Fold Out Berth

[cfelle2]

Do any of you have the fold out berth that folds out from the port settee to form a double bed?   I saw that it was available on the Hutchins parts list and was curious if it worked well.

Thanks Chris   

[Awfeith]

I have it on our 96. Never used it, but I guess it would be handy for anyone with children. I wouldn't trust the upper with an adult weight. In the up position it seems tight to get in and out of. Like I said, it would seem to work with children.  André

[Allure2sail]

Fold out berth....
Have used it on several occasions. I use the two bottom cushions side by side and a couple of sleeping bags on top. One sleeping bag is for extra cushioning and the second one is to sleep in. I recently purchased an air mattress for single berth sleeping (starboard side) and found it to be uncomfortable. Used it on top of the cushion and didn't care for the feel of it. I was later told to put it under the cushion if you didn't like the air mattress feeling. I've yet to try that but it sound like a better setup. I had to look around for a single air mattress that was the same width as the cushion. Coleman makes a single that is 27" wide and I got it a Walmart. I also take the back rest cushion off and lean it up against the other berth to give me an extra 3 or 4 inches of sleeping surface. It makes the sleep surface as wide as the air mattress. I'm pretty sure you can get an air mattress that is the width of the settee folded out with two cushions side by side (probably in the 54 to 55 inch range). My guess would be a double or full size air mattress. Best of luck....or should I say "sleep tight"...LOL
Bruce
S/V Allure

[Awfeith]

Sorry, read your post to fast. Thought you meant the pilot birth. I also have the fold out double. I use the v berth,
but my son, 6ft 4 in uses it and claims it is comfortable. Just have to make sure the pin for the leg is in the hole in the floor.we use a foam mat over the cushions.  André

[Harrier]

Works great.  Just one caution - sleep with your head aft.  Smacked mine on the underside of the fold down table, twice! 

[cfelle2]

Thanks for all of your responses.  It sounds like it works pretty well.  I think I will order the parts from Hutchins.

Chris

[wes]

Chris - I'm surprised your boat doesn't already have it. It has been a standard feature, not an option, at least as far back as 1986. What do you have on the port side if not the settee that folds out into a berth?

Wes

[Allure2sail]

Odd...
I have never have seen a 27 without that feature. Perhaps the previous owner for whatever reason took it out? I'll look in my parts boat to see if it is still there. You have that setup for half price if you'd like.
Bruce
S/V Allure

[cfelle2]

Bruce,
             It is definitely possible that the previous owners took it out.  I would be interested in the one from your parts boat.  I'm not even sure of what parts are needed.  Does anyone have pictures of the mechanism?  Another part that is missing from my boat is the filler cushion from the vberth.  I would be interested in that as well.

Thanks Chris

[Allure2sail]

Hi Chris:
I'll check for the vberth cushion and look at the fold out bunk board and hinged legs for it tomorrow. I'll get back to you then.
Bruce

[Allure2sail]

Bad news.....
The port side fold out berth to make it into a double was never installed on my 1986 parts boat. I guess perhaps it was an option. You can tell if it was ever there by looking to see if you have a molding like strip on the same level as the top of the fiberglass horizontal surface that forms the seat surface of the port side berth. It goes from the fiberglass to the compression post edge. It acts as the front support for the hinged fold out board that makes it into a double berth. That you can easily add to the bulkhead and the legs which also fold out from the board) as well. I can make you a print to get the large board made. I can take some pictures to explain it all but it's not a big deal. The other difference I see on this 86 parts boat is the storage doors under the settee's are not there as well. I would suspect they were both options or not offered at all on 1986 boats. My good boat is a1987 and has both features.
Bruce
S/V Allure

[cfelle2]

Thanks for checking.  Any pictures or descriptions you can offer would be very helpful.  I would really like to make the fold out bunk for the boat this winter.  Any luck on the filler cushion in the vberth?  I figure I would have to re cover it but it would make a good start

Thanks Chris

[Allure2sail]

Hi:
I'll take some pictures and take some measurements for you. The cushions are in a storage unit I'll check for it this weekend. Send me an off site email to confirm email address.
Bruce

[Allure2sail]

Hi:
I took a look at the vberth cushions and I'm sorry to say this but I hate to break up the set. There all in excellent shape and I do not want to break them up. I can send you measurements and pictures of the inset if you'd like.
Sorry about that. I took down the measurements of the fold out berth and I'll make a print and send it to you as a PDF (I'm a engineer and have my own CAD system).
Bruce
S/V Allure

[cfelle2]

I understand not wanting to break up the set.  I don't think I would either.  I'd really appreciate getting the measurements and pictures of the inset thought.

Thanks Chris