Jere Lull wrote:

In article ,
"Denis Marier" wrote:

I am shopping for a replacement boat.
I see that some aft cabins have the berth running from starboard to
port. This means that if the cabin is used while sailing I may have
my head on the leeward side or windward side. More so if the boat is
pitching I will be rolling. The more traditional berth is usually
running from the bow to the stern. My observations may be wrong. I
would appreciate some comments on which one is preferred for a
sailboat.

If you're moving, you don't use that berth, but the sea berth(s), often
a quarterberth or modified settee if that's what you have.

Our coffin berth works well for me (the only way to get closer to the
center of motion is to lie on the floor). It's not a valid option for
heavier or claustrophobic crew, though.

I will sometimes lie on the floor next to the mast if it is very
rough. If it is REALLY rough, then Bob's tool box starts sliding
around, and I can fix that if I'm there.

We have a double berth in the aft cabin (center cockpit). Normally we
sleep fore and aft, but sometimes if the boat is on one point of sail
(with the port rail down) for a long time, I'll lie across the bunk
with my feet on the low side. That way I don't keep rolling to the
low side. If it is the other tack, then I don't bother because that's
my side of the bunk (we sleep with our heads at the stern) and I don't
mind leaning against that side..

There are some boats with a large athwart double berth. I've never
cared for those, but my reason is that one or the other of us will
have to climb over the other one to go to the head, which we often do
at night. Someone we know with a berth like that has made an
extension for one side so that they can lie fore and aft if they want
to.

grandma Rosalie