In a previous post, I discussed our plan to use an IKEA mattress for our V berth.  Well, the process has begun.  We bought the top of the line, kings size, all foam mattress from IKEA.  Getting it home in my Ford Escort was entertaining.  Imagine a car completely stuffed with mattress and a drive hunched over with her head to one side at the wheel.

I disassembled the cover.  It is very heavy and quilted.  We have decided to use this fabric only for the top side of the mattress cushions.  We purchased marine vinyl at Fabricland - 4.5 meters and some strong, dimensionally stable upholstery fabric for the strips along the sides.

Creating a pattern for the mattress was interesting.  I purchased a role of the brown paper used for wrapping parcels for postage and layed it in strips along the width of the V berth and taped them together.  Next using a carpet knife, I cut out the pattern of the V berth. 

Every 12 inches along the length of the V berth, I took a measurement of difference in width of the V berth at the base and six inches above the base.  This is a measure of the outward slope of the hull.  The mattress should be cut to be wider at the top than the bottom so that it fits snuggly against the hull throughout the thickness of the mattress.  I used a T square and a tape measure to measure the difference in width.  Place the T square so that it stands upright at the junction of the vberth base and the hull.  Using a tape measure, measure the distance between the perpedicular edge of the T square and the hull 6 inches above the V berth base.  I did this every 12 inches down the length of the V berth.  For the most part in a Pearson 30 the space is 2.25 inches wider 6 inches above the V berth base than it is at the base. 

Last night we measured and cut the foam.  But that is enough for post of its own.