Rear Berth Question

[apsaunders]

I have been reading Chinook's Blog and others and notice they all use the rear berth for storage. Due to health issues my wife and I have started using the rear berth for storage too. I understand Chinook is a and we have a . Maybe the solution would be the same regardless of which model anyone has. So I'm hoping everyone will chime in here.

We have left the stock mattress in the rear and just store everything on top. My wife crawls in and gets whatever we need. Occasionally one of the bilge covers underneath the mattress pops out of place and so I have to lift the mattress so she can put it back in place. It's a royal pain.

I'm just curious how everyone else has resolved this issue. I'm hoping Mike or Sandy from Chinook will respond. Any owners that are using rear berth exclusively for storage, please jump in.

[sailboatmike]

Just get some velcro dots, that should do the job, one on each side would do the job

[opie]

You asked, so here is one X owner's reply:
- rear berth cushions, the 4 floor hatch covers and the far rear cover panel over that hides the transom bolts, all of that came out when I first got boat 12 yrs ago and stayed out.
- Never considered sleeping there, too claustrophobic.
- I have milk crates and 5 gallon buckets for putting stuff in
- The open floor hatches provide ventilation for bilge and if by chance a small item falls in there, it is a simple shimmy to get it out.
- We sleep in vee berth and have velco-on bug screens.

[apsaunders]

Thanks for the reply. That's what I was looking for. I was wondering if anyone changed the rear berth area around just for an organized storage area.

I had open heart surgery awhile back. For some reason now, the rear berth makes me claustrophobic too.

[Tomfoolery]

You asked, so here is one X owner's reply:
- rear berth cushions, the 4 floor hatch covers and the far rear cover panel over that hides the transom bolts, all of that came out when I first got boat 12 yrs ago and stayed out.
- Never considered sleeping there, too claustrophobic.
- I have milk crates and 5 gallon buckets for putting stuff in
- The open floor hatches provide ventilation for bilge and if by chance a small item falls in there, it is a simple shimmy to get it out.
- We sleep in vee berth and have velco-on bug screens.

All of that. And I would add, more than claustrophobic back there, I have a hard time getting in there, and worse getting out. It's a no man's land in there, so cockpit cushions and a few other things like the cooler go in there, but it's mostly empty.

Thanks for the reply. That's what I was looking for. I was wondering if anyone changed the rear berth area around just for an organized storage area.

More like disorganized storage area. But you can't see it from the cockpit, so it's ok.

[Herschel]

I put a light, thin piece of indoor/outdoor carpet in place of the rear mattress. That generally keeps the hatch covers from coming loose. I store items (seat cushions, gunnel boarding ladder, spinnaker, MRG, boat hooks, bag for instrument & pedestal covers, etc.) there in a generally organize way. I do leave the area just behind the portside seat (26X here) for the cooler. It makes it easier to get to.

[beene]

Same

Removed all cushions
Bought several large tubs with wheels
They just fit vertically and about 3 bins wide.
I also bought a 2.5 cu bar fridge since I leave my boat slipped all season and keep it behind the ladder in the aft area
This setup works great.

Sleeping?
V berth
Drop down dinette
Couch on Port

Cheers

G

[Tomfoolery]

Sleeping?
V berth
Drop down dinette
Couch on Port

Ah, sleeping. Me alone, it's the dinette and part of the vee berth, since I tend to spill over (everything, including my belt ). Me and the admiral, it's me in the vee berth and the admiral on the dinette.

My kingdom for an island berth.

[Highlander]

I removed the aft berth cushions & now in storage & installed 3M plastic non-velcro two way to the panels to keep them in place I,ve also been thinkin of installing a rubber U shaped inverted block say 2" wide underneath & attached to the panels directly above the water ballast rib channels this would also help to keep them from moving around but most importantly keep them from collapsing when u either kneel or sit directly in the middle of the panels , I have 1/2"x 24"x24" approx foam cushions pads the all inter connect each one is a diff colour similar to below but bigger tiles
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/safet ... p.html#srp

Just makes it much more comfortable when u have too go in there digging for something .

on each side I have two of those large plastic roller containers on wheels to store a lot of stuff in & they r clear so u can see whats in them & keep the stuff from rolling all around the place using masking tape or other & make a list of contents attached to each lid so as u know whats in each one
https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/sterilite- ... 0194659475

this also allows u enough room to store ur cockpit & other seat cushions while not being used

in the center behind the step ladder I have my Blue lighted Subwoofer for my stereo & TV sound suround
& emg. safety gear & VHF hand held battery back-up , safety flares all contained in an emg. float able sealed container & large first aid kit bag

I always make sure nothing goes back in there loose that could poss. work it,s way back into the very rear & interfere with the auto pilot or steering gear mechanization

On the S/B side directly behind the aft dinette seat I keep my fridge/freezer

If I was ever going to use the aft berths for say extra crew on a cruise I,d buy either a double or two single bed air mattresses

Hope this gives u some Idea,s

J

[apsaunders]

Thanks everyone. Great ideas.

My wife and I were just discussing possibilities and uses. Highlander, she loved the idea of the colored rubber sections that fit together. She said she should have thought of that first. She's a kindergarten teacher. She has them in her classroom.

Also I see several of you use the tubs with wheels. I should have thought of that since we sent 2 kids off to college years ago. I wonder what they did with all those under the bed storage tubs I bought them every year for college.