Sleeping on sailboats presents a unique experience that combines the tranquility of being surrounded by water with the gentle rocking motion of the boat. While comfort levels can vary depending on factors such as boat size and personal preferences, many find the rhythmic motion of the waves to be soothing and conducive to a restful night's sleep. Sailboats often offer sleeping quarters in the form of cabins or berths, providing a dedicated space for crew members to recharge during longer journeys. It's important to adjust to the boat's motion and explore different sleeping arrangements to find the most comfortable setup. Ultimately, sleeping on a sailboat can be a peaceful and rejuvenating experience, allowing one to connect with the elements and find serenity amidst the open sea.
Sleeping accommodations
Blue water cruising sailboats have different sleeping accommodations, with the simplest being a flat surface of an open cockpit. The vast majority of cruising sailboats, however, have enclosed cabins. The sleeping arrangements found in these cabins vary between boats and models, with some having a V-berth in the bow or additional sleeping spaces under the cockpit or central sleeping areas. Older sailboats have much more spartan sleeping arrangements such as pole berths or hammocks.
Comfort of sleeping on a sailboat
The comfort level of sleeping on a sailboat can vary depending on various factors. Sailboats come in different sizes and designs, ranging from small day sailors to larger cruising yachts. The size of the boat and its accommodations play a significant role in determining comfort. Larger sailboats often offer more space and amenities, such as separate sleeping cabins, comfortable berths, and even private bathrooms, which can enhance the sleeping experience.
However, it's important to note that even on larger sailboats, sleeping conditions can still be influenced by the motion of the boat. Sailboats are designed to move with the wind and waves, which can result in a gentle rocking motion. While some people find this motion soothing and conducive to sleep, others may take time to adjust or may find it uncomfortable. It's recommended to try different sleeping arrangements, such as sleeping in the center of the boat where the motion is minimized or using additional cushions or padding for added comfort.
TIP YACHTING.COM: Are you cold on the boat? Check out our tips on how to stay warm on a boat .
Safety measures for sleeping on a sailboat
Safety measures are crucial when sleeping in a sailboat to ensure a peaceful and secure rest. Firstly, it is essential to secure all loose objects and equipment below deck before settling down for the night. Items should be stowed away in lockers or secured with straps to prevent them from falling or causing injury in case of rough seas or sudden maneuvers. Additionally, it's recommended to close and latch all hatches and portholes to prevent water from entering the cabin and to ensure the boat remains watertight.
Avoiding collisions with larger boats is another important aspect of sailboat safety. To minimize the risk, it is crucial to maintain a constant lookout for other vessels, especially during nighttime hours when visibility is reduced. Making use of navigation lights and reflectors on the sailboat will make it more visible to other boats, enabling them to see and avoid your vessel. Keeping a safe distance from shipping lanes and crowded areas also helps reduce the chances of encountering larger vessels. Utilizing radar and AIS (Automatic Identification System) can provide additional information about nearby boats and their positions, assisting in navigation and collision avoidance.
YACHTING.COM TIP: You can never be too careful at sea. Read the article on How to choose the right life jacket or how to sail safely with children .
How to prepare for sleeping on a sailboat
Before going to sleep on a sailboat, it is wise to set up a radio and radar for added safety. Ensure that the VHF marine radio is properly functioning and tuned to the appropriate channel. It is advisable to keep the radio on and monitor any incoming communications, especially if you're anchored in a busy area or close to shipping lanes. As for radar, make sure it is properly calibrated and set up to detect other vessels or potential hazards. Adjust the range and sensitivity settings based on the prevailing conditions to maximize its effectiveness. Regularly scan the radar screen for any approaching vessels or obstacles that may require attention, and keep a listening watch on the radio throughout the night.
There is so much more to learn
How to sleep on a sailboat.
Sleeping on a sailboat in port is easy, but sleeping at sea requires some planning. Most sailors don't sleep for long hours at a time, instead breaking up their sleep into shorter blocks divided by working and eating. Crews can sleep in shifts, with each person taking turns watching and sleeping. On smaller boats, people can "hot bunk," or utilize a single bed at different times.
Health management on short sleep shifts
Irregular sleep can cause issues with memory, alertness, and increase susceptibility to illness. To minimize the impact of a wacky sleep schedule, sailors should avoid using stimulants in excess, stick to a regular short nap schedule, and train their bodies before setting out. Additionally, they should be aware of the hazards associated with short-shift sleeping on a sailboat such as reduced alertness, increased chance of falling, and forgetfulness.
Sleeping at anchor
Sleeping at anchor is generally safer and more comfortable than sleeping at sea. To avoid any hazards, sailors should ensure their anchor is set securely , anchor at an adequate distance from other boats, and turn on their anchor lights. They can also sleep in two blocks, checking their relative position every four hours, and keeping their cabin lights on to avoid collisions. If possible, it is recommended to tie up to a permanent buoy instead of anchoring.
YACHTING.COM TIP: Are you a experienced sea dog? then read the article How to handle a night cruise .
Getting a good night's sleep on a sailboat requires some planning and preparation to ensure safety and comfort. By following these tips and safety measures, you can enjoy a restful sleep while sailing and exploring the open waters.
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Denisa Nguyenová
Can You Sleep While Sailing?
Last Updated by
Daniel Wade
August 30, 2022
Sailing trips can last multiple days—so how do you get your rest? Can you sleep on a sailboat, and if so, how do you sleep safely?
Most sailboats have cabins with sleeping quarters. While underway in the open ocean, sailboat crews sleep in shifts between two and six hours long. Single-handed sailors wake up briefly every few hours to check their heading and watch for other ships.
In this article, we’ll cover how to sleep aboard a sailboat in port and on the open ocean. Additionally, we’ll go over the safest ways to sleep during a voyage and how to make the most of limited sleeping space when sailing with others. Additionally, we’ll cover how to sleep safely at anchor.
We sourced the information used in this article from experienced long-distance sailors. Additionally, we researched traditional singlehanded sailing guides and sleep health resources.
Table of contents
Sailboat Sleeping Accommodations
All blue water cruising sailboats have sleeping accommodations of some kind. These vary dramatically between boats and even between models. The simplest sleeping arrangement found on sailboats is a flat surface of an open cockpit, where a sleeping bag can be laid out for overnight anchoring.
However, the vast majority of cruising sailboats have enclosed cabins. The smallest cabin sailboats have a V-berth in the bow, which is a triangular bed where one or two people can sleep comfortably. Many others have additional sleeping spaces, such as a bunk underneath the cockpit that’s accessible from the cabin.
Under-cockpit berths, which are partially covered but open at one end to the cabin, are common on boats 25-feet in length to 35-feet in length. Other vessels have central sleeping areas as well, and areas that convert from dining or sitting space into sleeping space.
Older sailboats have much more spartan sleeping arrangements. Vessels with limited cabin space and low cabin height often used pole berths, which were essentially canvas cots strung up between two iron poles. Though uncomfortable, these berths are secure in rough weather and fold out of the way with ease.
Hammocks were once common on sailboats and are occasionally used to this day. Ship hammocks are not wide and rigid like garden hammocks. Instead, they’re usually narrow canvas bags with rope on each end and sway along with the boat, which (counterintuitively) can actually keep you stable during rough weather.
Is Sleeping on a Sailboat Comfortable?
It depends on numerous factors, but sleeping on a modern sailboat is generally comfortable. You can always add a foam pad to the top of the factory mattress if it’s too hard or have it redone to be more comfortable.
Weather is the primary determining factor when it comes to comfort. It’s more comfortable to sleep on a sailboat during cold days, as most sailboats have heaters of some sort aboard. However, sleeping
Is Sleeping on a Sailboat Safe?
Sleeping on a sailboat can be safe—and it’s completely necessary on longer voyages. But how and when can you sleep on a sailboat safely? The answer depends on several factors, including weather and sea conditions, the size of your crew, and your location.
How to Sleep on a Sailboat
Sleeping on a sailboat in port is no problem—and requires no further explanation. Lots of people do it for lots of reasons, including convenience and to save money. However, things get a bit more complicated at sea.
Most sailors (single-handed or otherwise) don’t sleep long hours. Instead, they break up a full (or partial) night’s sleep into two or more blocks, which are divided by working and eating. Here are the most common ways crews sleep aboard sailboats.
Sleeping in Shifts
If you have a crew, it’s pretty easy to find time to sleep safely. Each person can sleep in shifts, which keeps someone on watch all the time and in all conditions. On smaller boats where sleeping space is limited, people can “hot bunk,” or utilize a single bed at different times.
The larger the crew, the longer you can sleep. Shifts of six or eight hours are easily accomplished with three or four people on a boat, as shifts can rotate every four hours, and there will always be someone waking up at the time when a shift ends.
Sleeping on Single-Handed Voyages
If you’re sailing singlehanded, you won’t have the luxury of long uninterrupted sleep. Open-ocean sailing provides some flexibility, but you’ll still need to wake up periodically to check your heading, speed, and surroundings.
Many single-handed sailors sleep in two or four-hour blocks, interrupted every hour or two by a brief look around and heading check.
Why do Sailors Sleep Short Hours?
Long-distance singlehanded sailing requires careful attention and navigation. The sea is vast, and a small change in course can have an enormous impact down the line. As a result, sailors need to constantly plot their course on a chart to confirm their heading and reach their destination on time.
As we mentioned previously, navigation at sea is complex and requires careful attention. This is especially true on boats that aren’t equipped with a GPS-guided autopilot. Sailors must plot chart points and keep track of speed and heading to reach their destination.
Standard autopilot systems and traditional headsail-rudder self-steering systems work, but they need periodic attention to maintain the proper course. An hour or two is a reasonable amount of time to leave these systems unattended in good weather conditions—but eight hours is far too long.
Safety is a key concern and a major reason why sailors need to wake up so often. The good news is that, under most conditions, all you have to do is pop your head through the hatch and look around. No ships? No problem—at least for a while. At slow speeds, a clear horizon buys you some time before you have to look again.
However, it’s essential to continue looking out. Collisions on the open ocean happen frequently, and small sailboats are the guaranteed losers in most scenarios. Cargo ships have a turning radius of several miles, and they physically can’t get out of the way.
However, small boats can get out of the way and are expected to. Large ships may not even know you’re there, so a collision is a definite possibility. Warships are encountered occasionally as well, and these vessels can fire on small boats that get within their arbitrary safety perimeters.
Barometers can change on a dime, and so can weather conditions. Waking up to check the weather equipment can keep you out of dangerous situations, especially when storms are avoidable. Gails usually don’t come out of nowhere either, so careful observation is essential to avoid being caught with too much sail up.
Additionally, a sudden decrease in wind speed can slow you down without proper adjustments, so it’s best to wake up periodically and make sure you’re rigged in the most efficient way possible.
Managing Your Health on Short Sleep Shifts
Health is a major concern, as irregular sleep can cause issues with memory, alertness and increase your susceptibility to illness . However, there are several strategies you can use to minimize the impact of a wacky sleep schedule. But first, here are some of the hazards associated with short-shift sleeping on a sailboat.
Reduced alertness
Increased chance of falling
Forgetfulness
Poor decision making
Reduced reaction time
Navigational errors
Accidental Oversleeping
Your body can adapt to some extent, and it will get easier as the trip progresses. Eventually, you’ll wake up naturally every hour or two as you train your body through repetition. Additionally, you’ll be able to get deeper sleep in shorter periods—as long as you don’t skip regular short naps to catch up.
Avoid using stimulants in excess. It may be tempting at first, but too much caffeine or other substances can skew your new sleep rhythm and compound the effects of sleep deprivation (such as anxiety). Additionally, don’t break your rhythm even if you can get away with it.
