V-berth memory foam?

B

Boont Boater

New member
I read in some earlier posts that some C-brats like to put 2" memory foam on the V-berth. That sounds like a good idea. It looks like a "topper" for a king size bed might almost cover the berth (a little short in the bottom corners). I'm wondering what others have done. Cut it down, order a custom mattress, or what?

Any input or other suggestions would be appreciated. A good night's sleep makes for a happy crew.

Thanks,

Jeff
 
We used an "eggshell" topper in C-Dory Naknek and found that it greatly improved V-berth comfort.

I now have a 2" memory foam pad to use in C/C Katmai. I expect the memory foam to be even more comfortable. Remove the V-berth mattress and use it as a template to trim the foam pad.

If you have an electric carving knife, it works very well to cut the foam.

Best,
Casey
The Villages, FL
 
We bought a king size memory foam and cut down the corners. Our previous memory foam was a 2", but when we looked around to replace it, all we could find was 1.5 and 3". We went for the 1.5 and could feel the difference. Still, it adds just that bit of cushiness that makes it very comfortable. We have also used a Travasak for when it's chilly and just sheets and a quilt for when it isn't. Joan plans to make a fitted sheet before our next trip.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
The first night I spent on Choir Practice was really rather horrible. My hips ached so bad I could barely crawl out of the berth. and I'm not large nor old! It reminded me of sleeping in a bus station or airport - I don't know why. So that evening, I came home and searched the C-Brats site for some help. The consensus I found was 3" memory foam that could easily be cut to fit. I could not wait for shipping - we were going out again the next weekend, so I went to my local department store who happened to be having a sale for 50% off (they typically over price everything, so it was about the same price with shipping from an internet store). Monday I bought the foam, Tuesday I went down to the boat and cut it right in the v-berth using a fillet knife (it cut easier than bread). This also allowed the foam to breathe for a few days - the chemical smell is a little overpowering at first. Saturday morning I brought a set of queen size sateen sheets with me and made the bed for Saturday night. It was a world of difference! I actually slept in because it was so comfortable. We've spent at least a dozen nights on the boat since and I actually look forward to it. Overlooking the awkwardness of shape, the v-berth is now probably one of the most comfortable beds I have slept in, definitely better than many hotel beds I have tried.

We haven't gotten the Travasak yet but it is definitely on our list of things to add to the boat, right after a dinghy and trim tabs. Thanks to the invaluable information on the C-Brats boards, our boat is fast becoming our weekend home.
 
We had our local custom foam furniture company make a memory foam mattress for our boat. It was quite expensive because of the covering we picked. The end result was wonderful sleeping with out the hassel of several pieces of bedding.

We have used a Travasak for many years. We still have the one we used in the C-Dory. They are worth the money. The sheets can be removed for washing and they come with matching pillow cases. We ordered the V-Berth one from West Marine.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Grey(the cat)
 
I paid around $60 for a 2" king pad from Overstock.com and cut it to fit. We just put a sheet over it and then the V-berth shaped "sack" blanket and sheet system.
 
I like the memory Foam, Marie does not. So I got a 1.5" memory pad, and she had a 1" regulary foam pad. We cut the regular foam pad to make up the area that the twin size memory foam did not cover.

I love sleeping on boats and sleep much better than at home. The Memory foam made it just a bit better. We used regular queen sized sheets on the C Dory25.

For the Tom Cat, we have a 2" queen memory foam for the entire bunk. Of course this is easier to make up, using fitted bottom sheets (Calif King, tucking in the excess.)
 
On the Tom Cat, we replaced the OEM 4" foam with higher-quality, higher-density firmer foam, stuffed into the factory covers. Over that we laid a 2" soft high quality (not memory) foam mattress stuffed into a sunbrella cover. We use standard king sheets and tuck them around the foam topper. Works very well and is more comfortable than my home bed!

Under both layers of foam mattresses we put a couple sheets of drybunk that we replace a couple of times a season but I am considering replacing the drybunk with HyperVent.

Warren
 
Thanks for all the input. We just ordered a king size topper of 2" memory foam from Overstock.com.

We're looking forward to making a great experience even better.

Jeff
 
Boont Boater":lv9n3hwg said:
Thanks for all the input. We just ordered a king size topper of 2" memory foam from Overstock.com.

We're looking forward to making a great experience even better.

Jeff
Click to expand...

I used the wife's serated bread knife to cut it. Worked like a charm. :idea
 
I agree that it's well worth it for the comfort factor, but disagree on using the existing mattress for a template. The slope of the hull will allow you to go a few inches larger than the bottom layer.
I also used the triangular cut-offs glued together to make a comfy dog bed.
 
I did use the existing pad as a template. I didn't want the mattress, sheets etc touching [the walls] of the hull and if you saw my wife, we don't need the extra few inches. :wink:
 
When we bought our CC23 the previous owner had a layer of lightweight egg crate foam on top of the standard foam cushions. We found that alone didn't make enough of a difference so we added a layer of 2" memory foam and then kept the egg crate layer of foam on top of that. So we use: (1) the original cushion, (2) the memory foam on top of that, and (3) the egg crate foam on top of the memory foam. While it sounds tall it really isn't because the egg crate is so thin. We have found the egg crate allows more air circulation than the memory foam, while not adding much depth. Sleeping is now quite comfortable. We trimmed both layers of foam to fit the V-berth area, using the original cushions as a template. While cutting memory foam can be a trick, using a standard electric carving knife makes it a snap, like cutting through butter. Just mind where your fingers are.... When you cut the foam, remember to angle the cut and make it wider than the original cushion since the hull widens as it extends upward. By the way, we generally kept the foam in one big piece, only cutting out a small section to use to cover for the porta potty insert.

As for sheets, Mary bought a nice high thread count set of sheets and then cut them larger than the foam cushions but still using the general V shape. She then stitched the top and bottom sheets together at the foot so the top sheet couldn't come loose and pull out. By tucking in the bottom sheet under the foam cushion, and with the bottom section stitched and tucked in, we have a most comfortable sleeping environment in the "forward stateroom."

Rob
 
If you want to "cover" the V berth you will need a full king. But, why cover all of the V berth--you don't sleep in the corners.

As for sheets, we use Queen size, and tuck in the extra up top. We use sleeping bags, and at place like lake Powell, often just sleep with a queen sheet on top, and then a "fleece" to cover parts if they get cold.
 
We used the 2" Memory foam topper, we also replaced the factory foam with the softer green foam from Joan Fabrics. We used queen sized memory foam and used the factory foam as a pattern to make two halves. To have full coverage, the outside corners of the foam were glued on with spray glue (outside the yellows line). The cover is a home made slip cover with velcro at the end. Like Bob, we sleep better on the boat than at home.
P1040939.thumb.jpg
Larger Image - http://www.c-brats.com/albums/Grace/P1040939.sized.jpg
 
By suggestion of my upholstery guy I purchased two 8 inch twin memory foam mattresses when they went on sale. He cut and contoured the foam so it matched the shape of the hull thus increasing the surface area for full coverage. The two cut pieces were then covered in the same Sunbrella material and color to match the rest of the boat. $$$ for sure but well worth the cost.
 
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