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382 PILOT BERTH CONVERSION

C

crichard

Carl Richards
I have seen other 382s that have turned the starboard pilot berth into storage cabinets, etc. Are there some plans for this conversion? I am open to suggestions and any ideas on doing such a project. Is this a good or bad idea?
 
<div>Oconee (382 hull 4) has had her pilot berth converted to storage by the previous owner. He closed the entire area in and added teak doors that match the rest of the boat - nice job. It add a great deal of storage (3 levels ). However, there is a negitive side. Closing in the pilot berth makes to boat feel less open and smaller. I would be happy to send pictures if you want. I have no plans. (e-mail: vic.copelan@ncmail.net)Fairwinds and Rum Drinks,Vic Copelan
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Mine is converted, too, but in a more open fashion, so it does not affect the down below aesthetics quite as much. On the other hand, things can fall out. If I can get it done, I will send you a picture, too. Frankly, it might be better overall to keep the pilot berth and enclose most of the quarter berth. One of our number did that and I think there are pictures on the site of that effort.
 
I find the pilot berth to be very useful in many different ways. When my wide and I sail, it is use for storage which works well but, when crew is aboard and we are sailing around the clock, it is use for sleeping and it work well for that also (provided you are less than 5feet 11inches or there abouts). One fellow we had on board considered it to be one of the best berths onboard. By closing it in, you lose the sleeping option. A leecloth or net will keep any thing stored there in its place. We have a clamp-on 12 volt fan which we clamp to the grab rail to keep the occupant cool on hot days.
 
I have enclosed my pilotberth but instead of running the backrest of the settee up, I set the verticle element back 4 inches. I divided the space into three areas, the center being double the other two. Four doors, the two center opening from fore and aft. This gives a large center section for large items, and two smaller spaces, one for an entertainment cabinet, and the other for storage. The space in front is perfect for charts, wine, gloves, books, etc. I doesn't make the boat seem smaller at all. You do have to cut off the raised portions at each end of the seatback entrance to the pilotsberth and replace it with a new routered cap, but it looks like factory. I mounted the TV on a slide so it can move slightly out of the cabinet for viewing. The space contains the TV, a separate VCR, 20 VCR tapes, a phone, and a answering machine.
 
<div>Jim,
Sounds great, but my 382 has 2 good sized storage bins under the pilot berth. Did you give uo this space with your cabinetry?RCL (Moonraker)
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Due to a critical shortage of liveaboard space, I also enclosed the pilot berth on board my M382. The seatback was extended vertically and glassed to the underside of the deck. The surface was then veneered with teak and four doors were installed that match the doors in the rest of the boat. In addition, the space below the pilot berth was converted into storage by adding 6 drawers and one bin with a door -- all of them hidden behind the seatback cushions. I don't have a sense that the conversion made the boat feel smaller, but it sure uses space more efficiently!
I also did a major rework of the nav station area by adding a computer/printer desk on the right, with shelf above for all the radio gear. There is a bi-fold door behind a new nav station seatback that encloses the space behind the door. We call that space "The Garage". Inside the garage is the usual complement of shelves with fiddles, yet there is still a 24" wide, full length quarter berth available if the bi-fold door is latched open. The quarter berth bottom was also raised to make room for larger batteries below.
One downside to all this additional storage is that it's far too easy to end up with a boat with a permanent list to starboard.
The modifications look good and I believe have added to the value of my boat. I can provide pictures if anyone wishes.

 
No, I simply cut access oval openings behind the cushions. These better access because you don't have to remove item from the cabinets.
 
I have a net intented to be used on the back end of a pick-up truck bed which just reaches across the length of the quarter berth. It's a very wide strap material and I leave one side permanently attatched and when not in use (as it rarely is) store the strapping under the cushions and out of sight.
 
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