Jim Baldwin, #384, ATOM

I decided to make this a single/double berth as I don't usually like to sleep in the forward bunk. There are more elegant ways to make a sliding berth but I'm satisfied with the simple system I came up with.

First I discarded the space wasting companionway ladder and extended the countertop above the engine compartment aft to allow it to serve as the top step. I installed a step on the vertical engine access door (you can just see this on the left side of the attached photo of the radio/electric locker). Then I sealed off the top access hatches to the lockers under the bunk and installed two hinged and gasketed side access doors. I removed the teak bunk board and bolted it to a piece of 12 mm plywood with an aluminum angle. The plywood lies on top of the bunk and is nearly the same overall size. Two flat aluminum plates bolted onto 14 mm high spacers form a retaining track at each end that allows the plywood top to slide inboard. At the forward and aft ends of the teak bunk board are two legs that support the bunk in its open position (See attached photos of Atom's new Iroko floor). Barrel bolts lock the bunk in its closed position. When open, the settee backrest drops down to fill the gap in the extended bunk and there is just enough room left to stand or walk along the cabin floor.