decent sleep anyone?

[HoffaLives]

I have to find something different than the stacked foam in the v-berth. 6 months in and it's not working for tracy's back. does anyone have any suggestions? I know you can get custom-made mattresses but i understand they are damned expensive. i'm even thinking of getting a regular mattress and cutting it to fit myself -just wire and stuffing and foam covered in cloth. can't be too hard. has anyone tried this?

[sailingdog]

You're probably better off getting a pad of memory foam, since that is probably a good solution and a lot easier to cut to size..

[TrueBlue]

Four inches of Memory Foam custom cut from a king size slab, to fit over the standard V-berth cushions, worked very well for us for the past 4 years. We always slept much better on the boat than on our Sealy Posturpedic $1,500 home coil-spring mattress.

[Slooptattoo]

Hoffa, I'm not sure of the "brand names" but we bought 6" memory foam, the kind advertised that you can jump up and down and not spill your wine (as if I leave my wine glass on my bed). We cut it for size for the v-berth, and had it covered with mattress material to make it look good. I personally think it's fine without being covered, but my "admiral" insisted. Two pieces, as we have storage underneath and need ease of access. It has been fantastic. I don't know that 4" wouldn't really work, but it really sleeps fantastic at 6". Good luck in your endeavors, we're really pleased with ours.

[Valiente]

You will also benefit from making a futon frame-type set of slats to lift the foam mattress off the v-berth surface. This allows air to circulate beneath and discourages mould and mildew.

If you're made of money, you can buy this product:

http://www.comfortmarineandrv.com/products

but I figure it wouldn't take a genius to come up with a custom equivalent using tensioned coated wire or just a reworked wooden deck chair.

The only downside to all of these great ideas is you have to put in truly impressive "mattress fiddles".

[PorFin]

Hoffa,

On the other hand, if you want to take a whack at making your own mattress, here's a how-to article from the Catalina 36 owner's assn website.

http://www.c36ia.com/node/540

Author does a good job of explaining how to cut down and re-trim a standard mattress.

Best of luck,
PF

[HoffaLives]

is anyone who has used the memory foam have a bad back? we have 2" memory foam and 2" eggcrate foam over the vberth cushions that are as hard as rock...

[Freesail99]

I re-did my cushions in my main cabin. The 3 sitting/sleeping cushings we used were 5 inch memory foam. While they did seem hard and very firm, under further review ( a nap ) they were more then fine.

[endofdays]

With all this mention of memory foam, doesn't the memory foam get warm? Never tired it but it seems that it would hold the heat next to your body, and be warm in the summer.

[kokopelli9]

That's what the "egg carton" on top of the foam is for...keeps the air circulating around your body so you don't get too hot.