Last week we brought the v-berth cushions on board as the v-berth refurbishment is now complete. When we got Rosalind, the leaky v-berth hatch had caused water damage to the cabinets, sides and base (area where we stand between the bunks) so the first job was to fix the hatch leak. We had to remove the broken old hatch, level and fair the area under the hatch and install a new hatch. After the leak was stopped we got new cushions made. Then we started the rebuilding process which was done over several seasons.
The rotten plywood at the base of the v-berth was removed (a) and replaced with a piece of Coosa, a synthetic non-rotting material (b). The base of the v-berth was then trimmed with some new plywood that was match stained and varnished.
 |
| Repairing the base of the v-berth |
The rotted plywood and carpet sides ((a) below) and the cabinets which had also suffered some damage from the leaky hatch were also removed. For the new setup we added insulation to make the cabin more comfortable (c) and then cork over the plywood, instead of the original carpet over plywood. The cabinets received some new plywood sections and were then refinished. We also relocated all the windlass electrics and placed them in a water tight enclosure ((e) left) so they are protected from any water splashing if we have to open the overhead hatch in wet conditions.
 |
| Rebuilding the upper parts of the v-berth |
This has been a significant project but now the v-berth is quite, dry and has the nice earthy smell of cork. We are looking forward to some cooler weather so we can stay onboard and start enjoying it!
