Lee cloth installation

[Dean Abramson]

I am re-installing lee cloths that the PO had had, in the salon.

The PO had had the lee cloth attached to the inner vertical surface of the lip of wood that keeps the cushion on the berth. What I do not like about that is that when the cloth is not in use, then folding it down to stow under the cushion will leave two thicknesses of cloth between the cushion's edge, and the lip. (The two thicknesses being: 1) the part that is attached to the lip, and 2) the part that is folded down against that, so that the rest can then lie under the cushion.)

I would rather that the lee cloth be attached down on to the bunk plywood, not the lip. It would be held on by short but wide screws, thru big washers, thru the grommets in these West Marine ready-made lee cloths. Lets call the first 1.5" of width of the lee cloth the "grommet-row." When not in use, the bulk of the cloth will fold outward over the grommet row, and stow under the cushion. When in use, the upward pull of the cloth (other than the grommet row) is at a right angle to the grommet row and the bunk.

This does put upward pull on the screws, whereby the PO's method put lateral pull on them. My guess is that lateral is stronger, but isn't my method strong enough?

And another question. The bunk is 6.5 feet long. The lee cloth is 5 feet long. Should I put the bulk of the non-clothed-part at the foot of the berth? It would seem to me that you want good lateral support for the sleeper's head/pillow, no? Except for a little peep/air space? Maybe leave 6" un-clothed at the head, and a 12" at the foot.

As you can probably tell, I have yet to sleep in a lee-clothed bunk "in anger." We have just used our starboard side pseudo-double berth underway, which, in the double mode, abuts the folded down salon table leaf, which makes for a serious lee restraint.

Dean

[rorik]

See if this helps.... Scroll to the bottom.....

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/cruising- ... ather.html

Or, this....
http://www.c470.jerodisys.com/470pix/47071.htm

and...
http://www.c470.jerodisys.com/470pix/47051.htm

Or......

http://tinyurl.com/LeeCloths

[mahalocd36]

ours are screwed down to the horizontal part, not the vertical wood, so I think your instincts are correct there. they are installed such that when they are in use there is one level of cloth, but that it folds back onto itself to lay flat under the cushion when not in use. I would not install the lee cloth all the way one way or the other - but center it on the berth. You have to be able to get in and out of it - possibly in a hurry.

[Dean Abramson]

Thanks, Rorik and Melissa.

The job got done today. Came out nice. I really liked Don Casey's trick of using a hot ice pick for making holes in the canvas. Very useful, and I never would have thought of that.

[Chris Reinke]

I have been considering installing a lee cloth on the port berth of my CD330. I am curious as to where/how you installed the upper lines. I have both overhead handrails in the cabin, and the handrails on the upper compartments where I could secure the lines but I am concerned about their strength.

[Dean Abramson]

Chris, mine tie to the handrails. It is kind of the only choice. I think they are strong enough.

Dean

[Dean Abramson]

By the way, I did screw into the horizontal bunk plywood. I used 8 #12 1/2" screws, with fender washers, on each.

[Paul D.]

The handrails are more than strong enough. They are throughbolted. In fact, I wished I set up my lee cloth lines that way. Instead, I set them horizontally out to the bulkheads as I was used to that set up on an old Atkins Ingrid. It works very well though.

[SeaBelle]

And have used them in heavy weather. In my experience one doesn't need or want them to extend too close to either the head or foot. One needs room to climb in and out at the foot and not to be claustrophobic at the head. If your shoulders to knees don't bounce onto the deck neither will the rest of you.