How to Make Sleeping on a Sailboat Safer
There are several ways to make sleeping safer on a sailboat, whether single-handed or with a crew. The first and most obvious is to train yourself before setting out, so your body naturally wakes up every couple of hours without an alarm. However, always setting an alarm is a great way to ensure you’re covered.
Additionally, you can install a radar system aboard your sailboat to alert you to the presence of other vessels. Radar like this has a sleep setting that will sound an alarm if your course crosses the path of another vessel or if a collision is imminent.
Radar is especially helpful if you use shipping lanes during your voyage. Most sailors are surprised with how often they see cargo ships on the open ocean, and you should always assume that the bigger ships have the right-of-way.
Also, you should always sleep near your VHF radio—and leave it on. On the off chance that a vessel approaches, they may notice you first and call over the radio. Apart from the welcome greeting on the open ocean, radio communication can help you easily maintain a safe distance and allow the larger ship to pass without incident.
Additionally, other ships can provide you with valuable information about weather conditions and confirm your charted location or help you correct your course. A large ship can also provide a report from its powerful radar to alert you of distant traffic you can’t see.
Sleeping at Anchor
You can get a full night’s sleep at anchor, which is a major benefit of stopping in protected waters. However, even anchoring at night has its hazards, and there are a few things to do to avoid trouble.
First, make sure your anchor is set securely. You don’t want to drift if you can avoid it, as you could end up stuck on the rocks or in the open ocean when you wake up. To prevent drifting, be sure you have a large enough anchor—and the right type of anchor for the underwater terrain you’re staying in.
You must take additional care when anchoring in rough water or on windy days, as currents and wind compound the risks of dragging your anchor. Additionally, be sure to secure your anchor line properly to avoid stressing the boat or uprooting the anchor.
Be sure to anchor an adequate distance from other boats. Your boat should be able to swing 360 degrees around the anchor point with plenty of room to spare. Also, don’t be alarmed if your position is different when you wake up—there’s a good chance that the wind will rotate your boat at night.
Also, turn on your anchor lights and make sure you have sufficient power storage to run them all night. Check the lights every night and morning and keep spare bulbs on hand. This will help other boats to anchor safely and avoid hitting you in the middle of the night.
Some sailors advise sleeping in two blocks while at anchor. If you wake up four hours in, you can check your relative position to make sure you aren’t dragging your anchor. This will only take a moment, and you can go right back to sleep after.
Keeping cabin lights on is another helpful tip to avoid collisions. This will illuminate your boat further, allowing other vessels to clearly distinguish what direction you’re pointing in when the anchor lights aren’t so clearly visible.
When possible, tie up to a permanent buoy instead of anchoring. Buoys are secured by extremely heavy concrete weights. They rarely drag, and they’re a much more secure option for overnight stay. Additionally, buoys are always positioned far enough away from other boats (assuming you don’t use too much line to tie up).
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05-11-2017, 16:53
while anchored but wonder how comfortable (or not) they are down below in a seaway. Do they make seasickness more or less likely and any advice/experience stringing them athwartships vs fore-and-aft?
05-11-2017, 18:51
Boat: Cape George 31
would have to and roll at the same time to cause mischief.
05-11-2017, 19:44
Boat: Outremer 55L
between and forestay and it starts to rock with almost no roll at all. Perhaps hanging it on the diagonal would help to minimise rocking. But you definitely need a way to dampen the rocking. Im not sure about sleeping for a longer period in a hammock - doesnt the curve really mess up your back?
But the reality of hammocks as used by the old British was not about care for their sailors - it was a pragmatic solution to having no fitted furniture on the gun decks. Watch Master and Commander and pay attention to the between decks scenes. Not comfortable.
06-11-2017, 03:24
Boat: Cape George 31
might still be an issue.
06-11-2017, 08:36
Boat: Camano 41
06-11-2017, 08:46
Boat: Colegate 26
and forestay and it starts to rock with almost no roll at all. Perhaps hanging it on the diagonal would help to minimise rocking. But you definitely need a way to dampen the rocking. Im not sure about sleeping for a longer period in a hammock - doesnt the curve really mess up your back?
But the reality of hammocks as used by the old British was not about care for their sailors - it was a pragmatic solution to having no fitted furniture on the gun decks. Watch Master and Commander and pay attention to the between decks scenes. Not comfortable.
06-11-2017, 09:08
Boat: 1973 GULFSTAR 41 CENTER COCKPIT
.
06-11-2017, 10:11
Boat: Lazy-Boy, fold out
06-11-2017, 12:32
Boat: Outremer 55L
fwd. hard on the kidneys if you are a heavy drinker (of any fluids). Get a set of good mick sticks, recommend 24" for shoulders and 14-18" for feet. Not recommended for cohabitation We would also sling them out on deck while in the tropics, duty watch would wake us in case of storms or rough sea.
06-11-2017, 14:31
Boat: Lazy-Boy, fold out
, 30 wide X 60 long and 12 or 15 clues at each end, you slung them from hammock rods fixed into the athwarp ship. We used a mick stick under the head clues to keep it flat and inside the clues at the foot so it would form kind of a sack. We had to roll them every morning on wakie and stow them in the mick rack. When sleeping fore and aft the ship can rock and roll in heavy seas and you basically stayed level but when she is pounding into the seas you rise and fall with her. Still have a mick that my GGDs love sleeping in at a camp site
06-11-2017, 14:45
, aft of the (on a catamaran) above the platform between the hulls just aft of the . Great at or underway in calm conditions (but - not without both the personal beacon AND one of the (Raymarine) fobs!).....
06-11-2017, 15:26
Boat: 36ft classic timber sloop.
06-11-2017, 15:36
Boat: 36ft classic timber sloop.
06-11-2017, 16:17
Boat: 45ft Ketch
06-11-2017, 16:28
Boat: a sailing boat
have big enough to hang one. Normally the one without bars is used (indian style).
They are comfortable to sleep in - if you sleep without turning and tossing. If you turn and toss, you will find a hammock constraining.
A huge plus is ventilation - a hammock is way cooler than a foam matressed bunk - the air cools you from below too. Very nice.
A (canvas, stretcher style) bunk can be used where a hammock cannot fit.
Cheers, b.
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Any ideas on good hammock for sailboats?
Thread starter Captain Dave
Start date Mar 28, 2004
Hunter Owner Forums
Captain Dave
I would like to get a good hammock made for suspending on the rigging of a sailboat. That means that it can't be too big. Any recommendations are appreciated.
Harry Greenspun
Slumberjack Trekencamp Hammock I've been considering the same question and came across the Slumberjack Trekencamp hammock. There is a good picture at http://store.arkatents.com/sjk02trknhmk.html though I've seen lower prices elsewhere. I like it because it has collapsible spreader bars, a relatively straightforward and non-damaging mounting system, and nylon mesh which should dry out well. The whole thing packs into a very compact bag. I haven't bought one yet, so I'm interested in others' opinions. Harry Bethesda, MD Hunter 456 - "Czech Mate" [email protected]
So how do you rig it? Where do you hang the hammock from?
Walt Allensworth
How we mounted the hammock We brought a hammock on a 2-week Moorings 402CC charter in the BVI. No spreader bars, just the net. We tied one end to the mast about 4 feet off the deck (I believe there was a convenient fitting, but don't remember), and the other around the roller-furl jib. I just did a series of half-hitches up the jib, and it held quite nicely. Easy to remove too. We used it quite a bit while at anchor.
Hanging the Hammock I believe one of the sailing mags had a how to article on making a device to wrap around the headsail and support a hammock. Basically you took a heavy duty cloth or leather square, folded it in half by holding the corners, so you have a triangle. You would then put three holes, reinforced with eyelets, two of these would come together when you folded the cloth around the headsail to form one eye to hold the end of the hammock. The other eyelet would be on top of your triangle and hold your patch in place up and down with a jib, genoa, main halyard. The other end of the hammock is secured to the mast. I've not made one yet, but it looked like a good deal. You can make it pretty much any size patch you need to support different weights. I like the idea of distributing the weight on the jib over a larger area, especially if you doing this over a furled jib.
Doesn't that put a lot of stress.... on the forestay? And how would you suggest rigging a cutter with an inner forestay?
Hanging a Hammock Save your money and your storage space by buying an inexpensive hammock with no spreaders. If you get to Mexico you can get a nice one off the street for about $10. You may also want to check out overstock.com. They have great discounts on hanging chairs and some high-end hammocks. To hang a hammock on my 450 I attach one end to a spare halyard that has been wrapped around the mast and the other to the clew of my roller furling jib. I've also tied a line around the furled jib and had no problems with it slipping. Good luck!
newly anonymous
get a clew! We unfurl the roller-furling jib until the clew is three or four feet from the forestay, and then clip the hammock to the clew with a caribiner. The sail spreads the load on the foil, and the added benefit is that the exposed section of the sail provides a gentle rocking motion if there's a breeze.
Run your..... ...hammock to the 2 ends of your spinnaker pole. Set the lopping lift on the outboard end to adjust the height. Great setup. Best sleepin' in the house!!
Hammock/spinnaker pole?????? I'm trying to visualize how that set up works??
Monty K. VanderMay
hammock i recently purchased a few items from taylors army surplus on ebay and recall they have a couple of different hammocks, you might want to check them out.
We have one We purchased it from West Marine. Put one end on the mast and tie the other around forestay/jib. Very relaxing at anchor/dock. One word of caution, tried using it when under motor on a no wind day ... quite a ride when the wake of another boat went by!
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Forums > Sailing > > General
Sleeping in a hammock in a boat.
NSW, 309 posts
My 16yr old said he thought it would be a good idea to hang hammocks into our Endeavour 26, instead of building a V berth. The boat is not fitted out with much. So plenty of room to hang them either side of the companion way as you walk in. Has anyone tried this?
NSW, 1265 posts
Nice idea, but you would need room for the hammock to swing. Plus you need a very strong attachment point at each end. I can imagine the bow end would be OK, but not so sure of the bulkhead end. Fastening through the deck might work.
LooseChange
Nsw, 2140 posts.
I'm not a fan of hammocks, they are bloody uncomfortable as you can't lay straight in them and end up with a bent and sore back, plus if you are a person that sleeps on their side then that is out too.
Select to expand quote LooseChange said.. I'm not a fan of hammocks, they are bloody uncomfortable as you can't lay straight in them and end up with a bent and sore back, plus if you are a person that sleeps on their side then that is out too. I have one of these. Quote comfortable. Lay straight. They are much better than an ordinary hammock. hennessyhammock.com
NSW, 1237 posts
TAS, 2446 posts
Select to expand quote valo said.. LooseChange said.. I'm not a fan of hammocks, they are bloody uncomfortable as you can't lay straight in them and end up with a bent and sore back, plus if you are a person that sleeps on their side then that is out too. I have one of these. Quote comfortable. Lay straight. They are much better than an ordinary hammock. hennessyhammock.com Hi Valo With the Hennessy do you still lie along it like a conventional hammock Regards Don
Build yourself a nice comfy v-berth and he can sleep on deck in a hammock.
NSW, 7534 posts
I spent 12 months on a warship sleeping in hammocks. Real hammocks with horsehair mattresses. They are superb to sleep in when rigged correctly. The downside in the case on warships is they have to be stored in the hammock bin during the day. Coming back onboard after a culture run ashore meant searching in the bin in the dark for your hammock and then slinging it. Some people never seemed to master this bit! The messdecks had hammock bars just above head height and the hammock is best rigged fairly taunt. The shape of the hammock is very dependent on how the clews were adjusted. This where fitting a hammock to a 26 footer comes unstuck. The canvas base is about 7 feet long, the clews add another 5 feet overall and then the ropes either end on top of that. Even if the ring on one end was attached to a bulkhead you would run out of room in the saloon.
