Easier entry to V berth on CD-25

joc1212 · Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 9:55 pm Post subject: Easier entry to V berth on CD-25

We have both had hip replacements and find getting into the V berth an issue.
Has anyone opened up the bulkhead to make the v berth easier to enter and depart?
Pictures would be greatly appreciated.

kaelc · Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 9:59 pm Post subject:

I’ve seen a few pictures and I believe a recent video posted on the C-Dory group featured one that had been cut out. If I didn’t have 3+ years of napping kids ahead of me I’d do it!

hardee · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 4:24 am Post subject:

Maybe try entering head first and sleep with the head to the bow. Easier in and out, and a much better view of the boat from there. JMHO.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Blue Rose · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 9:30 am Post subject:

Instead of just cutting the bulkhead out below the shelf to open up the berth area, we removed the shelf too. I have never seen the bulkhead and shelf removed on a 25 but don't see why it wouldn't work like it does on our 22.

Filling in the middle with a new cushion makes a one big bed instead of 2 skinny ones. We sleep feet to the bow and think this is the best mod we have made to the boat. (We can easily put the bulkhead and shelf back in with 4 bolts if we ever want to.)
Jim

Wandering Sagebrush

thataway · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 11:00 am Post subject:

Yes, Thataway C Dory 25 has the entire port side bulkhead removed. it does make v Berth entry easier.

Here is a photo taken mostly to show the fan / light and remote control for it, from the port side berth looking aft. In this case we have the boat packed and on a trip. I put the throwable cushion over some other gear, which extends the bunk pillow area.

.

Since Marie likes to sit in the aft dinette seat, we leave the forward seat facing aft all of the time. In our Tom Cat 255 (which comes without bulkhead), we had a cushion made for the foot well, which extended the bunk area.

Gene&Mary · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 3:19 pm Post subject:

One of the best mods I ever did.

ssobol · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 3:59 pm Post subject:

Personally, I like the segregation of the berth from the cabin by keeping the bulkhead intact. It also is easier to keep the berth darker for sleeping and is more private.

Admiral says it makes the berth "cozy".

Perhaps if we had mobility issues we'd think differently.

smckean (Tosca) · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 4:46 pm Post subject:

journey on · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 5:35 pm Post subject:

Well, I thought that bulkhead had structural value. The shelf is pop riveted at the top, but there are lag screws along the bottom. It has to give the hull some stiffness. I'd be interested what led smecan(Tosca) to make that statement.

I do agree that the original opening makes it hard to get in and out of the berth, at least for me; a sign of old age I suppose. So, I cut a larger hole, but did not remove as much as Bob did, in the picture above. Makes it a lot easier to get in/out and still leaves some structural stiffness.

Boris

smckean (Tosca) · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 8:49 pm Post subject:

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 9:30 pm Post subject:

Not sure when removed most of the partition to the left of the helm, but Scott Boysen, who was C-Dory factory manager under the Lindhout ownership, who would have known if it created a structural issue, was not the least bit concerned about it. He actually help smooth out my cuts and put the trim on! We have cruised thousands and thousands of miles (5,428 miles on our 2017 Great Loop alone) with the partition modification, and AFAIK, we have suffered no ill effects! It has been incredibly better getting in and out of the vee-berth compared to the way it was with the factory entry to the vee-berth. We consider it the best modification we ever made to Daydream.

thataway · Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 10:23 pm Post subject:

Those who call it a partition are more accurate than those (myself included ) who call it a bulkhead. A structural bulkhead would have been tabbed in. In fact, this partition floats with no structural attachment to the hull.

A proper bulkhead would have been tabbed in with fiberglass mat, tape and polyester resin to the side of the boat. The part which is structural, is the V berth platform and the area where there is a floor in the center of the V berth. This floor and the V berth platform are only tabbed in at the aft end, and along the sides of the hull. They do give some support and rigidity. I have seen boats which have been abused, where the tabbing had broken loose from the V Berth platform.

It does not show well in the photos, but the wooden block the fan is attracted to, is epoxied to the hull and there is support for the "Dashboard" or what you want to call it in front of the navigators' seat. That is not really structural, but does give support to the hull.,

Why the lag screws--no idea--I have seen a number of them loose, worked with time.

Conclusion no structural support. My thought is if you want cozy or privacy, then you can put a cloth curtain there. I enjoy the extra length and there is less "footsie" with our partner at night...