I really really want a boatmans cabin but!!

[The Lockie]

Looking to purchase our next boat. Last one was a 60' head with a cross bed. Loved it.

 

This time round I want a really trad trad. We both like the idea of a boatmans cabin at the back and a seperate engine room, preferably housing an old thumper. So far so good the boss and I agree!

 

PROBLEM!! my better half has a back problem and needs a mattress that is just right for her. The problem with the boatmans bed 'ole is that to get all those cushions to store in the bed ole they have to be thin and foam, the boss needs deep and sprung. I cannot see a way around this, a bed under the tug deck ( did I mention I want one of those too). Would not work as Jane's back problem won't allow for getting up off a low mattress.

 

Don't want to go over 60' and I would like a tug deck but it ain't a deal breaker, if it came down to choice would sacrifice that if it meant overcoming the problem,getting the boatmans and staying at 60'

 

Over to you folks Amy (sensible suggestions most welcome) there must be someone out there who has worked round this:-)

 

I really hope so as I want me boatmans!! I could trade the missus in for one who doesn't have a back problem but the resultant divorce costs would mean I couldn't afford a reliant robin never mind a boat!

[alan_fincher]

No not really, other than to say to fit separate matteress into a "bed 'ole" cupboard they don't have to be that thin. On our tug the three part mattress that makes up the cross bed is 4" foam, but we also pack pillows. blankets and sleeping bags in with them. With less in there you could have 6" "slabs" if you wanted to.

 

Doesn't help you if you need a specialist one piece sprung mattress though.

[Mike Tee]

You can still have the engine room, but make the back cabin into a permanent double - you can still have a range in there to warm the feet when cruising in winter, and with a slight extension to say 9'6", it would be a good usable space. If you are still going for around 60' total then you don't need the back cabin as recreational area.

[Peter-Bullfinch]

Our cushions aren't thin at all. We had a set of three made to measure by a local upholstery firm with good quality foam. Its not sprung. We supplied the fabric. I must admit that the foam was quite expensive though. It is available in a variety of qualities and we took the suppliers advice and he cut out the shapes. He knew it was for a sleeping mattress. The resulting mattress is quite deep but the long section is covered with a wool crocheted blanket. The long foam seat is permanently in place. The bed 'ole piece is also always left in situ. The third section sits on top of the bed 'ole piece during the day and is only used at night.

The long day seat is admittedly a few inches higher than it used to be and quite firm, but we don't really notice it and its not a problem and looks just fine, especially with the day blanket on top.

[cheshire~rose]

There are 60' boats around which have both a boatman's cabin and a fixed double elswhere. I know because we are looking at that market.

 

You would need to sacrifice some space elsewhere so a tug deck as well would only work if you had the bed under the tug deck (don't rule it out, they are much less claustrophoebic than most people think - crawl in and see how it feels)

 

It would mean that the boatmans cabin becomes a spare room for guests and gives you oodles of storage cupboard for stuff.

[ditchcrawler]

Our cushions aren't thin at all. We had a set of three made to measure by a local upholstery firm with good quality foam. Its not sprung. We supplied the fabric. I must admit that the foam was quite expensive though. It is available in a variety of qualities and we took the suppliers advice and he cut out the shapes. He knew it was for a sleeping mattress. The resulting mattress is quite deep but the long section is covered with a wool crocheted blanket. The long foam seat is permanently in place. The bed 'ole piece is also always left in situ. The third section sits on top of the bed 'ole piece during the day and is only used at night.

The long day seat is admittedly a few inches higher than it used to be and quite firm, but we don't really notice it and its not a problem and looks just fine, especially with the day blanket on top.

I found it cheaper to buy a Latex mattress and have the upholsterer cut it up. Now Diana wants one in the house as well

 

There are 60' boats around which have both a boatman's cabin and a fixed double elswhere. I know because we are looking at that market.

 

You would need to sacrifice some space elsewhere so a tug deck as well would only work if you had the bed under the tug deck (don't rule it out, they are much less claustrophoebic than most people think - crawl in and see how it feels)

 

It would mean that the boatmans cabin becomes a spare room for guests and gives you oodles of storage cupboard for stuff.