WA, 396 posts
12323 posts
QLD, 12323 posts
Select to expand quote Ramona said.. I spent 12 months on a warship sleeping in hammocks. Real hammocks with horsehair mattresses. They are superb to sleep in when rigged correctly. The downside in the case on warships is they have to be stored in the hammock bin during the day. Coming back onboard after a culture run ashore meant searching in the bin in the dark for your hammock and then slinging it. Some people never seemed to master this bit! The messdecks had hammock bars just above head height and the hammock is best rigged fairly taunt. The shape of the hammock is very dependent on how the clews were adjusted. This where fitting a hammock to a 26 footer comes unstuck. The canvas base is about 7 feet long, the clews add another 5 feet overall and then the ropes either end on top of that. Even if the ring on one end was attached to a bulkhead you would run out of room in the saloon. No bulkhead in my little Endeavour 26. So plenty of length. It will just be working out the the best spots to install the fixing points. Definitely not through the deck. Too many protrusions and things to trip over as it is. Maybe into the Anchor locker and back to either side of the companion way. Buying another hammock and some fixing points will definitely be cheaper and quicker than building a V berth.
Select to expand quote valo said.. No bulkhead in my little Endeavour 26. So plenty of length. It will just be working out the the best spots to install the fixing points. Definitely not through the deck. Too many protrusions and things to trip over as it is. Maybe into the Anchor locker and back to either side of the companion way. Buying another hammock and some fixing points will definitely be cheaper and quicker than building a V berth. Central ring on the back of the anchor locker for both hammocks. Then rings on either side of the rear cabin bulkhead about deck height for the other clews. The hammocks need a bit of room to swing. Will need hand holds on the deck head to swing yourself into the hammock.
WA, 106 posts
NSW, 2455 posts
I would suggest trying a real hammock first. Navy style hammocks have a stiff horsehair mattress about about 50cm wide and 50mm thick and normal sheets and blankets are used along with a pillow. The shape and comfort of the hammock is very dependent on the adjustment of all the clew lines. You sleep in a hammock the same as you do in a normal bed if it's rigged correctly. You can lay on your side. Loosechange was not a Dibdab so he probably was one of the failed to correctly sling a hammock people! I also had the dubious pleasure of sleeping in a parachute hammock while on a survival course. This entailed folding the parachute along the seams so that I had half a dozen panels under me and the others arranged so I was sleeping in a tent. Stretched between two trees this got me off the ground but it was not like sleeping in a hammock. With just a few layers of the parachute under me and wearing a flying suit I was pretty cold! If your planning on sleeping onboard you are going to have to wear some seriously heavy clothing in the hammocks pictured above.
VIC, 5904 posts
sliding slightly more off topic ....An old ex army hammock was great when camping , best sleep ever ! had a roof and fly netting also !! swing in between two small trees dry as a bone in the rain !!!
Select to expand quote Ramona said.. I would suggest trying a real hammock first. Navy style hammocks have a stiff horsehair mattress about about 50cm wide and 50mm thick and normal sheets and blankets are used along with a pillow. The shape and comfort of the hammock is very dependent on the adjustment of all the clew lines. You sleep in a hammock the same as you do in a normal bed if it's rigged correctly. You can lay on your side. Loosechange was not a Dibdab so he probably was one of the failed to correctly sling a hammock people! I also had the dubious pleasure of sleeping in a parachute hammock while on a survival course. This entailed folding the parachute along the seams so that I had half a dozen panels under me and the others arranged so I was sleeping in a tent. Stretched between two trees this got me off the ground but it was not like sleeping in a hammock. With just a few layers of the parachute under me and wearing a flying suit I was pretty cold! If your planning on sleeping onboard you are going to have to wear some seriously heavy clothing in the hammocks pictured above. Thanks Romana. First thing is that I have had this hammock for about 10yrs now. I find it very comfortable. Sleep on my back or side. Thinness is remedied with a mat. Cold with a sleeping bag. I prefer it to sleeping on a mat on the ground in a tent. In saying that. Where would I get a navy style hammock these days?
The problem with a hammock is you wont have settee seating. I don't think I could live with not having somewhere to sit or take a quick snooze while sailing. Bet it's easier to leap off a seat than struggle out of a hammock for a quick exit to the deck!
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Self Leveling Bed
Discussion in ' Boat Design ' started by Bahama , Jul 2, 2010 .
Bahama Junior Member
I was talking to some family members about my thoughts on building a boat and one joked that they didn't see a self leveling bed on my plans. We laughed but it did make me wonder about some people who occasionally deal with sea sickness, are selve leveling beds available to people or is the hamock their only choice in the marketplace? I ask becuase it occured to me that there are really only 2 basic solutions to this: (1) hanging the boat from a pendulum point above, or (2) balancing upon a pendulum point below; both prone to problems. The problem with hanging is that a large bed would drastically move about the cabin if hung high, and so that's out; hanging from above at a lower axis point would solve the wild horitzontal movement, but it would require lots of ballast, enough that it would alter the center of gravity on a boat; and balanced from below is great until you decide to get in our out of bed... or worse, the 280 Lb. husband gets up only to roll his 90 Lb. wife onto the floor. But, then it occured to me that this could be solved by "borrowing" some of the weight used as ballast and use that as your pendulum point. to simplify things I would picture 2 separate ballast weights for an X and Y axis, and the weights are simply balanced upon a rod with bearings located in the middle top portion of the ballast. Then cables and pullies are used to reach the bed and would be located from BELOW on the 4 points of the bed. The cables would pull down on the opposite side of the movement to keep the bed level--the bed would still move up and down, but it would be level. The ballast movement will move at a different speed to the bed because the bed height and/or width is probably different than the swing of the ballast. But this is easily solved through the use of a lever and/or gear system. In fact, you could have a master ballast movement gear that moves the gears of 2 or more beds or other items if you wish. The weight just needs to be substantial enough to overpower most any weight shift of the person(s) sitting/lying on the edge of the bed. The weight needed is directly related to the leverage or gear ratios used, but the weight for each axis would need to be at least 1000 Lbs. for you to see very little dip movement of the bed as you shift around. And I suppose for rough seas jerking up and down (since the level part would be basically smoothed out), some form of shock absorbers could be installed to easy the vertical jerk impact. This idea came to me and I thought that I'd toss it out for public domain ownership for any sea sick people out there who'd like to sleep better on a boat; and also to explore the idea more because I'm curious if something like this has already been done. I personally like the idea of being rocked to sleep and also to be waken up if there is severe weather that I wasn't counting on; but if someone did install such a system they could come up with other ways to alarm themselves if the weather got bad... e.g. I can think of several easy to make electronics projects that I could make that would sound an alarm if the movement got too rough. Well, there's one amongst the many wacky ideas that float through my head at blazing speeds! Let me know what you think; and if there are any better ideas to this Dr. Seuss gizmo bed. Take care.
mark775 Guest
Bahama, nothing wrong with a gimbaled bed, if one desires but the "pinch factor" of a thousand pound weight is murderous (deadly), and to be effective, the weight has to move to the wrong side of the boat (the low side). Hammocks have been used for thousands of years for a reason. I love the fact that you're thinking about stuff but "next idea, please"!
mark775 said: ↑ Bahama, nothing wrong with a gimbaled bed, if one desires but the "pinch factor" of a thousand pound weight is murderous (deadly), and to be effective, the weight has to move to the wrong side of the boat (the low side). Hammocks have been used for thousands of years for a reason. I love the fact that you're thinking about stuff but "next idea, please"! Click to expand...
tom28571 Senior Member
A questions is, will a level berth make a significant difference in preventing sea sickness? Much of the motion would still be there. For me, the vertical accelerations are the main culprit. That is why the best sea berths are in the aft part of the boat and near the roll center. I find something comforting in the lee cloth and the side of the boat restricting my body movements. I thought hammocks were typically strung athwartship.
apex1 Guest
Bahama said: ↑ But I do see what you mean about losing some lateral energy from the ballast. It's not sticking out there as much and so now you have just dead weight ballast rather than it truly pulling in the direction that you want. Which brings me to another question, but I'll post that with a different title. Click to expand...
Perm Stress Senior Member
Source of seasickness is inside the head of a human (inner ear, where we sense direction of gravity force and accelerations, and sufficient training of brain to correctly process the data), not outside in the boat, bed or sea. In 20 years I have noticed that gymnasts (those who rotate and jump wild on trapezes, rings, horses... ) are never sea sick.
To be sure, I have never been in a hammock. I always select a berth longetudinal and wouldn't have thought of one athwart. Time to watch an old movie, I 'spose, and find out... Captains Courageous tonight, maybe, if I can find where I put it!
Jeremy Harris Senior Member
Personally, I've only ever found seasickness to be a problem when standing or sitting, usually when trying to read or do chart work with no view of the horizon. It doesn't seem to be a real problem, at least for me, when lying down trying to get some sleep. Your idea reminded me of something I did as a student, though. The legs on the bed in my rented room broke. I decided it might be fun (we're talking hippy era here............) to suspend the bed from the ceiling on wires, so that's what I did. Quite apart from the extreme hassle I got from my landlord when he found out, I can say with certainty that this arrangement made me ill, on dry land even without the customary student intake of intoxicating substances................
CDK retired engineer
Interesting ideas. Due to spine damage I can only sleep on an incline of 5-8 degrees, but I would very much like to sleep on a waterbed. Any suggestions?
Freeze it? I know you were joking but... a waterbed - there's the gimbaled bed (with sloshing sounds to sleep)!
Jeremy Harris said: ↑ Your idea reminded me of something I did as a student, though. The legs on the bed in my rented room broke. I decided it might be fun (we're talking hippy era here............) to suspend the bed from the ceiling on wires, so that's what I did. Quite apart from the extreme hassle I got from my landlord when he found out, I can say with certainty that this arrangement made me ill, on dry land even without the customary student intake of intoxicating substances................ Click to expand...
rasorinc Senior Member
Design a gimbal bed as Mark suggested with roof gutters on the sides for throwing up in. You could have pumps pushing sea water full time down the gutter to keep them clean and the sound would help you sleep.
messabout Senior Member
I think that Apex was being very polite with his comments. As I read them, he hints at the wisdom of avoiding boats if mal de mer may be a problem. To paraphrase; "If you cant stand the heat, then stay out of the kitchen". Gimbaled "beds" might even increase the likelihood of motion sickness. Reaching for absurdity, I propose that the bunk be fitted with a gyroscope. On second thought, gyro precession might muddle the arrangement. My own experience with discomfort is linked to roll and pitch cycle time. Lumpy seas, where the boat bounces around like a motocrosser, bother me not at all. It is the long pitch cycles that disturbs my innards. Big, heavy,boats running in long swells, I try to avoid. Reeetchhhhh.
BATAAN Senior Member
Check out the swinging Captain's bed on the whaler "CHARLES W MORGAN" at Mystic Seaport. One skipper has his wife aboard and had the carpenters make him a leveling bed. I worked there many years ago but remember this as being very unusual on ships.
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Crag Cay Senior Member
One of my ships had the whole of the officer's wardroom gimballed. Made it possible to gather for pre dinner drinks even in a gale. Nothing worse than having to hold on when you've got a pink gin in one hand and some tasty nibbles in the other.
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I think anyone with a modicum of ropework ability could convert any standard hammock to a "three-pointer" with a length of dowel and a few lashings. If you have a keel stepped mast, it's usually possible to rig a hammock on the centerline with some sort of fitting on the below deck portion of the mast. Nicer than a berth in hot weather, because your backside stays well-ventilated!
