CD31 Port Pilot Berth

Dick Spangler · Post by **Dick Spangler** » Jan 3rd, '11, 16:41

Happy New Year All,

Some of the literature that came with my CD31 indicates a port side sea/pilot berth. It is specified in text and illustrated graphically. My 1984 CD31 has identical arrangement of lockers and bookshelves port and starboard. Very nice, but no pilot berth.

I have become very interested in this idea of a pilot berth, thinking it might make a nice upgrade, and wonder if anyone has ever seen this arrangement on a CD31? Also, does anyone know the parameters (e.g., width at head and foot as well as vertical clearance) for a good sea/pilot berth?

Thanks in advance.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Jan 3rd, '11, 18:02

What are the conditions under which you would be using the pilot berth? Large crew, a wet berth near the helm, just like that enclosed airless feeling?

It seems like a great number of pilot berths wind up being inside stowage lockers that are harder to get at than the ones they displace in the cockpit.

I am amazed at the number of boats and the various configurations Cape Dory produced, Steve.

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Jan 3rd, '11, 19:03

I believe he is asking about a pilot berth, not a quarterberth. A pilot berth is outboard of a settee (where the bookshelves are on most CDs). Pilot berths are terrific sea berths and were very common on older boats. Personally though I would rather have the shelves and storage areas, but then I sail solo most of the time and have no need for additional sea berths. Since you want a pilot berth I assume you have a large enough crew to desire it? Most CDs already have 3 good sea berths without a pilot berth (quarterberth and 2 settee berths). Typically when pilot berths are taken out of a design, the settee is pushed further outboard to take advantage of that space and open up the interior, have you measured the depth of your bookshelf area to be sure there is even room for a berth there? If there is, it would be a rather easy change to make.

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Jan 3rd, '11, 19:23

I have never seen a pilot berth on a CD31, either in real life or in photos. My guess is that there would be room only for one for a small child, at best. Think of sleeping in your bookshelf.

But I will check old literature that came with our boat to see if that is mentioned, as this rings a very faint bell.

Dean

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Jan 3rd, '11, 19:39

Dick,

I have that illustration too. It's a pretty cool illustration.

That pilot berth is quite narrow, and the forward end comes to a complete point. Bad foot space. My guess is that a child under four feet tall might fit there.

It must have been an option early on. I would love to see a photo of a CD31 (or 30 or 32) set up this way. I am curious whether any were actually built with this layout.

I would now say that it is suitable for a small child that you do not like very much. Or a dog or cat that you do.

Dean

Jeff and Sarah · Post by **Jeff and Sarah** » Jan 3rd, '11, 20:00

Have you considered simply adding lee cloths? It would be a lot easier and infinitely cheaper. There are some prefab ones out there, but would be easy enough to make with most sewing machines.

Jeff

Duncan · Post by **Duncan** » Jan 3rd, '11, 20:10

I am sure that if CD "specified this in text", it would have been a real pilot berth, not a miniature one.
This might have involved the settee being narrower, and perhaps closer to the middle of the boat, to make room for a proper sea berth.

I have seen photos of very early 28's (1974) that had a pilot berth (port side), but not of any others.

As far as I've heard to date, I have the only CD equipped with a pipe berth, by the way.
Gives her that ocean racer feeling

Jim Cornwell · Post by **Jim Cornwell** » Jan 3rd, '11, 21:30

It's hard to imagine that a pilot berth in a 31 would be practical. On mine, every last bit of shelf space is needed for gear and stores. Would you folks post those illustrations, please? Jim.

D Rush · Post by **D Rush** » Jan 4th, '11, 08:27

"Pilot Berth in Main Cabin" is listed in the Standard Equipment List & Layout Brochure for the CD31 found at:

http://www.capedory.org/specs/brochures ... layout.pdf

Tod Mills · Post by **Tod Mills** » Jan 4th, '11, 09:04

Fred Bingham suggests in his book about boat joinery that a pilot berth should have a minimum of 22" clearance above the cushion (4" cushion), 22" wide at the head and 15"-18" wide at the foot and 6'3" long or 3"-4" longer than the sleeper.

The reason for the narrowness is to prevent the sleeper from shifting around with the motion of the boat...they are shoehorned into place.

Such a berth would only be intended for use at sea.

For a berth in port, width at head a minimum of 28".

********

Your results may vary!

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Jan 4th, '11, 09:52

Todd, that sounds down right snugly!

I spent a night on Raven where it had been blowing hard from the south all day. The winds shifted to the west where I would be in the lee of a point and figured all would be well for a good night's rest. WRONG! The waves continued to come from the south and it was a roll fest. I put up my lee cloth and piled all the pillows I had around my body to keep from rolling around. It was still a miserable night but I can see the utility of a very tight bunk.

The dimensions you listed could also be had from any old pine coffin maker. The only difference might be to add a bit more cushioning and some height above.

Rest in peace while rocking and rolling, Steve.

Sorry I didn't read carefully before engaging fingers in my first post.

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Jan 4th, '11, 10:05

If you only have need for one sea berth at a time on a 31, try what we have done:

Make the starboard berth into the double, while leaving the starboard leaf on the table down. The table leaf is a first-class lee "cloth." If you leave the starboard settee backs in the folded-down position, with the back cushions still attached, it's a good single berth. (But whether underway or not, with the back folded up, this so-called "double" on the 31 is awfully tight for two adults.)

We have a canvas lee cloth on the port side.

Dean

Jim Cornwell · Post by **Jim Cornwell** » Jan 4th, '11, 10:11

Now I see that I've been looking at that graphic for some years without making the connection that the bookshelf on the port side is presented as a berth. I think it's a figment of a shameless marketeers' imagination. But it does explain how the boat could be advertised as having "berths for six" - if one of them were a bean pole (catheterized) and another Alice in Wonderland after swallowing the potion. I think I'll keep my handy shelves and lockers the way they are! Still fascinated to see photos of one of these actually built.... Jim.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Jan 4th, '11, 10:28

You could easily sleep two more on the cabin sole.

I remember when lots of boats boasted about how many people they could sleep. I don't know if this is still a practice in marketing but I do occasionally get that question. My answer is always two, Steve.

Jim Walsh · Post by **Jim Walsh** » Jan 4th, '11, 22:53

I have that illustration and never made the connection either. It was clearly a conceptual drawing which differed from the finished product. I bet no owner can affirm they have a 31 with this arragement. I'd bet my dachshund would complain if he was forced to sleep in the berth as shown in the artists conception.

The Cape Dory Board

CD31 Port Pilot Berth

CD31 Port Pilot Berth

Hmmm...

Found it

Lee Cloth

Some pilot berths

CD31 Pilot Berth?

Pilot Berth is listed..

dimensions

Try this

CD31 Pilot Berth

Pilot bearth