Our spare bed is under the tug deck, it pulls out into the lounge on runners to sleep on. Probably 18" high to the top of the mattress from the floor.

[Nev]

There are 60' boats around which have both a boatman's cabin and a fixed double elswhere. I know because we are looking at that market.

 

You would need to sacrifice some space elsewhere so a tug deck as well would only work if you had the bed under the tug deck (don't rule it out, they are much less claustrophoebic than most people think - crawl in and see how it feels)

 

It would mean that the boatmans cabin becomes a spare room for guests and gives you oodles of storage cupboard for stuff.

Keep looking as there are boats that have both.... we have, albeit not a full size (whatever that is) back cabin plus a separate bedroom and a engine room with, ok not a vintage engine, but a hand built Lister CS2 ... its Tony Redshaw's boat. The only sacrifice is no dinette but we can live with that. Many of the Hudsons have the back cabin and bedroom as I recall, some have the vintage engine fitted, but come at a price. Best part of your problem is the research, think of all those boats you can view. Enjoy and good luck

 

Nev

My blog for NB Percy

[Peter-Bullfinch]

Ours is a 57 trad with boatman's cabin, engine room, then permanent double, bathroom, kitchen and lounge...it all fits quite well. 1980s Colecraft with a 1970s Sabb. Love it all. No dinette but we have a drop down table in the cratch which works well, especially on warmer days.

[nicknorman]

Just to mention that for me, a downside of a mid engine and back cabin is that the prop shaft runs under the back cabin floor, which is thus raised and limits headroom. So me being fairly tall and apart from not being able to use a cross bed due to its length, I find back cabin headroom excessively restricted so that not only can I not stand up straight, I can't really stand up at all even with neck bent. Not too keen on spending lots of money on a boat that I have to crawl through! Though maybe you are less vertically well-endowed ?

Edited March 10, 2013 by nicknorman

[matty40s]

Just to mention that for me, a downside of a mid engine and back cabin is that the prop shaft runs under the back cabin floor, which is thus raised and limits headroom. So me being fairly tall and apart from not being able to use a cross bed due to its length, I find back cabin headroom excessively restricted so that not only can I not stand up straight, I can't really stand up at all even with neck bent. Not too keen on spending lots of money on a boat that I have to crawl through! Though maybe you are less vertically well-endowed ?

...and whilst he's cramming into his back cabin, he is also worried that folks may cross his back counter from breasted up boats and not avert their eyes......

[trackman]

Our boat has a back cabinet, engine room and fixed double, all in 57'.

Built by Les Wilson, who usually builds one each year.

Lark, 2 years younger than ours, ie about 4 years old, is for sale now with ABNB at well under £60k.

The drawback may be its modern engine, tho personally I love my Beta JD3.

[Tuscan]

Used to love sleeping in the back cabin with the back doors open whatever the season Being 6'2 it was a tight squeeze but we managed. Now a lot older I'm afraid we are lazy and specified a fixed double in our latest fit out.

[BargeeSpud]

 

Doesn't help you if you need a specialist one piece sprung mattress though.

You can get sectioned sprung mattresses made up, although whether anyone can make them to the OP's spec, I don't know. We had pocket sprung mattresses made for our 4'6" cross bed, one 4'x4'6" & one 2'x4'6", both about 6" thick.

[Joshua]

Just to mention that for me, a downside of a mid engine and back cabin is that the prop shaft runs under the back cabin floor, which is thus raised and limits headroom. So me being fairly tall and apart from not being able to use a cross bed due to its length, I find back cabin headroom excessively restricted so that not only can I not stand up straight, I can't really stand up at all even with neck bent. Not too keen on spending lots of money on a boat that I have to crawl through! Though maybe you are less vertically well-endowed ?

 

One solution to that problem is a hydraulic drive. We have a galley in the stern (with a solid fuel range to warm the steerer) ahead of which is our 'mid' engine room (with a Gardner 2LW), head room in the galley is just under 6ft 5", like the rest of the boat.