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uspirate said: just curious, how was the tension on the forestay? scary? Click to expand...
If you have a deck-stepped mast with a decent compression post, you can often rig a hammock below. You can attach a hammock above-decks to the forestay with a furled jib on a roller furler by using something like the ATN Tacker around the furled jib with the spinnaker halyard to support the weight.
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Safety & Seamanship
Seaberths Examined
The design of offshore production-built sailboats often overlooks a crucial element in crew comfort and safety—the seaberth. so what qualifies as a proper seaberth.
Whether you’re crossing the Gulf Stream to Bermuda or the Bahamas, racing to Halifax or Hawaii, or just cruising coastal waters, having proper sea-berths for the off-watch crew is an often neglected, yet vitally important element of a good offshore boat. Why are good seaberths a shipboard necessity? Anytime a vessel is underway for more than a few hours, a rested skipper and crew are essential for the safe operation of the boat.
Even in this day of sophisticated electronic navigation, boats are occasionally lost while entering an unfamiliar port at night or in foul weather. Often a major factor contributing to dire mishaps like these is the lack of seaberths on board, which can lead to an exhausted and mistake-prone crew that’s yearning to get ashore as soon as possible. A well-designed seaberth not only ensures comfort for its occupant during time afloat, but also provides the security necessary to minimize the possibility of injury from being launched across the cabin in the case of a knockdown, broach, or other drastic change in course.
We are beyond the age of Lord Nelson’s navy when hundreds of sailors aboard a man-of-war slept in hammocks slung a regulation 18″ apart. For generations of sailors, hammocks were the seaberth of choice. These simple devices maximized space, stayed comfortably level as Jack Tar gently swung to the roll of the ship, were easy to enter and exit, and did double duty when stacked as protection against incoming cannon balls.
These days, unless you’re single or double-handing, in which case one seaberth may be sufficient, half the number of crew, plus one, is the minimum number of proper seaberths PS recommends.
An extra seaberth allows non-watchstanding guests or seasick crew to be comfortable, yet out of harm’s way while the boat is being worked. If unoccupied, an extra seaberth provides secure stowage for duffles, laptops, or other sensitive items. To prevent frustration and seasickness, sea-berths should be assigned, located, and prepared in advance of setting sail, especially at night or during heavy weather when a tired crew just wants to undress and fall into a welcoming bunk, rather than face the chore of emptying and making up the berth.
What makes a proper seaberth? Despite a broker’s alluring words or a glossy advertisement featuring flowers and hors d’oeuvres in a seductive interior, a seaberth is not just a salty name for a bunk cushion secured by fiddles. Location, dimensions, and detailing all are important elements as a functional seaberth is more than the sum of its parts. Size, shape, lighting, ventilation, noise, cushions, ease of access, lee cloth/bunkboard functionality, view of navigational instruments, even the quantity of pillows are the more important considerations when designing and fitting a seaberth.
Location, Location, Location The best location for seaberths can be a lively topic of discussion. Generally, a good seaberth is situated aft of the mast, where the pitching motion is least. Although a forward cabin may occasionally be an excellent place to sleep, particularly while motoring in flat water or sailing downwind in consistent breezes, a forward cabin is not a good location for a seaberth due to the increased motion underway, the noise of waves drumming against the flat panels of the bow, the triangular shape of the V-berth, and the difficulty of providing leak-free ventilation.
Because the motion of a boat is less appreciable lower in the hull, a good cruising seaberth is best located lower, rather than higher in the interior. Although rarely acceptable on a racing boat, sleeping on the leeward side provides an excellent compromise of reduced pitch, roll, and noise, as a leeward bunk is low in the boat and gravity becomes an ally to assist in keeping one securely in the bunk.
Additionally, the lullaby of water swishing along the lee rail can sooth one to sleep. In an emergency, a comfortable temporary seaberth can often be improvised by laying a bunk cushion on the cabin sole (the lowest habitable location on most boats,) and using sail bags and duffles as cushioning.
Ideally, a seaberth should be located parallel to the centerline of the boat. If not, as the boat heels, the bunk’s lengthwise axis will change from horizontal. In such a case, the more the boat heels, the less effective the bunk becomes, as sleeping with your feet higher than your head, (or vice versa), may cause vertigo or other unpleasant effects. Even a few inches of bunk asymmetry relative to the centerline can make a big difference. This rules out the use of athwartships (crosswise) berths as a seaberth while underway.
A proper seaberth is at least 76″ in length, 22″ to 28″ wide along its entire length, and a minimum of 24″ from the top of the bunk cushion to the overhead. Seaberths of these approximate dimensions provide a snug fit for security, yet allow enough volume for pillows, blankets, clothing, and the taller or wider-bodied crewmember. Any narrower or shallower, and the seaberth begins to assume the ambiance of a coffin with the comfort of a torpedo tube. Any wider, and the occupant can roll uncomfortably from side to side as the boat rolls, pitches, or yaws. Extra wide or double berths can effectively be converted into two seaberths using lee cloths and/or removable bunk boards.
Except for the proximity to the engine room, the time tested aft “quarter berth,” as found on a Cal 40 and many other mature designs, is often the quintessential seaberth. Even more modern designs such as the Catalina 42 can benefit from retrofitted seaberths.
Another excellent seaberth is a main cabin settee. With a large number of crew, settees sometimes suffer from traffic and disruption due to cabin lights, galley and nav station noise, and sunlight from the cabin ports and hatches. But with the use of lee cloths, window and hatch curtains, eye shades, and foam ear plugs, most such disruption can be minimized for those sailors using a settee as a seaberth.
The easiest to install, and perhaps the most comfortable seaberth is the pipe berth. Pipe berths have been around for generations, and remain the seaberth of choice on race boats where windward side crew weight is paramount.
Pipe berths are usually rectangular aluminum or carbon fiber tubular frames that are hinged to the hull, and are lightweight, strong, and can be racked two, or even three high. Even a frame constructed of PVC plumbing pipe, or a hinged plywood board with a cushion can make an inexpensive yet comfortable pipe berth.
Pipe berths offer the advantage of being easily retrofitted in many areas aboard even the smallest boats. Lowered to a near vertical position, a pipe berth can also double as a back rest for a lower bunk or settee. Surprisingly, the biggest advantage of pipe berths is their comfort, as they can be lowered for access, then leveled for sleeping using the 4:1 purchase system.
Another excellent seaberth is the pilot berth, located above and outboard of settees on some boats. In fact, the best seaberth on a boat like the Santa Cruz 50 or 52 is the main cabin pilot berth, as it is out of the way of traffic and noise.
But on many designs, the pilot berth is not an option, as this space is dedicated to book shelves, entertainment consoles, and even water ballasting tanks. Unless well designed and constructed early on, pilot berths are often too narrow, uncomfortably shaped, or compromised by the boat’s frames, stringers, chain plates, or other hull structures.
For shorthanded sailing, a “wet berth” is a vital asset to boathandling and safety. A wet berth is a secure rest area protected from inclement weather where the skipper or watch stander can rest (often in foulies), immediately available to lookout, steer, trim, or perform other boat handling responsibilities. A wet berth might be a cushion placed on the floor of the cockpit, in the lee of a dodger, or below in a pilot house where the navigation instruments are readily visible. Ideally, a wet berth is below out of the elements, adjacent to the companionway, with a good view of the compass, radar, depth sounder, and chart plotter, and with the autopilot and auxiliary engine controls also readily at hand.
Lee Cloths Every good seaberth will benefit from fine-tuning to provide comfort. Except for pipe berths, a rectangular lee cloth is the primary means of securing an occupant in a seaberth. Although a satisfactory lee cloth can be made from old sail cloth, the best lee cloths are sewn using breathable acrylic canvas such as Sunbrella™.
Where possible, lee cloths should extend along the full length of the bunk and be secured in a vertical plane, or angled slightly inward toward the sleeper. Unfortunately, commercially available lee cloths, such as those available at West Marine, are too short (45″) to restrain both head and feet from hanging out of the seaberth. In addition, many commercially available lee cloths are made of less than substantial vinyl plastic mesh, which may give an unpleasant feeling to bare skin and rip at inopportune moments. Consequently, most good lee cloths are custom-made.
As noted, a lee cloth should be as long as possible, and rise at least 12″ above the top of the bunk cushion. The bottom edge of the lee cloth can be secured with either a batten and screws, or through bolted at 6″ centers to the bunk top. An even better method of securing a lee cloth is a bolt rope that is sewn to the bottom edge of the cloth and then inserted in a bolt-rope track, (plastic or aluminum, available from most canvas makers), which is screwed to the bunk top. This allows for easy removal of the lee cloth for washing.
If the bunk cushion is double wide and lee cloth placement is difficult, bunk boards can also be used in lieu of lee cloths. In the situation where neither a bunk board nor a lee cloth is an option, a low-stretch line can be inserted and sewn along the bottom edge of the lee cloth, and tautly secured to points at the head and foot of the bunk cushion, so that the bottom of the lee cloth rests along the top of the bunk cushion. When not in use, lee cloths can be laid flat and tucked out of the way under the bunk cushion.
Lee cloths are often subjected to considerable abuse and side force, so the top edge and corners of the lee cloth need reinforcing. The grommets on the upper corners should be laced taut with 1/4″ line on an upward-sloping 45-degree angle to securely anchored padeyes or the equivalent. And the two mid grommets need to be tensioned vertically to overhead padeyes. Even better, they can be run over an overhead handrail. The handrail will also assist the berth occupant in recovering from the horizontal position.
Tensioning lee cloth lines is usually a haphazard affair. The best adjustable knot is the rolling hitch, which can be slid along the support line to achieve proper tension. A better solution is a friction plate that can be fashioned from a simple 2″ x 4″ x 3/16″ rectangle of wood, or a dowel, with two holes drilled into it that provide an easily adjusted purchase.
Seaberth Accessories Next to location and lee cloths, ventilation is the most important consideration for a good seaberth. Unfortunately, ventilation from nearby opening ports often admits water as well as air. An excellent alternative is the use of an electric fan. PS recommends that sea berths be ventilated with a fan mounted at the head of the bunk where possible. Such a fan should be quiet, adjustable, miserly on power consumption, and produce no radio interference.
Lighting for a seaberth is available in many options. One good option that helps maintain night vision is the use of a red-white combination light. Even having a battery powered headlamp available in each seaberth is sufficient.
Another aid for a good seaberth is the use of foam earplugs. While they may not be for everyone, they can dampen annoying sounds and muffle engine and radio noise to an acceptable level. Of course a skipper or navigator must always sleep with one ear open, and leading a “signal line” from the seaberth to the helm can facilitate this awareness. This is particularly useful when sailing shorthanded, or with inexperienced crew.
As experienced distance racers know, when possible, crew should sleep in seaberths with their feet forward. This practice lessens the chance of head or neck injury in the event of unanticipated rapid deceleration, as in the case of a collision with a whale, or when being tossed about by larger than average waves. If venturing into areas of potentially rugged upwind conditions such as the Baja Bash, crossing Hawaiian Island channels, or the Windward Passage, it is also recommended to consider installing seat belts across each seaberth as a measure to prevent airborne crew.
Such a measure would have been appreciated earlier this winter when a crewmember aboard one of the boats competing in the Global Challenge suffered a dislocated hip and bone fragmentation after he was thrown from his berth when the boat became airborne following a hit by a particularly large wave while en route from Australia to South Africa.
