This morning wasn’t nearly as much fun as yesterday’s sail. I had originally planned to do laundry yesterday and then we decided to go sailing. So I figure I managed to get out of the chore for one more day! But today, it had to be done. I don’t know about you, but aboard Winterlude doing laundry, even while in a marina can be challenging.
Still, something I never anticipated while dreaming of living aboard is the wrestling match just to change the sheets in our pullman berth. I’ve even heard women discuss that they “had” to quit cruising because they could no longer manage the wrestling routine to change the sheets on the v-berth. I call it my aerobic workout for the day and generally end up sweaty and a bit ruffled.
But we’re found one way that makes it much easier – making sheets and the comforter cut to the correct shape. Most boat mattresses have funny angles (ours include the teak surrounding the sidestay chainplates and the overall shape of the pullman, wedged in along the port side of the boat). My sheets are cut to the funky shape and the elastic helps ease the sheets into place.
- Here the comforter is ready to have the flaps tucked between the chainplate teak encroachments.
The comforter is cut to the exact shape of the top of the mattress and then has flaps that just tuck in along the sides of the mattress. The flaps extend down far enough that they completely cover the mattress sides and tuck in below the mattress on the one exposed side.
Do you have wrestling matches changing your sheets? Do you have other, or easier alternatives? Please leave a comment and share! Mine’s easier than it used to be, but I’m always on the lookout for even easier ways! Cheers! Jan
What I do is make my sheets into a large pillow case (I have tailor sew two sheets together and slide them over the mattress like a pillow….So easy and they always stay in place.
When Mark puts the sheets on the bed I tease him about doing his “floppy fish” impression. He looks like a fish trying to flop it’s way back into the water. It really is quite entertaining! On another note, that is the third time this month that I have seen that bedspread on a boat. Two of our friends here in Corpus have the exact same one!
🙂 Hi Julie! I guess there’s no accounting for taste, eh? When I bought that bedspread, David was not a fan. 🙂
Jan, you sure nailed it. My mattress is in the aft and I use muscles I didn’t know I had to get the sheets on!! I really like Johns idea too, I might just try these modifications! Thanks!!
Do you have a weekly newsletter? If so, can you please add my name to your list. I love the way you wrote about the sheet changing ordeal and your idea of cutting the sheet and bedding to match the mattress contour. I’ve had issues with changing sheets and it seems there are many things I can equate with.
Sorry Sandy, no weekly newsletter. The best I can do is recommend you subscribe to the RSS feed which will send you an e-mail and let you know whenever there’s a new post. Click on the symbol followed by “Posts” underlined in the top right corner of the header photo. Thanks & Cheers! Jan
I can completely relate to the woman who had to quit because of bed making. I swear getting my V-berth sheets on is more strenuous than hot yoga! I tried to make it easier by sewing the fitted sheet to the flat sheet at the pointy end but it’s even worse. To add to the difficulty, I have refused to spend money on custom fitted sheets so i have all this loose fabric popping out everywhere. That attitude will need to go overboard along with my mascara and my curling iron. First I’m going to try to sew them myself.
Can anyone tell me what size sheets fit a “double pullman berth”?
Our experience is that boat beds are not “standard” — i.e. my double pullman berth won’t be the same as yours. Best to measure it & then look at sizes on sheet packages – we bought Queen size sheets last time to have cut down and exactly fit our “double pullman berth”, but that was because of all the cutouts and peculiarities our pullman has. Cheers! Jan
Jan, which fabric have you found to be the best for bed sheets in hot climates?
BTW, I LOVE The Boat Galley cookbook that you and Carolyn Shear have compiled—such a wealth of information! Thank you!
Hi Joan! Thanks for your kind words about The Boat Galley Cookbook! We haven’t found anything totally perfect, but we use Egyptian cotton – high thread count. I’ve been wanting to try bamboo, but haven’t worn out the last set of sheets yet so haven’t made the splurge. Cheers! Jan