V Berth insert retention

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Pelican
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Joined: 9/21/15
Posts: 34
V Berth insert retention

Hi Friends,

Our Mk1 has a standard interior layout. The V berth is laid out with one large V shaped cushion and a separate insert to fill in the Vee area attached to an upholstered board that fits/rests perfectly onto the trim of the berth. Invariably, just as we become fast asleep, the insert falls to the cabin sole. I am not sure how the insert fits or is retained on other boats, but ours will not stay put.There is no mechanism to hold it in place.  How does the insert stay in place on your boats? Is there a latch? Velcro? Does the board have an interference fit? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. We are sleep deprived and ready for a solution and a good night's sleep.

Cheers,
PO

Paul O,
S/V Pelican
1989 Catalina 36  Mk I  #894
Oceanside, California
 

LeslieTroyer's picture
LeslieTroyer
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Joined: 3/13/16
Posts: 533

mine just sits there - the foam keeps it in place so it can not fall out.

Les

Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo 
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor. 

Commodore

 

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RobH
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Joined: 3/18/09
Posts: 14

I had the same issue on my 1983. The PO had installed barrel bolts in an attempt to keep it in place - they didn't work at all, and really screwed up the teak support cleats. I never used the insert - too much trouble.

I revisited the problem this year though, and saw that the real problem was the undersized cleat on the bottom side of the insert. It was rounded on the ends, and not long or deep enough to act as an adequate stop against the support cleats. I very carefully measured and made a custom cleat that just fits into the gap. I made the cleat a little deeper than the teak support cleats, so even if it were to get tipped up a little there's still enough purchase to keep the insert in place.

It's probably what Catalina had in mind with this design, but it took to more exacting work to properly execute than they may have been willing to invest in a production environment.

After replacing the old cleat with this new one, the insert sort of "snicks" into place and doesn't move at all. It doesn't impede the use of the v-berth drawers and bins as much as I thought it would, so we just leave it in. And, we haven't had a pillow migrate to the cabin sole since.

Regards,

Rob Hahn
S/V Galahad
C36 #54, US31237
Lake Superior, out of Superior, WI

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ludo
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Joined: 3/14/16
Posts: 92

I had the same issue when I spent the first night in the v-berth, the solution for me was to put some vecro tape:

I had to staple it against the insert, but so far after 5 months it still hold perfectly to the v-berth.

Ludovic François
​Hotel Catalina - Catalina 36 Hull #883
Marina Del Rey, CA

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Parsons
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Joined: 6/2/16
Posts: 95

I have considered just screwing the insert into place and leaving it there permanently.  We're just two on our boat, so we don't go into the V-berth except to lay down.  The reason for the removable insert is to allow a person to stand in that area and dress with the cabin door closed - I don't do that.  Having it there doesn't really impede getting to the drawers and drop-down bins.  I have had occasions where the insert drops out while climbing into the berth - painful.

John Parsons
"Water Music" 1999 Catalina 36 Mk II - Hull 1771
Tall Rig, Fin Keel
Bay City, MI, USA

Pelican
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Joined: 9/21/15
Posts: 34

Hi All,

Sorry to take so long to post our solution to the problem. I solved the problem of the flying insert with Velcro just like Ludo did. I was able to find 3/4 inch wide strips of "hook and loop" (Velcro)with adhesive backing at Home Depot and Lowes here in Southern California. I too needed to permanently attach the strips once cut to size. I used 1/2" T50 staples. Thanks Ludo, great minds think alike.

Cheers,
PO

Paul O,
S/V Pelican
1989 Catalina 36  Mk I  #894
Oceanside, California
 

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