Safety is paramount in this event, and the 72-foot vessels competing have purposely designed seaberths for all off-watch crew. Granted, relatively few of us will ever voyage through this patch of ocean aboard our boats, but the point is clear—offshore and ocean sailing vessels should have good, properly equipped seaberths. And given the growing popularity of cruiser-friendly rallies and races—the ARC, the Caribbean 1500, the Newport-Ensenada Race, and the Baja Ha-ha among them—having a sufficient number of properly equipped seaberths on board shouldn’t be regarded as optional.
Also With This Article “Where are the Seaberths?”
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Really REALLY good article; and I am relieved as well as amused to discover that the saloon berths in my own little cruising boat fit all of Darrell’s specifications to a tee. Thanks for the enlightenment and confirmation!
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Hammocks 101
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World War II US Navy Hammock and Clew Tutorial
by Derek Hansen
January 25, 2013
95 Comments
In doing research for my book, I became intrigued by the hammocks used aboard sailing ships. From what I could discover, the basic design of the “navy hammock” hadn’t changed for hundreds of years, since the time Columbus brought the hammock from the new world until the Korean War (to see some naval hammocks in action, I highly recommend the Horatio Hornblower series by A&E ). I wondered if that was a testament to its utility and convenience and maybe even its comfort. My grandpa, who served in the US Navy during World War II, said that he loved his navy hammock and said that many sailors brought them home because they thought they were so comfortable.
I’ve slept in a lot of hammocks, and while I’ll take any hammock over the ground, there are some I prefer more than others given a choice. In looking at reference photos and design parameters, I presumed that the navy hammock couldn’t be very comfortable—at least compared to Brazilian-style hammocks I enjoy—since the navy version is much narrower and shorter and is hung with a shallow sag. So when the opportunity came to buy a vintage World War II US Navy hammock from eBay, I didn’t hesitate to do some first-person research.
As far as I could determine, the hammock I purchased still had it’s original clews, or hammock suspension, with natural fiber rope nettles and a steel O-ring. The hammock itself was made from a thick piece of canvas and was very stiff (likely due to its age). There are 12 steel grommets on each short end. The fabric was stained in a few places and had a variety of unpleasant smells (I can only imagine the stories behind each one!). After a few hand washings, the canvas became more flexible and the stains and smell were minimized (although my kids still say it stinks). Each clew has 12 nettles and each nettle has a bight at the end that attaches to the hammock through a grommet. A piece of 5/8″ (1.6 cm) thick hemp rope, approximately 41″ (104 cm) long threads through each bight as the nettle was fed through a grommet. It is an ingenious design, allowing the hammock to be quickly and easily disconnected from the clew for washing or repair work. In addition, the thick hemp rope prevents the short hammock from gathering up too much, thus retaining the lay of a bigger hammock with the size of a smaller one.
Although the nettles were looking worm, I decided to give the hammock a test run indoors. I hung the hammock with a shallow sag, mimicking the photos I had seen. To my surprise and delight, this hammock blew me away with its comfort. I was able to get a diagonal lay and I was surprised with out “flat” I felt. I believe the stiff fabric contributed to the flat lay by preventing my heavier torso to sink lower than my legs. I should note, however, that I believe sailors did not typically sleep on a diagonal in their hammocks while at sea. The sides were meant to wrap around the occupant, which helped prevent spill-outs, and allowed the occupant to rock back and forth safely while the ship was battered by the sea. Some photos indicate that sailors affixed a spreader bar, likely to limit shoulder squeeze. With the shallow sag and the way the fabric is “gathered” at the ends, sleeping in-line is also not horrible, but not my first choice. When sleeping diagonal, I had no shoulder squeeze issues.
I enjoyed a few nights in this hammock before some of the nettles finally wore through. I knew I was risking a failure with how old and worn the nettles were, so I decided to reconstruct the clew.
I found several variations for tying the shouldered sword mat knot that is used to gather the nettles together at the steel ring, but none of these duplicated the US Navy design.
Royal Navy Hammock Clew
Macrame Clew Knot
Woven Hammock Clew
I finally found a photo series showing a tutorial , that was close to the US Navy design, but it offered no other details or step-by-step instructions. I hated to take apart the original clew from my vintage hammock, but it was the best source I had to replicate the design. In the end, I had to do a lot of experimentation until I got something that worked.
I also decided to make a replica hammock and preserve the original. The folks who maintain the HMS Richmond have some great documentation on the Royal Navy Hammock , but the dimensions and design are slightly different for the US Navy hammock. My instructions are based on measurements I took from the vintage US Navy hammock.
The video is roughly 9 minutes long, but I wanted to make sure I walked through the process clearly enough. Please let me know if you have any questions!
UPDATE 3/22 : My first replica was made from #12 Duck canvas, but that proved to be too thin and eventually ripped through at the grommets. I took the #12 from the pattern on the HMS Richmond site . I’ve found that the #4 (24-oz) Duck canvas is more in line with what my vintage hammock was made from. I’ve updated the illustration to match these findings.
95 thoughts on “World War II US Navy Hammock and Clew Tutorial”
Now that’s cool. Thanks for sharing!
Sweet, always wondered about sailors and hammocks. Supposedly there was a hammock designed for the M1 Abrams, but I never saw one.
We had one in our tank but if you were over 3 feet you would not fit in it. My crew and I used net hammocks one end tyed to tanl and other to cammo netting poles that we held up our tarp with.
My dad also was in WWII and slept in one. The U.S. Navy hammock had a 2 inch cotton batting mattres on them, the ilistration above were it is lashed cosed is with mattres in it with wool/cotton blanket and a mattres sleave. This is from his Blue Jacket Manual
How to Stow a Hammock Distribute the bedding evenly over the length of the hammock leaving about six inches clear at each end to prevent bunches of bedding and blankets oozing out of the ends when it is lashed. Lower the hammock until it is breast high, and stand on the left side facing the head. Pass the lashing over the hammock and reeve the end through the eye and draw taut; this is the first turn. There are to be a total of seven turns as shown in the diagram below. Traditionally, one turn for each of the seven seas. Coil the lashing up and pass it up and over the hammock with the right hand and bring it under the hammock into the left hand, then over its own standing part and haul taut by swinging back on it. This hitch is called a marline hitch. The final turn is taken around the neck of the hammock at the foot and is secured on its own part by a half-hitch. The end is then passed neatly along the hammock under each turn. The clews are stowed by twisting the nettles round right-handed and tucking under the turns of lashing along the hammock.
Navy hammocks of WWII, when issued, came with a “Hammock Mattress” which was about a 1/2 inch thick. Stuffed with cotton or horse hair. The 2 inch mattresses were “Crew” mattresses made for shipboard use but were very often “acquired” after leaving bootcamp. We actually have 3 original hammock mattresses on the USS HAZARD (AM-240), a Museum Ship in Omaha, NE. They may have been issued later as most ships, when built in that era had berthing compartments with hanging bunks that had the 2 in. crew mattresses. and older ships, when brought in for repair, were refigured for bunks and the hammock rails removed. If you look at boot camp pictures of that era, and see the hammocks hung or being slept on, there are no 2 inch mattresses. Most hammocks, if not taken home, were often used as tarps or paint drop clothes till through overboard (according to an ex. Chief that remember doing so in 1948. It was a LOT harder to roll up the 2 inch mattress to go around the small white seabag. (See Steve McQueen walking across the docks in The Sand Pebbles.
I wish I could help you. It’s been sold off and the new owner hasn’t done much. Best bet is to try and make one yourself. Actually I’ve found the best alternative is from Tensa. They sell one and two pole anchor stands that can double as trekking poles.
Great tutorial. I’ve thought about trying this style since it would be easier to launder than my current mayan hammock…although I do have all the gear to do it. This gives me the measurements I needed and the hardest part, which is the clew. I’ve been researching this for a while and just came across your video.
Former merchant seaman with SOCONY-Mobil Oil Co. Over 50 years ago.Made mine by following Graumont-Hensel’s Encyclopedia of Knots, p.624. Canvas from sailmaker’s shop near the U.S.S. Constitution. Learned my fancy knots and rope work and applied it to the hammock. Found Chief Mate in it one day after the 8-12 watch!! Hammock retired just like me except its in my sea chest. What a life it was!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. I’d love to visit the USS Constitution one day.
Do you know where I can purchase one online? I have one like you describe too – a heavy duty canvas one that we grandkids sat on it at “the lake” over 50 years ago. Needless to say, ours finally broke and is really in gross shape. I’ve ordered another of similar size online, but the material is flimsy and it fell apart after only one year. It is hard to find really thick, sturdy ones with metal grommets and hanging rings. Aside from having one custom made (because I’m not sewing-savvy), is there a website where I can get our old “army hammock” replaced?? Thanks.
There may be some specialty shops, like those that support the USS Constitution, but its hard to find them online. One canvas hammock available is from The Ship in a Bottle, but it has spreader bars. You might ask the owner for some custom modifications if you want an authentic Navy hammock.
My focs’l Accomodation deck head is only 6 ft and length is only 14 ft and I want to accomodate 4 sailors on each side..so upper and lower hammocks. I had in mind using a box type hammock with spreaders at each end to reduce length requirement and reduce sag..any ideas where I can find instructions for this type of hammock?
Could you send me a diagram of your deck? I’d like to see what portions we can play with. The box hammocks are pretty specific. I think we can better fit the navy hammock with the traditional shallow sag. Send me an email.
did you ever able to get those heavy duty hammocks i’ve made several for friends and family
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Nice article you posted on Navy Weaving. I have been trying to locate info on the canvas material artwork also done by ole sailors or Boatsinmates. They unweave a piece of canvas then re-weave the threads into marinter designs. Anyway pls fwd me any links to such crafts if you see anything on this.
Thank you. I’m not as familiar with the technique you describe. If I come across anything, I’ll post it here.
We did a lot of canvas work on the Quarterdeck of the heavy cruiser Los Angeles,CA 135, and it was called “Macnamara Lace “. It was made by unthreading canvas, then tying designs into it. A lot of work, but well worth it when finished.
A.J. Thank you for your reply. I also remember there was a lot of this done on the Captains Gig on USS Ranger as I had the chance to ride on it back to Ranger one day. I hope to try doing some of this kind of work and use it on some of my nautical style woodworks etc.
Called Mcnamara Lace
Thank you for sharing. I am making a great hammock for myself at local beach at Monkey Moutain, Da Nang.
Hai Son Tra,
I have your book, It was a very good read and helped me a lot.
I started getting interested in naval hammocks some years ago, and ended with one Royal Navy from the 50’s, two WWII USN, one with sewn grommets and the other with brass grommets, one WWII jungle hammock and one Vietnam era jungle hammock, one thing led to another and now have also two travel hammocks (one DIY) and two Mexican Mayan hammocks. This also led me to restart my interest in knots and rope craft, and now I even sell paracord bracelets and other stuff. By the way, if anybody has info on where to find or how to make the hardware to transform a 50’s Royal Navy hammock into a cot, woul appreciate it.
I have a doubt though, about the lenght of the nettles. After you weave them, are they the same lenght?. The Royal Navy clew has the side nettles 2 inches shorter than the two in the center, so it keeps you from falling to the side. My WWII hammocks seem to have nettles all the same lenght, and they work well enough, but I prefer to give the side nettles an extra turn around the rope toggle to shorthen it. Maybe when you hang the hammock taunt like the sailors it didn´t matter. But if the nettles are longer at the sides as they appear to be in the jig, it can cause the sides to fall bellow the center of the hammock, as would a garden hammock without the spreader bar. Have you had any troubles with that?
A good source of info on different hammock making techniques for each of its parts is the book Hammock Making Techniques, by Penelope Drooker (1981), specially if you like knotting and weaving.
