V berth storage

D

dutch123

New member
Just looking for a flush hatch for in the v berth for storage. One around 24 by 12 inches anyone installed one or two of these?
 
I created storage in the v-berth. It was very easy and a great place to store items that we don't use everyday. I have some pictures of it in my album. The foam was the a little bit of a pain to get out.
 
My 2007 boat has the v-birth under area completely filled with foam as far as I can tell. Can anyone tell me if that is so? I have pulled a couple of little plugs and stuck a skewer into the foam and it appears to go all the way to the bottom.

If so, that brings up a question. Clearly, that much foam will help flotation, but does it also add some forward hull strength? Seems to me it might. If not, then it seems that cutting a hatch hole on both sides and getting the foam out and then using waterproof hatch covers may serve as well for flotation. I also wouldn't mind getting some weight forward in the boat. The v-birth might be a place that one could store water bottles and other heavier stuff.

Opinions welcome.
 
The area is not completely filled with foam it is just where the injection holes are. I am sure it will help with flotation if the boat capsizes. It did not effect the integrity of the boat. I do not regret making more storage space.
 
We made this mod on Valkyrie and it is one of the best that we have undertaken. The amount of additional storage is incredible!

Once I made the cut and removed the piece of fiberglas I was amazed at how little foam was in the void. I removed it in about an hour using a small wallboard saw, pry bar and large screwdriver.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
I think the amount of foam must vary from boat to boat. Mine was as full as it could possibly be, and it was a pretty major effort to get it all out. Once you cut the hole, you are pretty much committed. I am happy with the results, but I am also glad the job is done.

Rob
 
I find this thread interesting, but haven't followed it since the beginning.

Has anyone found a hatch cover that is actually flat, or is the only alternative a hatch cover that is slightly raised?

Casey
 
Don't think it can be really "flat" unless it's recessed into the bunk surface. The best you can hope for is tapered flanges and only slightly raised. An aid to not feeling it would be a piece of memory foam (thin) with a cutout that goes around the hatch to mitigate what you feel. And then another piece, thicker that goes over it all so you don't feel the hard surface.

Charlie
 
The current boats are built with a hatch that sits flush in an aluminum channel. I would contact vthem to see if they will sell them to you, or if the can tell you who makes them.
 
Mobile East Marine installed 3 hatches in C-Gypsy's V-berth for me last spring.

There was very little foam, not enough to make removing it a major concern. :beer
 
Dutch 123,
There is a very easy and inexpensive means of making a flush hatch for the vee-berth storage. Lots of boat builders have used this method over the years. I removed the foam from the bow of my 25 and installed regular hatches because I thought it was a cleaner way of doing it but looking back at the expense and having to lift cushions up high enough to raise the hatches I would probably have done it the "old school" way.

Cut any size hatch hole you want in the vee berth deck and then install a support shelf, from the bottom, around the perimeter of your hatch hole. Use screws from the bottom, just long enough that they don't break through the vee berth deck. The support shelf should be about 1/2" smaller than the hole to provide good support for the hatch sitting on top. The hatch itself will be a piece of plywood the same thickness as the vee berth deck, with a finger hole to allow an easy means of removing it. If you are careful and make straight cuts, the piece you remove from the deck will make a perfect fitting hatch, just add the finger hole. It will take a bit of upside down drilling and driving screws but with a 12x24 hatch there should be enough room.

All of my earlier sail boats used this type of hatch under the vee berth cushions, if I haven't explained it clearly enough a trip to a marina or boat dealer and a peek in the cabin under a cushion should show you what I am talking about. I used a DeWalt saber saw and it did a good job, but I went through half a dozen blades, the glass really ate them up.
Rich
 
Thats a great idea rich thanks for that. Initially my concern was feeling the hatch under you when lying down but your advice will solve that problem and its the right price too. Once again the cbrats come through thanks again!
 
But one would lose any possibility of flotation in that area of the boat with that type of cover. I will likely do the "loose lid" mod to my boat, but with a normal doggable hatch, flotation might still hang in there for a while in the event of something catastrophic. Something to think about. However, and this is a question; are there many sources for water to get into the under birth area if the boat is flooded? If so, how tight a hatch is in the v-berth is not an issue. Then, the loose cover method is really the way to go in my opinion.
 
we cut out hatches with jig saw and used the remaining piece of fibreglass with a finger hole as the "hatch". It is supported from underneath by strips of plywood which we attached to underside of berth with screws through a washer and then the fibreglass.
So underneath the cushion all that is sticking up is the washers and screwheads. works great and adds fantastic amount of storage.
 
but I'd rather be on the part of the bow sticking up rather than nothing sticking up at all...I think. However, after 50 years of boating without accident, I'm hoping I can do another 15 and never experience a sunk boat. . I've never sunk a boat, overturned a boat or been in the water unintentionally, including canoes and kayaks...but there is always the first time I suppose. I did have to run a small cabin cruiser onto the shore when caught by big following waves breaking over the stern. Not an actual sinking. Since then I've learned to take seas head on rather than run from them during temporary high and gusty winds often seen on mountain lakes.

It would be interesting to hear from the C-brats any actual, "honey, I sunk the boat" stories and lessons learned...any boat at all. Would make a good thread.
 
I'm resurrecting this thread because I started the project today of adding 3 hatches for storage in the V berth similar to what others have done. Total ebay cost of hatches-around $214. I figured I didn't need high quality since they will not be exposed to outdoor elements and don't need to be waterproof. After inspecting the hatches upon arrival they do seem quality.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191074887721?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201035382021?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

I'm already started in this project and I"m not going to return the hatches, but I would have been just as happy if not happier putting a lip to support plywood which would lay flat instead. I doubt I will ever notice the bump of the hatches sleeping with the v berth cushion and a memory foam topper but you never know. It would have been cheaper and also easier to move out of the way when you are digging in there for stuff. The hatch can't be moved obviously and has to be hinged up.

For the record my 2003 22 classic cruiser is FULL OF FOAM! It is being a real pain to remove. Currently I"m using a saw/knife to cut it and a few different types of crow bars. This is not an easy task. I haven't gotten terribly far in the foam removal process. If anybody knows an easy way to get it out please don't be shy.
 
I found a 1in spade bit in at high speed in a portable drill paired with and shopvac for cleanup to be a fast and effective foam destroying combo. I used a wire wheel in the same drill for some of the final shaping of the foam that remained and also used an abrasive cup wheel to clean some if the final surfaces.

Greg [/code]
 
Back
Top