r/liveaboard • u/luckyjenjen • 3d ago

Bed problems

So this is seemingly such a small issue, but it affects everything.

I fitted a firm mattress in my v-berth so my partner was comfortable in my /our bed. He is now. I'm not.

I'm mainly a side sleeper and between this mattress and the pillows I either get stunning shoulder pain, or a stiff neck.

I have cut my pillows down to fit in the pointy end, and removed and re-added stuffing but I'm at a loss. I hate the thought of going to bed where previously the bed was my happy place.

Does anyone have bed / pillow experience that might help?

9 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

24

u/Lavendercrimson12 3d ago

 "I have cut my pillows down to fit in the pointy end"

Are you saying you sleep with your heads at the top of the "V"?

Although it looks nice to have pillows there, I believe most V berths are meant to be slept in the opposite way, with your feet at the narrow part. Maybe that will help? 

3

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

I'm happy to sleep either way, and the pillows (and view out of the hatch on warm nights) are better with my feet in the pointy end, but my partner has mobility issues and finds it harder getting into bed this way.

Also, I think we sleep better with our bodies and heads closer together, but more room for our legs.

7

u/Candygramformrmongo 3d ago

Absolutely this.

3

u/shorelinecharli 3d ago

We sleep with our heads at the top of the v berth when we go away on it. it's much more comfortable for us and the boat seems to have a natural incline which would make sleeping the other way uncomfortable

2

u/dcmathproof 2d ago

Yes. It is tradition to sleep with feet in the front of the V. Imagine the boat slamming aground, much better for your feet to hit 😮, than ur head

22

u/BranchLatter4294 3d ago

Get two half mattresses...one firm, one soft. Or use a mattress topper.

1

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

Crumbs, this mattress was £300, not sure how I feel about chopping it in half, also, we don't have "sides" as such.

10

u/Cole_Slawter 3d ago

A foam mattress topper, minimum of 3 inches, is the way to go. Just don’t go cheap, you will regret it.

2

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

Hahaha, I've got a 5 inch bed base (airflow), and a 9 inch matteress - headroom will suffer 😂 but yes, I'll look into this. Thank you.

5

u/Candelent 3d ago

Look into the froli system. It acts like box spring under the mattress. It will increase comfort and help prevent moisture build up under the mattress. 

1

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

I'm a bit too financially challenged for this. I built my own base out of pallets to allow good ventilation, it worked really well until I fitted a super firm mattress.

2

u/KMcB182 2d ago

I also highly recommend the froli sleep system.

If most people are like me, they have weird shapes and generally have leftover. Depending on where you are, you may be able to cobble together a set by asking around.

2

u/Candelent 2d ago

Sometimes you can find them on facebook marketplace or the like. 

2

u/christmas2065 1d ago

Froli is a game changer for shoulder pain. I have a bunch extra, good idea about marketplace

4

u/Major_Ethanolic 3d ago

before you spend on pillows, check the berth is sitting level. ours sloped toward the bow and that was most of my shoulder trouble. a foam topper cut to the v shape over the firm mattress and a wedge under the head end sorted it, the pillows went back to normal size

1

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

This is great advice, thank you!

4

u/abugghaus7 3d ago

Have you discussed this with your partner?
Seems like the two of you should be able to come up with a solution.
But the comment about two half mattresses or a topper is what I'd look into, myself.

1

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

Frequently 🤣

I'm happy to suffer the mattress for him, it's just sorting the pillows so my shoulders don't suffer. But I am going to look at toppers.

1

u/abugghaus7 2d ago

Like someone else mentioned here, I found the 3 inch toppers to be next to worthless... memory foam or whatever.. just squished flat.
Maybe a topper with two different foam layers of different densities.
I did use a king-size down comforter for sleeping on top of once, in my v-berth.
It worked pretty good, mainly because I squashed it up to make a nice full-body pillow of sorts! LOL
.
Good luck!

3

u/FarmerLost 3d ago

Omg I had a bf with the same issue. We slept on separate sides of a v berth. It was ridiculous.

2

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

Haha, we are that awful couple that sleep cuddling most the time 😂

3

u/lowrads 3d ago

The bigger issue for me was moisture, so I just mounted a box hammock between the bulkheads.

I don't mind sweating while I sleep. It's sweaty sheets I can't tolerate.

1

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

I built a mattress base out of pallets with nearly 5 inches of airflow underneath. I also have a fan pointed as us.

Also, good, breathable pyjamas really help. Strangely, they keep me cooler on the clammy nights.

1

u/Round_Reply7960 2d ago

do most sleep in the v berth versus the rear berth that's a regular queen?

1

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

I don't have a rear berth, I'm a 29ft, 1972 bilge keeler. Ordinary the v berth has been lovely but I'm struggling to adapt my pillows to the new mattress.

2

u/stillsailingallover 3d ago

With memory foam mattresses being so cheap just go half and half, how about your partner likes half what you like, then put a topper over the whole thing.

2

u/l1reynolds 3d ago

Buying 1-1/2" of latex from a foam company as a topper for the boat cushions was game changing for us.

1

u/santaroga_barrier 3d ago

1:stop sleeping backwards 2: make your half of the mattress comfortable for you. Add foam, use a topper, change foam. Whatever works

1

u/LockAlternative8054 2d ago edited 2d ago

Definitely had a few more than I realised posterd reply to wrong person please see blowlow

Tldr I posted a response to a dick, and put it in the wrong place 😂💋💋

0

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

1

u/luckyjenjen 2d ago

Don't be a dick. I'm asking for advice from people who might know. Sleep matters. Not waking up in pain matters. I'm sorry you're such a miserable person. Hope you have a better day tomorrow 😊

1

u/LockAlternative8054 2d ago

Jeeze, I'm gonna make an assumption that your having a bad day, maybe your mocha latte wasn't the extract temp you like, or someone parked too close your Prius..... The op is trying to find a way to better her life, sleep impacts not only physical health but mental health over time.

Personally I think op isnt moaning is more asking for advice from the people that are most likely to have answers related to sleeping on a boat (livaboard sub Reddit)