MacGregorSailors.com

Hi Y'all: When the Admiral and I were in FL during Dec-09, we used standard king sized fitted/top sheets. We found that the Admiral, because she is small, ended up spreading them at the stern, while I assisted midship for tension. We are wondering what the MacNation uses, both for comfort and ease of changing, and what the trade-offs are? Thanks for helping with "housekeeping". stew

We bought a Travasak sleeping bag when we got our boat. It's a regular sleeping bag, but with 2 nice features. It comes with a sheet, which attaches to the bag with velcro next to the zipper, on the inside. We made a spare sheet by cutting it to size and sewing velcro wooly around the edge, so we have a spare sheet. With the velcro sheet attachment, you don't have to crawl into tight spaces to install or change the sheets. The bag's insulation is thicker on one side than the other. With the thicker side up, you have a warmer bag. Flipped over, it's better for warmer conditions. They're available in tapered shape, for Vee berths, as well as standard rectangular. Even though we prefer the Vee berth, we got the rectangular shape, thinking it gave a little more leg room. It's worked out great.

We like sleeping in the V-berth with an extension (see my website mods)
- Partly because the Admiral likes height and the breeze and view from the hatch and doesn't feel cramped (clostrophobic feeling in the aft area)
- I like being able to pop my head out the hatch when at anchor to check for drag and I get a good view of the HDTV.

Best: It is the best for the Admiral... that 's what matters. I can sleep on rocks. I added more padding, 4 inches(memory foam plus normal foam) and she sewed some custom sheets (elastic bottom sheet and top sheet with a big triangle pocket to get a custom fit)


Easiest: Since I use the aft for mostly storage we extended the v-berth by using the two seat back cushions and then add on the 4 inch extra foam. The admiral made cushion covers for the smaller pieces of foam (I dont have pic... will take some later and add to website) and we found a comforter she liked for the slightly colder nights.


It may not be the best or easiet... but we like it.

Erik
"Knot Shore"

We love our Travasak... got it on Ebay. The thick side thin side feature is super, and wife loves the velcro in sheets. They stay put!

Hi Chinook and Capt Steve

What size Travasak did you both get the standard or queen size??

Allan

Queen size...A little more bulk, but you dont have that wrapped in"like a sleeping bag" feeling. We store it in a space bag...greatly reduces bulk, keeps it clean and dry.

Likewise, the queen size. We also have added a "memory" foam pad to supplement the stock foam pad, covered with a liner. When sailing in northern waters, like the Inside Passage and even Puget Sound, we bring a plush blanket along. If it gets really chilly at night, we'll throw it over the Travasak. It's also handy as a lap blanket in the cockpit. Nothing like sitting out in the cockpit, snugly wrapped up, looking at the stars or enjoying the sunrise with a steaming cup of coffee.

We sleep in the aft queen size bed and have replaced the std mushy pads with high density boat cushion foam with queen size fitted sheets and a double ziped together sleeping bag in the winter and use a heavy queen size Hudson bay wool blanket in the summer and carry 2 Pendelton wool blankets to snuggle with in the cockpit or in the boat when we don't have the Walrus furnice on.

My Admiral made a "sleep sack" by sewing two, queen-sized, sheets together. We insert it inside a double-wide sleeping bag. It all fits exactly into the aft berth. Works great!

Has anyone using the memory foam experienced a temperature effect where the foam gets hard as a rock when below 50 deg. F? I was thinking about using it as a foam rubber replacement, but with the cool temps in the spring and fall in the NW, I am concerned it might be like sleeping on the deck. I'm thinking of going with a high density foam rubber as a replacement for the original foam. Any suggestions?

We replaced our stock vee berth foam years ago with firmer foam. While much better than the stock this proved to be a bit too stiff for sleeping, so we have a memory foam topper that goes over it (queen size with just a bit trimmed off from the knees down for our extended vee berth). The stiffer foam is far better for sitting, (we did all the base cushions) and the memory foam gives it just the right softness for sleeping. Many nights when we've been out the temp has been below 50 and the memory foam was fine not hard, even on our mid winter trips.

On this we have an REI double tapered sleeping bag (different than the earlier one shown in the pictures) that also has two different top and bottom thicknesses for different temps. This all fits nicely with the shape of the vee berth. We don't mess with sheets and really see no need for them. We each also have a fleece throw that is used inside the bag as needed (as do each of the kids in their bags in the back). We prefer to have the hatch open a crack for fresh air and the fleece is nice if the air is a bit chill in the morning.



Our vee berth is enclosed at night by a heavy curtain just forward of the compression post creating what's known as the forward stateroom. It gives you just enough room to stand up and change behind the curtain.



This all folds over to the starboard side (foam pad and sleeping bag) and is then folded back again behind the dinette seat. All the throws and pillows are stored there as well so the vee berth path is open to the hatch during the day. It's quick to go from bed to living room, no storage bags or anything needed. There's even room for one of our clothing duffels to go all the way forward at the foot area on the port side. Also in the stored location it creates a nice soft pile to curl up against for reading or a nap in the vee berth during the day. The way it is folded it is also protected from any sand or dirt that might be tracked through by kids and dogs going to the hatch.

seacatcapt wrote:Has anyone using the memory foam experienced a temperature effect where the foam gets hard as a rock when below 50 deg. F? I was thinking about using it as a foam rubber replacement, but with the cool temps in the spring and fall in the NW, I am concerned it might be like sleeping on the deck. I'm thinking of going with a high density foam rubber as a replacement for the original foam. Any suggestions?

What I did was order a complete set of aft foam from the factory. It:

1) was pretty cheap

2) fit perfectly

3) worked and made the berth much firmer with no problems with colder temps (just like the original foam has no problem).

Rick Less

purchased a costco queen memory foam topper, cut to fit the extended vberth. this year we wil linstall new vent pad below the vberth and aft berth mattresses.

aft berth does not get slept in anymore. (what a waste.) but it is forcing me to improve the aft berth now. two useable berths is more than enough for us on this boat.

I think the one thing the boat needs mroe than anything else is a real hanging locker, 8 inches of hanging space with a door is the goal. Just how small can I make that head and still use it.???????

I think the one thing the boat needs mroe than anything else is a real hanging locker, 8 inches of hanging space with a door is the goal. Just how small can I make that head and still use it.???????

For a hanging locker, I got this idea off this site somewhere in the mod section.

On our "X", I installed a closet rod in the front of the starboard aft section, in the raised area just behind the head. It allows for hanging admirals delicate dinner dress outfits or wet foul weather gear.

Thanks Y'all: Admiral Alice and I thank all of you for your inputs/ideas. We believe that we will order the rear birth cushions from MacGregor and the travasak. I am 6'2''' and 250lbs, and after a few nights during our dec. experiment living aboard for a month, I found that sleeping on the port side with the galley forward, and finding the proper hand holds as I slipped into the birth, was suited for me, with the Admiral having no problem entering the birth to stbd. The major decision that we have in front of us is wether or not to purchase a full cockpit enclosure as opposed to just having a bimini and boom tarp. Once again, we have no negative points regarding our , given the amount of money it costs versus others that try to compete with its interior room and minimum draft, yet still cost more. It's good being part of the MACNATION. thanks again, Alice and Stew of "THE RESTLESS TWO"