Ricardo, thanks for the great input! I enjoy doing the knot work as well, and it has been fun to make some of these “early edition” hammocks. You are correct on the nettles. There is a difference between the Royal Navy and US Navy hammocks with the nettles, although both do shorten the last end nettles to tighten up the sides. My jig does make the end nettles shorter. If you look closely, the hooks are set a little higher than the rest, but the for the US Navy hammock, the nettles can be all the same length. This is different, vastly different, than a hammock with a spreader bar. With a spreader bar, the nettles get progressivly longer as they move out from the center point. The jig I have is intentionally narrow and this is mostly to make the weaving process easier. In the end the nettles are roughly all the same length in the end. This mimics how a gathered end hammock works.
Yes, I have a copy of Drooker’s book. I reference it in my instructions on weaving a mayan hammock . That book was hard to find as it is out of print. For better or worse, I figured out the Mayan triple weave shortly before the book arrived, but it was reassuring to find that I was doing it right 🙂
Thanks for the answer! Great to know that the nettles end up having the same lenght. The Drooker´s book is indeed hard to find. I found it in amazon just by luck, looking around for books on hammocks, and got a used copy for 17 dollars. Right now the two offered are 100 and 200 dlls. Another book on hammocks is a coffe table book with potos that I got for one cent. The book by Denison Andrews I got it for 3dlls. on eBay, when they ask up to 60 dlls for it.
Drooker´s book covers the fabric gathered end hammock with the sewed tunnel at the end. I just wonder how come that design just got popular in recent years, when it is so simple and efective. The navies of the world began the use of nettles with complicated knotwork when it would be much easier just to make a simple sailcloth rectangle. Don´t know if it was because sailcloth was too expensive or because of the sailor´s taste for decorative ropecraft.
I can only guess as to why the Navy built the hammock the way they did. Being a veteran of the military, I can come up with a few ideas, some of which are plausible. 🙂
Space aboard ship was at a premium. I know that hammocks were a sensible solution for a number of reasons, one of them being space. Hammocks were hung tight shoulder-to-shoulder, although with two different watches, this gave the sailors more room to sleep as they would sleep in every-other hammock. Designing the hammocks with a very minimal size is no doubt part of those space requirements.
Availability of resources, nature of sail cloth, and multi-use all factored in to the design. Aboard ship, resources were not wasted, so making large hammocks completely out of sail cloth was probably a waste when a smaller size did the job. Making a gathered-end design without the nettles is also difficult due to the thick sail cloth (it just doesn’t gather or bunch up very well). The nettles performed this job much better while eliminating the “wasted” fabric on the ends that isn’t used as the bed. As you know, the hammocks also doubled as shrapnel protection — sailors would hitch up their hammocks and bring them topside where they were hung on the bulwarks to keep bits of splintering wood from impaling sailors when hit on the broadside.
For the US Navy hammocks, I know the nettles were designed to come off easily so the hammocks could be periodically washed. Rings and nettles could be removed if worn, or if the hammock was worn, so it was a useful design. I think the other navy hammocks could do the same thing, but I don’t have clear documentation on that.
I never thought about the different watches, that makes a lot of sense, and explains how they could sleep with the hammocks so slose to each other.
could a lighter material be used? like ripstop nylon in place of canvas
also what size dyneema was it for the light weight clew?
1.75mm dyneema.
also was it a full 50 feet for one clew?
It will depend on the size of your jig (how long you want the clew) and the rope diameter. I didn’t measure the dyneema version. The rope was about 50 ft each side.
Just wondering what the ring thickness is. In the clew diagram the material list state only a 3″ diameter but nothing about the ring thickness.
I’ve recommended using repelling descending rings as a place to start.
Yes. I’ve made one out of polyester tablecloth from tableclothfactory.com. You’ll need to reinforce the edging where the grommets are placed. I’m currently working on making one out if an army poncho liner.
Thank you for sharing. Cheers from Brazil.
Great Hammock, we had one back when I was a kid from my Dad. He was A WW2 Navy vet. We are having fun making a new one.
I inherited a hammock that my grandfather made many, many, many years ago. We have used it every year we’ve been camping for as long as i can remember (and long before then as well, lol). Thank you for the tutorial, because now, not only can i see how he made it, we have instructions incase we ever need to make repairs.
Derek, was that thread 1/4″ braided poly?
The sewing thread? It shouldn’t be thick at all–just regular sewing thread.
I’m so glad you posted this. My father loved his hammocks, too, in the Naval ships during WWII. He said the beds they replaced them with never compared. FYI: I’m offering a free download of my e-book “Dare To Lean Into The Curves” from August 21-25, 2014. There is a section about my father in the book. Details @ https://www.facebook.com/events/1517052355198207/ — or on Amazon.com @ http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_30?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=fall%20in%20love%20with%20the%20life%20you%20create%20by%20sophia%20ann%20montoya&sprefix=fall+in+love+with+the+life+you%2Cdigital-text%2C343
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how many hammocks or bunks were in 1 cabin? how many people slept in one bedroom on board? please help doing project on the navy and need to now these answers soon!!!!!!!!
In the old Navy ships, such as in the 1700 and 1800s, the sailors would all sleep together on a deck. Depending on the size of the ship, that might be the mess deck, where the sailors also ate, or on the gun deck, where the action occurred. How many hammocks were on each deck again depended on the size of the ship. Sailors were typically allotted 21 inches , but often slept in shifts so only half of the crew was sleeping at a time, which allowed for more room. During WWII, the conditions were similar , although there was often more room aboard ship (see also Warspite ).
A good resource is master deck plan for the USS Constitution .
Hello, I was curious as to where you got the 1″ steel grommets? I havnt been able to find them anywhere.. thanks!
Steel can be hard to find, but there are many places to get brass, which is pretty common. Harbor Freight has some inexpensive sets. There’s also a metal grommet website with several options.
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i am planning to make my own hammock using the WWII style of clew. i was wondering what size frame would i need if i was making a wider hammock of 36″ instead of 18″ in the video. would i just simply double the lenth of frame to 52″ or will it have a knock on affect somewhere else? Thank you for your help
The hammock in my tutorial is closer to 40 inches wide, not 18. The nettle loom is 18 inches, but the nettles are not the same width as the hammock for an important reason: the ends of the hammock are gathering together, making the ends narrower as the hammock reaches the end of the clew. The nettles are an ingenious method for constructing a hammock because they reduce the overall material required for the hammock itself. The nettles/clew represent the end point where the hammock is gathered together, but it eliminates the bunching the material would naturally do with other designs. This helps eliminate some ridges in the material and keeps the long edges from getting too tight.
The other reason you don’t need to make your clew loom very wide is that the nettles themselves can splay open to accommodate many hammock widths. What is more important is the length of the loom, but we can get into that another day 🙂 Email me if you have any other specific questions.
My Dad fought in WWII aboard two ships, as a Plankowner of WASP (CV7) lost at Guadalcanal, and then Lansdowne, a destroyer. He often talked of missing his hammock. Later as a Submariner, I often thought that hammocks would have been better than our too short, hard racks.
Thanks for sharing! Great story.
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Soooo cool. We had these up north at our family cottage, and I never knew their origin. Ours finally wore out and the set that replaced them are in need of replacement!
I’m going to try to make one….
Thanks and good luck!
PS are your grommets 1″ exterior dimension or interior? I’m guessing from your diagram interior, but it would help to know! Thanks again, Dunrie
Sorry, meant to write *exterior* dimension.
Exterior, yes.
Thank you for this tutorial. I just finished mine today and I love it. Having a bit of a time getting it to hang shallow, what do you suggest for a hook-to-hook spacing?
Hook to hook or ring to ring?
I suppose either would work.
Two hooks will just connect together. Use a carabiner between two rings.
Okay. So what would the ring to ring distance be?
Basically, I’m asking if I were to build a stand for this hammock, what distance apart would you suggest for the hang points?
Now I’ve lost you. 🙂 you are looking for info on setting up your hammock to a stand or indoors and you want to know the right hang height and angle? Have you tried the hammock calculator yet?
Yes. Kind of. But wondering what the hang angle should be as these are usually hung very shallow. Also it seems I should have used spur grommets as I’m beginning to see the loose ends from where the hole was cut slipping out the bottom lip of the regular grommets I used… 😕 I wonder if anyone else had a similar problem.
I use a 15 to 20° hang angle.
Hi. What is the thickness of the original rope in the clew?
I believe 1/8 inch rope
I recently toured the original city jail of Cripple Creek, Colorado. It is now a museum, jail having been decommissioned around 1972. Interestingly, to accommodate it’s number of convicts, the jail routinely used up to eight hammocks per cell. The hammocks were hung in the evening and picked-up in the morning.
Very interesting
I am going to sell my Dad’s WW II Navy hammock. Thanks for the info on how all the parts work together.
Is the clew just decorative or does it help spread the hammock load more evenly out without it?
Macrame was part of a sailor’s past times, so I imagine that some of the clew was only decorative. The shoulder sword mat weave I show here is just one example. I think it does add some structural support to the clew, keeping things tidy and secure to the ring, but you can use simple Lark’s head knots as an alternative. But digging more into your question, the clew was a solution to helping create a simple hammock design. The “bed” area on the Navy hammock was small, just 3 x 6 feet or so. If you gathered the ends of that canvas, it wouldn’t be big enough for a cat to sleep on comfortably. The clews extend the length of the hammock without adding to it’s bulk. You can also make the hammock as long as needed by just tying longer clews. The bed itself doesn’t need to change much. Some sailors would adjust the way the clew was made to either make the sides roll up tighter or looser, depending on their preference.
“ My first replica was made from #12 Duck canvas, but that proved to be too thin and eventually ripped through at the grommets” The original Navy #12 Duck canvas had handmade grommets made out of line/rope formed via of knotting. These were then stitched in, my guess is this is more durable then metal grommets?
Just noticed in the original the B-B section that houses the grommets is folded 2 full times onto itself, giving a thickest of 3 layers of canvas, would that work over the heavier canvas you used? It looks like you just doubled this area?
When I was growing up in pre-airconditoned sultry Houston in the 1950’s we built a small screened-in back porch off the back door to house Mom’s old wringer-washer, and our small dog’s doghouse; he slept there to prevent getting heart worms, contracted via mosquito-bite. When I was 11, Dad found a WWII style Navy hammock at a military surplus store for $12, and secured it diagonally under the 9′ porch roof. I entered the hammock by stepping from the roof of the doghouse below, and slept with a sheet and blanket –and my cat–all but the coldest months. People could come and go under the hammock on summer afternoons when I would lie in it reading library books. Dad mounted a small fan on the wall under the roof to keep me cool. I adored this hammock, and miss it still. It was so comfortable, and I loved being able to push a foot against the wall to make it slowly swing slowly on muggy afternoons. It was also wonderful to sleep rolled in the blanket with a warm cat during night-time rainstorms.
Cool! Thanks for sharing.
I guess that the support under your torso is based on the fact that you build the clew on a rectangular frame: this produces a hammock that is shorter in its center than at the edges and therefore provides more support in the center.
Some other clews are built on a circle which corresponds with a normal gathered-end hammock made out of a rectangular piece of fabric.
Merry Christmas
Greatly enjoyed this. Researching, came across a reference to regulation requiring 18” of clearance above hammock. Took that as clue to hang angle. 18” produces 30° hang angle if the bed is taken as only 6’; how long are the clews? Also read that some sailors substituted their own 7’ hammocks: more sag.
Seems cotton batting pads were laid upon inside the hammock in some cases, and just wool blankets in others. No mention of UQ concept, which seems truly a modern innovation.
With the generally high affection sailors seem to have held for their hammocks as beds, and their material advantages, why do you suppose militaries stopped using them? And why didn’t hammock use as beds percolate more broadly into civilian culture after discharge?
Thanks! Sounds like we’ve both found similar sources. It’s amazing how well those hammocks held up over the years.
The military used hammocks up through the Korean War. My grandpa remembers his fondly as you describe. But as modern age intercepted the military; hammocks began to seem antiquated. The rope and canvas sailor was being replaced by modern steel and rubber. The material advantages began to slow. I’ve also found sources citing sailors who complained about the hammock, so it wasn’t universally loved, I’m afraid to admit. The backlash of the Vietnam war took its toll on the military and civilian worlds having close ties so some of the hammock evangelism was severely curtailed.
Hi there OMG my inlaws just purchased a hammock that I put up for them and first thing I noticed is that the hanging rope wasn’t going to last. Me being a fan of paracord as I make bracelets etc from it I said I must find a way to copy the hanging part and replace with strong paracord. As I searched I stumbled on this video and as Law of Attraction worked it’s magic this tutorial is EXACTLY how the hanging part is. Exact design …. I got excited as it seems simple enough. However I wanted to know if I sent you a pic of the size etc could you give me an idea of how much paracord I would need? I really appreciate your help.
It should use about the same length that I show in the instruction unless you want to make it longer. Send a photo to Derek @ theultimatehang
GREAT read! A truly valuable contribution to anyone interested in Naval History or Naval Arts!
The Fort Thomas (KY) Military and Community Museum was recently gifted a 66″ long working model of the USS Vogelgesang. As we were preparing exhibit space, we pulled out another gift from a couple of years ago, a WWII era hammock, complete with ticking and an extra length of rope. You have given me the information I need to create a fascinating display. Space limitations and potential liability will not allow us to properly hang the hammock — can’t afford to have a child climb in and fall out — but pictures and the terminology learned here will allow us to educate our visitors. Thanks for being here for me to stumble across.
You’re welcome! Sounds like a cool idea and display! Hanging the hammock on a wall or shadow box would also be a great way to display it without putting it in harms way.
Hey Derek, thanks for your great tutorial! (Going to buy the book soon.) I just completed some kind of a mixture of the HMS Richmond pattern and yours. I took something like #12 canvas (300g/m2) which must be tough enough to my mind, but decided to sew the grommets like it is shown on the Richmond page. Sewn grommets can really take a lot of load, and more than metal grommets which do not really get a hold in the canvas around. Additionally I took 14 grommets on each side to reduce the load of the single bights. First tests were really nice! I’ll see how the material will last over the time. Thanks for your work! Greetings from Germany!
I like the look of the sewn grommets as well. Good luck! Post pictures!
By now everything works fine! 🙂 Here are some shots:
https://ibb.co/Tt5DBDy https://ibb.co/V38Kvdj
Amazing work! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks! Is that 50 feet of cord per clew? How much wider and longer hammock might one make for sleeping diagonally? With proportionately more eyelets and nettles? Must be more cord required for the clues of a larger hammock? What size hammock might a 7′ person want?
50 feet per clew.
You can sleep diagonally with this design. At least, that’s what I do 🙂 Hung with a much shallower angle (15-20 degrees) makes it work better.
If you want to make a Brazilian-style hammock that is MUCH bigger than the Navy version shown here, the beds are typically 2 meters long and the clews are 1 meter long a piece, making about 3 to 3.5 meters total length. Basically, each clew is half the length of the hammock body, so use that formula when you make your hammock.
Derek, my brother just gave me our father’s WWII hammock that he has had stored in his garage for the last few years. It is in good shape and includes the mattress, but needs cleaning. My father was very proud of his naval service during the war and I want to preserve his hammock. How should I clean this hammock and mattress? Any suggestions on cleaning both? I was trying to find information on the web when I found your web site. I would appreciate any advice on cleaning. Thank you! Donna Jackson
You can safely throw the canvas into a washing machine. You can also hand wash with a brush. The canvas is pretty resilient. Mild detergents work fine. The hammock I found was really soiled and I soaked it for a few days in a bucket and even used some bleach.
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The Musings of a Hopeless Wanderer
Engaging in the eternal search for the meaning of life...or a good time.
Netherlands
Monday, September 3, 2018
Tackling moscow by train and boat.
Our first full day in Moscow started fairly late since we were still catching up on sleep. Around 1, we finally were able to get our act together and get out the door.
We stopped by a cafe to get some breakfast and headed over to the Red Square. Since the festival is going on, we had to go through metal detectors. Once we cleared security, we reached the State Historical Museum which provided an entrance to the Red Square.
We walked the length of the Red Square, passing by the Kazan cathedral.
Under normal conditions, the Red Square is a large walking area with the State Historical Museum on one end and St. Basil's on the other end. On the sides is the Kremlin wall on one side and then the GUM shopping mall and the Kazan cathedral on the other side. Presently, the walking area has been considerably narrowed and the fesitval grounds occupying a large space between the Kremlin and the mall.
We even asked a stranger to take our picture!
After walking around the Red Square, we had to leave to meet up with our Metro Tour.
Moscow has famously pretty metro stations so metro tours are quite popular. We booked a relatively inexpensive tour through a tour group which met outside of the Red Square.
On our way, we passed by the Kremlin gardens and the tomb to the unknown soldier and the eternal flame.
We soon met up with our group which, fortunately, was only 5 people. Our guide told us that we were going to visit 8 stations during the 1.5 hour tour.
Honestly, a lot of the stations blended in to me so I won't be able to give you a detailed description of all of them. However, I did learn that there are 222 metro stations and the trains come every 2-3 minutes reliably. For that reason, Moscow > DC.
One of the first metro stations we visited had bronze statues all over of various depictions. Many of the statues had superstitions tied to them. For example, for a statue of the dog, it's held that if you rub the nose of the dog, you'll have good luck. Consequently, most of the statue is tarnished - except for the nose. I joked to Tomas that they probably rotate the "good luck" portion of the statue to ensure the entire statue gets polished.
However, I do remember some of the stations.
Novoslobodskaya is a station adorned with stained glass on the walls.
There was also Belarusskaya, which paid tribute to Belarus.
Another station which name I cannot remember but had pretty mosaics in the ceilings.
My favorite station was Komsomolskaya. It's the busiest station and a hub for other connecting trains. It was built during Statlin times and he wanted the station to embody beauty to set a good first impression to Russia.
I'd seen pictures of it beforehand since it's the most famous but it's so much more impressive in person.
Look at these ceilings!
Overall it was a very interesting tour. Not sure of any other city which could offer a metro tour. DC certainly can't...
After the tour, we headed back of the hotel to rest for a bit. We had purchased tickets to a tour hour boat down the Moscow river. The tickets were good for any time on any day and the boats left every 20min. We decided to knock the tour out that day and headed over to the pier.
We arrived at the pier and saw a boat by the company we had purchased from boarding. We approached and they shook their head and said it wasn't the right boat.
So we waited for another boat.
Another boat came along by the same company we had purchased from so weapproached them. Again - we were told it wasn't the right boat and the boat we were looking for was coming.
A third boat came along which was NOT by the company we had purchased from. By this point, it had been longer than 20min waiting and I was starting to suspect that the correct boat was actually one of the ones which turned us away. We approached the 3rd boat to ask if they knew which boat we should be on. However, when we approached, they waved us aboard without scanning our tickets.
So, we boarded the 3rd boat....which was definitely not ours.
We settled into an upper deck, open air table to take in the views.
We passed by pretty buildings.
The somewhat impressive cathedral of Christ the Savior.
This random statue.
After about hour on the cruise, Tomas remarked that it had been about an hour so we should be turning around soon. I reminded him that we actually had no idea how long this cruise was or where we would be dropped off. Since we were on the wrong boat.
Fortunately, it did turn around and took us back to the pier.
For dinner, we decided to go to this burger place, Black Star Burger, which our guide told us about. Tomas really liked his - I thought mine was OK. It was a decent size patty with a mountain of Cole slaw on top. We've realized that apparently Russians dislike getting their hands dirty while eating so some restaurants will give out gloves to use. This particular restaurant gave out black gloves.
Tomas modeling our dinner.
Since little mum has been asking about pictures which show my feet, I assume she wanted to see my new shoes. I recently bought Allbirds which are suppose to be super comfortable walking shoes which you wear without socks and can be washed. I didn't wear them too extensively beforehand, so that was probably my first error. I also didn't bring another pair of good walking shoes, which was likely my second error. The Allbirds were great the first two days without socks. Midway through the third day, my right foot was quite unhappy. Left foot was a trooper. So, now I have a bandaid on the heel of my right foot and wear socks.
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Ferretti Yachts and Riva to attend Moscow Boat Show 2013
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Written by Zuzana Bednarova
To be represented by Premium Yachts, Ferretti Yachts and Riva , two prestigious brands of the Ferretti Group, will be present at the Moscow International Boat Show 2013, displaying motor yacht Ferretti 530 as well as Riva Iseo yacht tender.
Luxury motor yacht Ferretti 530
Luxury yacht Ferretti 530 was very keen to undertake in collaboration once again with AYT – Advanced Yacht Technology, Ferretti Group Engineering Division and Studio Zuccon International Project . The compact dimensions, 16 meters long and almost 5 meters wide, allow the 530 yacht to deliver grand Italian luxury and cruising immersed in such comfort until now unheard of in a yacht of this size.
Ferretti 530 yacht boasts three revolutionary innovations: the full beam master cabin with chaise longue and two large open view windows that make it a real suite at sea level bathed in light, tones and the natural essences of teak. Moving the galley from the center to the aft section creates a unique open space that includes the saloon, galley, cocktail bar and the dining area, the cockpit area continues thanks to the tilting window. The roll bar free sky lounge and the spoiler allow the 530 a sporty appearance combined with elegantly formal lines.
Ferretti 530 Yacht - Interior
Riva , the iconic Ferretti Group brand, presented a new model at the historical Lake d’Iseo shipyards in July 2011. Featuring elegance and ease of transportation as its distinctive characteristics, Iseo superyacht tender , a 27 foot runabout, is destined to become a must-have for those who love cruising on both lakes and the sea, and, most importantly, design enthusiasts. It is also perfect for anyone wishing to enhance their yacht with an exclusive tender that will never go unnoticed.
Riva Iseo superyacht tender
Due to its ease of manoeuvrability and size, Iseo yacht tender is also ideal as a tender for large yachts. Innovative and elegant, it can also guarantee comfort in bad weather conditions. Besides the electrohydraulic bimini top, it was also designed with a waterproof, automobile-style soft top which protects those on board against water and the wind during cruising.
Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Ferretti Yachts and Riva to attend Moscow Boat Show 2013".
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Getting a good night's rest is important on any cruising boat. Back in the early days, a sailor was lucky to have a canvas hammock strung up in the bow of a ship to sleep in. Thankfully, today's boaters have things a bit better, but getting a good night's sleep aboard your boat is still not always easy.
How to sleep safely on a sailboat
The sleeping arrangements found in these cabins vary between boats and models, with some having a V-berth in the bow or additional sleeping spaces under the cockpit or central sleeping areas. Older sailboats have much more spartan sleeping arrangements such as pole berths or hammocks.
Hammock as a Sea Berth?
I'm sure most cruisers have hammocks aboard for lolling around in while at anchor in some idylic spot, but has anybody ever used them for a sea berth while underway? I've spent a lot of time wedged in
Hammock mounting on sailboat deck
If you have a deck-stepped mast with a decent compression post, you can often rig a hammock below. You can attach a hammock above-decks to the forestay with a furled jib on a roller furler by using something like the ATN Tacker around the furled jib with the spinnaker halyard to support the weight. Sailingdog.
Hammock for our little sailor...
My thinking is that a Hammock is one of the best ways to enjoy a good sleep when aboard a boat. It is the traditional sailors bed. If I had a young child, I would rig the hammock over a berth that has a mattress below. During the day, if in the Saloon, this would be over a settee the cushion of the leeward settee.
What Is The Sleeping Quarters on a Sailboat Called?
The sleeping quarters on a sailboat are traditionally known as a "berth" or "bunk," where you can get some shut-eye while out on a sailing trip. There are different kinds of berths, each with its own distinct style. These are settee berths, V berths, and pilot berths. While sailboats have cabins with sleeping quarters, it is important to know ...
Can You Sleep While Sailing?
Most sailboats have cabins with sleeping quarters. While underway in the open ocean, sailboat crews sleep in shifts between two and six hours long. Single-handed sailors wake up briefly every few hours to check their heading and watch for other ships. In this article, we'll cover how to sleep aboard a sailboat in port and on the open ocean.
Using a hammock during a sailing passage
Boat: Outremer 55L. Posts: 3,970. Re: Using a hammock during a sailing passage. I've used a hammock above deck between mast and forestay and it starts to rock with almost no roll at all. Perhaps hanging it on the diagonal would help to minimise rocking. But you definitely need a way to dampen the rocking.
Sailing Hammock
Jul 20, 2021. #1. No, this is not about my onboard choice in swimsuits. I've long thought about buying a hammock for the boat to mount on the deck when at anchor. The challenge is the lack of a good forward point of attachment. The forestay seems out because our furling genoa extends too far down and it seems wrong to wrap around the furled sail.
Hammocks on boats. : r/sailing
Best place to hang a hammock is under a spin pole. It works very well. Particularly nice if the kite happens to be up at the time. Tie it to the jaws so you aren't putting a bending load on the pole and use bridles or connect your topping lift to the outboard end of the pole. 2.
Any ideas on good hammock for sailboats?
The other eyelet would be on top of your triangle and hold your patch in place up and down with a jib, genoa, main halyard. The other end of the hammock is secured to the mast.u000bu000bI've not made one yet, but it looked like a good deal. You can make it pretty much any size patch you need to support different weights.
sleeping in a hammock in a boat
Buying another hammock and some fixing points will definitely be cheaper and quicker than building a V berth. Central ring on the back of the anchor locker for both hammocks. Then rings on either side of the rear cabin bulkhead about deck height for the other clews.
Self Leveling Bed
Much of the motion would still be there. For me, the vertical accelerations are the main culprit. That is why the best sea berths are in the aft part of the boat and near the roll center. I find something comforting in the lee cloth and the side of the boat restricting my body movements. I thought hammocks were typically strung athwartship.
Hammock mounting on sailboat deck
303. #23 · May 13, 2007. If you have a deck-stepped mast with a decent compression post, you can often rig a hammock below. You can attach a hammock above-decks to the forestay with a furled jib on a roller furler by using something like the ATN Tacker around the furled jib with the spinnaker halyard to support the weight. Sailingdog. Telstar 28.
How to Fit a Hammock (or two) on a Small Sailboat
Here we demonstrate how we fit two hammocks onto the deck of our 30ft sailboat. There isn't much room to lie down on our bow but with the hammocks we can 'ha...
Hammocks : r/SailboatCruising
I'm not sure what berth you're getting wet in, unless it's a cockpit bench or your ports are leaky? A hammock is good for lounging, but do consider hosting yourself a good night's sleep; or day sleep if you were on watch at night. ... On the boat I have a hammock that I lounge in sometimes, but I've never slept in it for a couple of reasons. ...
Seaberths Examined
A wet berth is a secure rest area protected from inclement weather where the skipper or watch stander can rest (often in foulies), immediately available to lookout, steer, trim, or perform other boat handling responsibilities. A wet berth might be a cushion placed on the floor of the cockpit, in the lee of a dodger, or below in a pilot house ...
World War II US Navy Hammock and Clew Tutorial
Each clew has 12 nettles and each nettle has a bight at the end that attaches to the hammock through a grommet. A piece of 5/8″ (1.6 cm) thick hemp rope, approximately 41″ (104 cm) long threads through each bight as the nettle was fed through a grommet. It is an ingenious design, allowing the hammock to be quickly and easily disconnected ...
Tackling Moscow by Train and Boat
Tackling Moscow by Train and Boat Our first full day in Moscow started fairly late since we were still catching up on sleep. Around 1, we finally were able to get our act together and get out the door. We stopped by a cafe to get some breakfast and headed over to the Red Square. Since the festival is going on, we had to go through metal detectors.
Ferretti Yachts and Riva to attend Moscow Boat Show 2013
Luxury yacht Ferretti 530 was very keen to undertake in collaboration once again with AYT - Advanced Yacht Technology, Ferretti Group Engineering Division and Studio Zuccon International Project.The compact dimensions, 16 meters long and almost 5 meters wide, allow the 530 yacht to deliver grand Italian luxury and cruising immersed in such comfort until now unheard of in a yacht of this size.
Town
Vnukovo. Vnukovo District is an administrative district of Western Administrative Okrug, and one of the 125 raions of Moscow, Russia. Most of the district is occupied by Vnukovo International Airport, a small adjacent residential area, and a separate residential micro-district. Photo: Ssr, CC BY-SA 3.0. Ukraine is facing shortages in its brave ...
Vnukovo International Airport
Vnukovo, formally Vnukovo Andrei Tupolev International Airport (named after Andrei Tupolev) (Russian: Внуково, IPA: [ˈvnukəvə]) (IATA: VKO, ICAO: UUWW), is a dual-runway international airport located in Vnukovo District, 28 km (17 mi) southwest of the centre of Moscow, Russia.It is one of the four major airports that serve Moscow, along with Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky.
COMMENTS
Getting a good night's rest is important on any cruising boat. Back in the early days, a sailor was lucky to have a canvas hammock strung up in the bow of a ship to sleep in. Thankfully, today's boaters have things a bit better, but getting a good night's sleep aboard your boat is still not always easy.
The sleeping arrangements found in these cabins vary between boats and models, with some having a V-berth in the bow or additional sleeping spaces under the cockpit or central sleeping areas. Older sailboats have much more spartan sleeping arrangements such as pole berths or hammocks.
I'm sure most cruisers have hammocks aboard for lolling around in while at anchor in some idylic spot, but has anybody ever used them for a sea berth while underway? I've spent a lot of time wedged in
If you have a deck-stepped mast with a decent compression post, you can often rig a hammock below. You can attach a hammock above-decks to the forestay with a furled jib on a roller furler by using something like the ATN Tacker around the furled jib with the spinnaker halyard to support the weight. Sailingdog.
My thinking is that a Hammock is one of the best ways to enjoy a good sleep when aboard a boat. It is the traditional sailors bed. If I had a young child, I would rig the hammock over a berth that has a mattress below. During the day, if in the Saloon, this would be over a settee the cushion of the leeward settee.
The sleeping quarters on a sailboat are traditionally known as a "berth" or "bunk," where you can get some shut-eye while out on a sailing trip. There are different kinds of berths, each with its own distinct style. These are settee berths, V berths, and pilot berths. While sailboats have cabins with sleeping quarters, it is important to know ...
Most sailboats have cabins with sleeping quarters. While underway in the open ocean, sailboat crews sleep in shifts between two and six hours long. Single-handed sailors wake up briefly every few hours to check their heading and watch for other ships. In this article, we'll cover how to sleep aboard a sailboat in port and on the open ocean.
Boat: Outremer 55L. Posts: 3,970. Re: Using a hammock during a sailing passage. I've used a hammock above deck between mast and forestay and it starts to rock with almost no roll at all. Perhaps hanging it on the diagonal would help to minimise rocking. But you definitely need a way to dampen the rocking.
Jul 20, 2021. #1. No, this is not about my onboard choice in swimsuits. I've long thought about buying a hammock for the boat to mount on the deck when at anchor. The challenge is the lack of a good forward point of attachment. The forestay seems out because our furling genoa extends too far down and it seems wrong to wrap around the furled sail.
Best place to hang a hammock is under a spin pole. It works very well. Particularly nice if the kite happens to be up at the time. Tie it to the jaws so you aren't putting a bending load on the pole and use bridles or connect your topping lift to the outboard end of the pole. 2.
The other eyelet would be on top of your triangle and hold your patch in place up and down with a jib, genoa, main halyard. The other end of the hammock is secured to the mast.u000bu000bI've not made one yet, but it looked like a good deal. You can make it pretty much any size patch you need to support different weights.
Buying another hammock and some fixing points will definitely be cheaper and quicker than building a V berth. Central ring on the back of the anchor locker for both hammocks. Then rings on either side of the rear cabin bulkhead about deck height for the other clews.
Much of the motion would still be there. For me, the vertical accelerations are the main culprit. That is why the best sea berths are in the aft part of the boat and near the roll center. I find something comforting in the lee cloth and the side of the boat restricting my body movements. I thought hammocks were typically strung athwartship.
303. #23 · May 13, 2007. If you have a deck-stepped mast with a decent compression post, you can often rig a hammock below. You can attach a hammock above-decks to the forestay with a furled jib on a roller furler by using something like the ATN Tacker around the furled jib with the spinnaker halyard to support the weight. Sailingdog. Telstar 28.
Here we demonstrate how we fit two hammocks onto the deck of our 30ft sailboat. There isn't much room to lie down on our bow but with the hammocks we can 'ha...
I'm not sure what berth you're getting wet in, unless it's a cockpit bench or your ports are leaky? A hammock is good for lounging, but do consider hosting yourself a good night's sleep; or day sleep if you were on watch at night. ... On the boat I have a hammock that I lounge in sometimes, but I've never slept in it for a couple of reasons. ...
A wet berth is a secure rest area protected from inclement weather where the skipper or watch stander can rest (often in foulies), immediately available to lookout, steer, trim, or perform other boat handling responsibilities. A wet berth might be a cushion placed on the floor of the cockpit, in the lee of a dodger, or below in a pilot house ...
Each clew has 12 nettles and each nettle has a bight at the end that attaches to the hammock through a grommet. A piece of 5/8″ (1.6 cm) thick hemp rope, approximately 41″ (104 cm) long threads through each bight as the nettle was fed through a grommet. It is an ingenious design, allowing the hammock to be quickly and easily disconnected ...
Tackling Moscow by Train and Boat Our first full day in Moscow started fairly late since we were still catching up on sleep. Around 1, we finally were able to get our act together and get out the door. We stopped by a cafe to get some breakfast and headed over to the Red Square. Since the festival is going on, we had to go through metal detectors.
Luxury yacht Ferretti 530 was very keen to undertake in collaboration once again with AYT - Advanced Yacht Technology, Ferretti Group Engineering Division and Studio Zuccon International Project.The compact dimensions, 16 meters long and almost 5 meters wide, allow the 530 yacht to deliver grand Italian luxury and cruising immersed in such comfort until now unheard of in a yacht of this size.
Vnukovo. Vnukovo District is an administrative district of Western Administrative Okrug, and one of the 125 raions of Moscow, Russia. Most of the district is occupied by Vnukovo International Airport, a small adjacent residential area, and a separate residential micro-district. Photo: Ssr, CC BY-SA 3.0. Ukraine is facing shortages in its brave ...
Vnukovo, formally Vnukovo Andrei Tupolev International Airport (named after Andrei Tupolev) (Russian: Внуково, IPA: [ˈvnukəvə]) (IATA: VKO, ICAO: UUWW), is a dual-runway international airport located in Vnukovo District, 28 km (17 mi) southwest of the centre of Moscow, Russia.It is one of the four major airports that serve Moscow, along with Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky.