Pipe bunks

[Faster]

We had several pipe berths on our last boat.. (she was born as a racer). Our kids used them into their teens and never really complained about them. Ours were as Hartley describes, large diameter aluminum tubes, canvas laced into them. They were custom made to fit each location as were the bulkhead fittings (basically just a plug&socket affair).

Each had an adjusting tackle to level the berths (useful for kids reading underway and to keep stored gear on them when heeled too)

We eventually replaced one of them with a fixed pilot berth, but those under the cockpit area remain.

Not too sure how one would fit into a production boat interior, though.....

[chucklesR]

I'd think you could just use regular galvanized pipe, male threaded at the end, corners made of female threaded 90 bends. 2 long pipes, two short pipes, 4 elbows and a canvas sewn with sleeves for the pipe -a couple of adjustable straps to the ceiling and there you have it.

Any hardware store could make the frames up on the spot.

No worse than sleeping on a cot - better if truly hanging as it would be self leveling when heeled.

[hellosailor]

"with one side open for the pipe to lower into."
Those fittings are usually called "pipe flanges" and the only ones I know of with the cut-out, are the ones sold for holding up closet rods. There ARE some really industrial grade closet rods and such out there, but it might be easier to just find some heavy pipe flanges and then cut out the top side with your choice of weapons: coping saw, circular file, dremel, angle grinder, plasma torch, etc. (Heck, any excuse for owning a plasma torch is a good one![g])

[sailingdog]

A plasma torch is overkill...

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

I'd think you could just use regular galvanized pipe, male threaded at the end, corners made of female threaded 90 bends. 2 long pipes, two short pipes, 4 elbows and a canvas sewn with sleeves for the pipe -a couple of adjustable straps to the ceiling and there you have it.

Any hardware store could make the frames up on the spot.

No worse than sleeping on a cot - better if truly hanging as it would be self leveling when heeled.

Chuckles, surely you want it as light as possible. Aluminium tube isn't that hard to get hold of.

Haven't you got enough ballast already?

[Bermuda30]

Try this. I find them alright comfort wise, but I'm a bit younger than some members...

[chucklesR]

Originally Posted by Hartley18

Chuckles, surely you want it as light as possible. Aluminium tube isn't that hard to get hold of.

Haven't you got enough ballast already?

I have no need for pipe berths with three cabins. I was responding to the OP.
Aluminum is of course lighter, but you need to make the tubes twice as big to support the same weight.