Workshop: Make two out of one - how to turn a single bunk into a double bed

Torsten Moench

· 14.09.2024

Workshop: Make two out of one - how to turn a single bunk into a double bed

Photo: Torsten Moench

Sleeping space on board: we show you how to build a double bed

Old boats often only have single beds. Our photo instructions show you how to build a comfortable and large double bed

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On older boats in particular, you often find two single beds in the aft cabin instead of a double bed. Depending on the type of boat and shipyard, there were different reasons for this at the time of construction. In the present case of an Ancora 41, there is one of the tanks on each side, on the top of which the beds could be installed most easily.

Today, this is no longer up to date, but it is impossible to convert the tanks, making it impossible to install a free-standing double bed in the centre. For this reason, we show here how to widen the single beds, which were previously only 90 centimetres wide, by 50 centimetres on at least one side. However, due to the room layout and the position of the doors, we had to make a compromise and tilt the double bed slightly, resulting in a reduced width of 110 centimetres at the foot end.

Instructions for conversion:

The original bed on the starboard side is located on the tank and is only 90 cm wide. Built-in cupboards and doors prevent an extension to the side of the boat

Once the mattress and slatted frame have been removed, saw off the longitudinal moulding on the edge of the bed flush with the old base plate using a fox tail. As we will reuse the vertical moulding later and it will form the end of the new bed, it should remain as undamaged as possible

We use a 20 mm thick plywood panel made of maritime pine as the new base plate for the double bed. The necessary cut-outs, in our case for the inspection hatch to the tank, are sawn out with a jigsaw. Then bevel the panel to suit the conditions and fix it in place with 4 mm screws

To stabilise the wider head end, a square timber (hardwood, 4 cm x 6 cm) is fixed to the cabin wall with 8 mm bolts and glue, on which the protruding end of the base plate will later rest. This eliminates the need for a support at the bottom. Alternatively, sturdy metal angle brackets could also be used

We choose a commercially available roll-up slatted frame (1.4 m x 2 m) and place it on the new base plate as a test. The protruding ends are then marked

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Photo: Torsten Moench

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Torsten Moench

Editor in Chief BOOTE

Following two technical apprenticeships, Torsten Moench studied electrical engineering at HAW-Hamburg.

This was followed by a traineeship and almost 10 years working as a test and technology editor at Delius-Klasing Verlag. Moench has been editor-in-chief of the leading European motorboat magazine BOOTE since 2003. In his free time, he remains true to his profession and spends a lot of time on his motorboat, which he prefers to take out on the waters of northern Germany and the Baltic Sea. In addition to his work as editor-in-chief, Moench is also a book author.

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Workshop: Make two out of one - how to turn a single bunk into a double bed

Instructions for conversion:

Also interesting:

Torsten Moench

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