V Berth Size in 22, 23 and 25

[scooper]

Hi All, My wife and I are looking to buy a C Dory. We just boarded one for the first time, (big thanks to Chris in R.I.), and my wife felt a little claustrophobic in the V berth. We plan to do long trips so it's critical that she's happy sleeping aboard.

Does anybody happen to know the difference in size of the V berth comparing the 22 to the 23 and 25? The length was fine. It's mostly the height. And the width might make some difference too.

I was blown away by how much I liked the C Dory look, design and feel! They are beautiful boats.

Thanks!

[Gene&Mary]

If you are not satisfied with the available length in the 22 v berth, many cbrats, myself included, have removed the bulkhead between the v berth and the port seat. It not only gives additional room in the v berth but makes the port seat not as cramped. You can still leave the shelf above.

[hardee]

For me, an easier option that removing the bulkhead was to change how I slept aboard. AND, it makes it way easier for getting both in and out, for one person or two. Takes away from the trapped in a tiny box feeling, and there is none of that get in and turn and turn and turn around to get into the bed.

Go in Head first, sleep with your head up at the pointy end. Then when your eyes are open you can see the whole boat, (well at least the hall way and the opposite side, plus out the windows and the cabin door too).

It is best for the shorter person to sleep on the Stbd (helm) side due to the wires and such on the helm bulkhead.

(Another trick I like, is using fleece in the sleeping bag. I use fleece liners and so there is no damp cold feeling at all.)

Harvey
SleepyC

[smckean (Tosca)]

I, like hardee, sleep with my head at the pointy end when alone; but when my wife is with me, we sleep with our feet toward the pointy end (not enough shoulder room otherwise).

And I am super happy that the bulkhead was removed by the previous owner (easier to get bags etc in and out of there too).

[ssobol]

IMO sleeping head at the bow is that it would feel much more closed in. In you are sleeping feet forward, you just have to roll halfway to the middle to see what's going on in the cabin.

When we first got our 22 my wife called the berth the "crypt". Later she found that is was "cozy".

Personally I prefer the full bulkhead. It separates the sleeping from living areas better. Also, I'm not sure how well removing the bulkhead on a 22 would actually work with regards to the dinette.

[thataway]

The Tom Cat has the best berth--almost entirely open.
The C Dory 25 has only slightly more room than the 22. It is wider, and slightly higher. This is the 25 I recently sold.



I will put materials, which bring the foot well for forward facing seat at the same level as the bunk, and this gives me a not more room, and easy entrance and exit. I cannot see enough room with two people having their heads to ward the bow. (But I am fairly large, (180, 6'2" and Marie is 5' 8")

One of the reasons for going to a 25 (twice) is that there is more room in the boat. Also if claustrophobic one might sleep on the dinette.

[Csharpx]

That's a great choice, go for it !

[ssobol]

Do you have a schematic of your setup?

[Karl Konecny]

I added round port holes just forward of the navigation lights. These not only mitigated some of the 'cave' like feeling of the v-berth but improved ventilation when opened.

[DayBreak]

[scooper]

Wow, this is all super helpful replies! Thanks all! Thataway's set up is especially inspiring. I can't imagine my wife feeling claustrophobic in that set up. Smckean's photo is also very helpful because my wife felt like the V berth was an unappealing, unattractive place to sleep in addition to it being too tight. It looks much more inviting with some nice bedding and pillows.
Also, thanks for the dimensions daybreak! We didn't have those.