 

But, the OP wants a traditional boatmans cabin and I thought a BC wouldn't be a BC if you could stand up in it?

[Ally]

We have a 62' trad tug style, with mid engine and boatmans style cabin (but fitted to our needs and taste) and have also managed to fit in a 6'6" permanent bedroom with double bed, 6'6"x 4' extending to 4'8" at night, full 8" sprung mattress. The boatmans has 2 bench beds for the kids when they stay, the tug under deck is used for water tank, calorifier, electric cupboard, and general 'glory hole' as well as hidey hole for Puppeh!!

We also use the boatmans area for wardrobes and as a dining area at times.

It works well for us!

Edited March 11, 2013 by Ally

[FadeToScarlet]

Pedantic point of order- no working boat ever had a "boatman's cabin". It's a modern term.

[luctor et emergo]

Nah, it's called 'home'...

[nicknorman]

So, taking newly learned info from another thread, be aware that if you have a boatman's cabin it is a requirement that you leave the back doors open whilst getting naked to wash, procreate etc. This is another reason why I would prefer not to have one!

[luctor et emergo]

So, taking newly learned info from another thread, be aware that if you have a boatman's cabin it is a requirement that you leave the back doors open whilst getting naked to wash, procreate etc. This is another reason why I would prefer not to have one!

 

 

Don't feed the troll

[Canalwatcher]

Have a chat with the Edwardian Bed company, based in Rotheram, they may be able to help.

 

They can make sprung matresses to exact specified sizes and can put in zips to connect mattress portions.

 

No connection other than we purchased a sprung double last year with a longitudinal central fold

 

Mick

Edited March 11, 2013 by zodiak

[The Lockie]

Thanks for the replies, spent 10mins last night typing a reply on the tablet keyboard only for the site to go down!

 

Like the idea of "Lark" thanks for that. Reckon the extra 3' on a 60 footer would make for a larger saloon and loo, couple that with replacing the fixed double with a cross bed. I know the trend is for fixed doubles, but I like the extra width. So, much happier now looks like the boss and I can both get what we want.

[Nev]

One solution to that problem is a hydraulic drive. We have a galley in the stern (with a solid fuel range to warm the steerer) ahead of which is our 'mid' engine room (with a Gardner 2LW), head room in the galley is just under 6ft 5", like the rest of the boat.

 

But, the OP wants a traditional boatmans cabin and I thought a BC wouldn't be a BC if you could stand up in it?

 

Percy has a hydraulic drive... bit wasted on me re the height issue as I am not far off the ground ! We are still getting used to the options the back cabin gives us... but the stove is a godsend when cruising the deserted winter canals. (we have just sold a semi trad...so the warmth while cruising is a real novelty)

 

Nev

[DJR]

Have a look at Marquis No3, 59' Colecraft on Apollo Duck. She's ours and we originally used sprung mattresses but went for 8" firm foam from Foam For Comfort which was much better for our decrepit backs! All in a trad sytle back cabin. Pm me if you want more details.

Edited March 16, 2013 by DJR

[Athy]

Have a chat with the Edwardian Bed company, based in Rotheram, they may be able to help.

Yes, do. They made our sprung mattress which goes crosswise in our back cabin. The mattress folds two thirds/ one third so it can be flipped up to provide a corridor during the daytime, but the bed can be left made up. The mattress is 6'3" by 4'6". The cabin is not traditional, there's a wardrobe where the stove would have been.

 

We have a Gardner engine in a "mid" engine room but, as the shaft goes under the bed base, the part of the cabin floor which we use is at the same height as the floor in the rest of the boat. We have a morse control rather than trad speedwheel, so cabin height is not an issue either.

[ditchcrawler]

Percy has a hydraulic drive... bit wasted on me re the height issue as I am not far off the ground ! We are still getting used to the options the back cabin gives us... but the stove is a godsend when cruising the deserted winter canals. (we have just sold a semi trad...so the warmth while cruising is a real novelty)

 

Nev

We have the same