A third of our lives is spent in bed, whether on shore or on board, so it's sensible to have a quality mattress beneath us. One option is foam. The mattress here (on a new Island Packet 420), is fabricated with two layers of multi-density foam.

When it comes to choosing cushions for your boat, David Ogle, president of Handcraft Mattress in Irvine, CA offers an important reminder: "Ashore or afloat, one-third of your life is spent in bed. And you probably need good rest on a boat more than at home," he added. "Boats are great, but they can be tiring." That's why a good sleeping surface is important; and in addition, as one wag put it: "A man needs a good workbench."

The mattress you sleep on no longer must be rock hard to be considered healthy. The British medical Journal, The Lancet, reported last May that a study had proved that a hard mattress…