to accomodate the curve of the hull these extra cushions, one assumes, would be on the inboard side.  I just made a quick measurement of them where they reside in my basement storage:  about 38"x16".

Like Ralph I have no use for these cushions.  One of my not so many gripes with the P 365 is that  there really are no bunks in the middle or stern of the boat that are out of the way and don't interfere with other uses of the interior when they are slept in.  The small sea berth to starboard is too horrendous to get in and out of in a seaway.

I am attaching a couple of pictures which show the additional storage I created in the forepeak.  Besides storage this arrangement makes it easy to get in and out of the V-berth.  It is also a great place to sit when dressing.  





In case romance is in the air you would have to put the berth filler back in its customary place.  That will make it harder to get into the bunk - but think of the rewards!

Carl

[S/V Deo Volente]

For what it's worth, my wife found a small folding step stool (check Amazon for EZ Foldz Step Stool) to help get into the v-berth after her knee surgery. We have always left the insert in and I built a shelf on the lower position with sliding plexglass doors. It's a good place for us to store shoes, watersocks and sandals in and it leaves the kickspace open underneath for the stool or the shoes you were wearing before going to bed. I'll try to post a picture but today is too windy to get under the boat cover.
Update, got in today and took a couple pictures;

[POG]

Nice idea and nice work, Bob.  Thank you for making the effort to take the pictures of the "shoe locker" in the middle of winter.  I love these little designated storage areas and I wish the P 365 had more of them and less wasted space.

How do you go about splicing two photos into one?

Carl 

[S/V Deo Volente]

Carl, Those are two pictures, I just hit enter and post another on the next line.
I read an article years ago that referred to Pearson leaving space for ventilation around the drawers and storage areas. That reminds me I also made some canvas pockets to fit behind the dresser drawers, next trip to the boat I'll take more pictures.

Update: