Pilot Berth Photos

7165 · **Joined:** 01 Dec 2013 04:38 **Posts:** 33

Hi Everyone...

My lovely wife has been complaining for some time now about the Pilot Berth... she calls it the
S%$&T Shelf. I really can't deny this claim, it's usually full of stuff not needed and looks like crap.

I have seen 2 photos where it has been converted to drawers and lockers. I'm hoping there are more of you who have done something nice with this area and could post a photo of it to give me some ideas.

Thanks Toast

conch · **Joined:** 21 Jan 2010 12:57 **Posts:** 168

Sorry 7165, I wouldn't eliminate the "pilot"( It's a "transom" berth, IMHO) berth for all the farms in Cuba. If you're not using it (esp. on port tack) for catching some z'ss, you can still use it for storage. If you build lockers there, it sure can't be used as a berth. Just one boys' opinion.

zdunc · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2013 09:20 **Posts:** 393

Love our cabinets, but we've never had it any other way. Just the wife and I. We just today finished loading the boat up for moving aboard. Going to take off in the next week or so once the tropics clear up. Couldn't imagine not having even one of all the cabinets on board....but we're probably packing too heavy! Smile

Velera · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2006 09:38 **Posts:** 656

Looks really nice. I realize that the berth can become a repository for junk, but to those of you who are really going offshore in your boat, you will find that being in the ends of a boat (v-berth or quarter berth) is not that comfortable in a seaway. But, of course, most folks are not going to be at sea that much.

Ray Durkee
Velera

7165 · **Joined:** 01 Dec 2013 04:38 **Posts:** 33

Thanks for the photos! looks fantastic!

I have no use for the berth now as I have a heater and a/c unit that occupy the foot cubby... At 6'5" I wouldn't fit anyways.. I like the open area but have to agree that it could be better utilized. I also believe if the space filled in as above it would increase the value of her a bit.

cseltzjr · **Joined:** 16 May 2009 08:06 **Posts:** 255

I agree that the pilot berth is without a doubt the best sea berth on the boat (and if you happen to be sailing on port tack, I would venture to say on just about any boat). Having owned hull 324 for about 18 years now, less than 25 days have been spent "at sea" on a passage that contemplates crew sleeping while underway. That being the case the added stowage and also important, the added weight to the starboard side, makes those cabinets a very attractive potential project indeed. Esprit has a built in port list that shows up when the port water tank is full. As the port tank (the first we use) is emptied, the list goes away. It starts to show up again as the starboard tank empties. I think the extra cabinetry so far outboard on the starboard side would tend to balance the "dry" boat a bit. I am curious if the cabinetry in the photos is stock from Tartan, or a modification. We sail regularly with Hull 486 (Tryst) and that boat came from the factory with the cabinetry built in.

zdunc · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2013 09:20 **Posts:** 393

From what I heard from previous owners, Holiday (#280) originally had the pilot berth and was changed to the cabinets later.

alpinista · **Posted:** 11 Oct 2016 14:01

I would second the notion that the pilot berth is the best sea berth on the boat, and would never sacrifice it for cabinets, as nice as SV Holiday's look. We cruise offshore along the Pacific Northwest coast on Betty Lou, and spend many nights at sea going to and from Astoria and our home port on the Columbia. We have lee cloths on all three of the salon berths and so can sleep three crew in secure and comfortable bunks amidships even in the big swells we get here on the west coast.

I always sleep in the pilot berth when I spend a night aboard at the dock solo, and save the v-berth for nights when the first mate is aboard. And the kids always claim it as their own.

7165 · **Joined:** 01 Dec 2013 04:38 **Posts:** 33

Thanks everyone who replied!

For me, the pilot berth is a waste of space and sincerely appreciate the responses for those who find it a comfortable sleeping area. (that was not my question) At 6'-5" and soon to be 250lbs as well entering retirement early next year, the space is far more valuable as a BAR and storage for the crews nighties....

7165 Splice

timokoko · **Joined:** 19 May 2017 23:36 **Posts:** 1

I thought the 'Pilot Berth' was on port side behind Navigation Station on the Tartan 37. I think the berth that's being converted to cabinets is mid-ship on starboard side above the bench seat, no? In any case, the photos of the new cabinets mounted where there is normally an extra berth look like they were part of the original interior. Nicely done.

Tartan37.com

Pilot Berth Photos

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