Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page

Plan No: 13201-V2

Congratulations on your plans purchase!

The Captain bed has been a popular design for centuries because of its
simplicity and spatial efficiency.

Pine is an excellent choice for making the bed set, however maple and ash are
also good choices, if it’s in your budget.

The frame of the Captain’s Bed is designed to fit a standard 39” by 75” twin
mattress.

Manufacturers have small variances in what they call queen sized mattresses.

It is recommended that you select and purchase your mattress FIRST and
make any minor adjustments to the frame to suit your set. There is no need
for a box spring with this model.

The simple trundle is perfect for friends to sleep over. With the slightly
increased height, you can store a full height mattress with bedding for instant
use.
NOTE: Always use approved safety equipment and eye protection when working on this project.
Children must be supervised.
These plans are sold as guidelines only and we take no responsibility for the success,
safety or outcome of this project.
Your acceptance of these plans warrants your agreement to this declaration.
These plans are protected by Copyright and must not be duplicated.
Good Luck with your project!
Changes to Version 2:
Center Drawer widened to increase size of accommodated items
Trundle height increased for full height 8” mattress to improve
mattress options and bedding
Bed frame ends simplified into uniform slats top to bottom
Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

The single sized captain’s bed is made up of two

identical foot and headboard assemblies (A).

The two units are joined with two lower frame rails
(B) that house the drawers and two upper rails that
accommodate the upper mattress (C).

Six 18” deep drawers (not shown here for

simplicity...) sit on both sides of the captains bed for
lots of storage space.

The center drawers are wider for larger articles.

The mattresses rest on a 3/4” piece of plywood (D)

that in turn rests on 1 ½” square perimeter braces
(E).

The plywood mattress support and frame parts are

screwed together without glue so that subsequent
dismantling and relocation is easy....

The Trundle (F) can roll from either side of the bed
depending on room arrangement. The trundle rolls on
8 2” casters.
Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

The footboard and headboard are made from a frame filled with 2 ½ “
tongue and groove stock. The frame is made up of 1 ½” by 4” stock and The frames are grooved out
is joined at the corners by an open mortise and tenon joint. The cross with a ½” by ½” router bit to
rails are cut to create a ½” by 4” tenon that fits into the vertical accommodate the ends and
pieces. The vertical pieces have a ½” by 4” open tenon on both ends. sides of the tongue and groove
fill stock.

½“ Make sure that the foot and

head boards are square.

Start the tongue and grrove stock at the

center and work your way to both sides. Trim
the last two outer slate to fit the groove in the
vertical frame pieces.
Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

Next, make the upper and lower rails from matching veneered 3/4”
plywood. They will be attached to the headboards using countersunk
3/8” by 6” lag screws.
Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

Join the rails and headboard together using countersunk 3/8” by 6”

lag screws. Do not use glue, just cover the countersunk heads with
wood plugs for future dismantling,

Next add 1 ½” square perimeter braces as shown, with 2 ½”

screws to the upper rails, flush with their bottom edges.

Use 2 ½” screws with glue on 6” centers. Make the side rails 2”

shorter at each end so that there will be clearance for the braces
you will add across the foot and headboards.

There will be a gap between the head and foot boards slats.

Perimeter braces for mattress support

Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

Note 1 ½” by 1 ½”
Add the center support brace made from plain ½” plywood. (A) ”notches to clear
perimeter
Attach the center support to the bottom cross pieces of the foot mattress support
and head boards as well as the 1 ½ “ braces using 2” by 2” metal “L” brackets outlined
brackets. on previous pages

A
Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

Using ½” plywood, add the 12 drawer supports. Attach these

with glue and 1” by 1” metal “L” brackets to the center support
bracket as well as the inside of the lower rail frames.

These need to be mounted flush with the sides of the drawer

Note notch to clear the perimeter braces
openings. The drawer openings are 1” wide than the drawer
of the side rail frames.
boxes to accommodate the side drawer sliders.

Mount plywood drawer

supports flush with sides of
drawer openings
0'-4 "
Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

With the center support and 12 side drawer supports installed

cut out the 3/4” plywood mattress support and place it on top of
the perimeter braces.

Square up the bed frame and attach the plywood with 2” wood
Mattress support
screws on 6” centers around the perimeter.
Perimeter bracket 3/4” plywood

C
Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

Cut out the drawer fronts from solid 1 by 9 stock and use a See next page for drawer details
round over bit and router to finish the face edges as shown in
the enlargement.

Next make the drawer boxes....

Round over facing edges...

Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

Complete the 6 drawer boxes as shown.

Make the sides and bottom from ½”
Use ½” plywood for
plywood and assemble using glue and 2” the drawer boxes and
finishing nails. 1/4” for the drawer

1'-9 "
box bottoms. The
1'-6 " drawer fronts should
Use a router to groove out the
be solid 1” by 9”
recessed handles.

1'-8 1/2"
stock....

The handles should be routered out

with a 1” square bit. Then use a small
½” bit inside the handle to router out
a grip as shown below in the profile...
Drawer bottom

0'-4 "
C

Handle
Y
Cross
Section...
X
Router out
area X, then
Y
Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

Use ½” by 16” factory slides on the sides of

the drawers and mount them to the drawer
supports.

2'-2 1/2"
Make the two center drawers as shown. The
drawers have been widened in Version 2.

Trim the center drawer face to fit between

the two smaller outer drawers. There should
be no more than a gap of 1/4” between the
drawer fronts.
Drawer bottom
Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2

The trundle is easy to make and simply rolls into the compartment created beneath the drawers.
Your assembled Captain’s bed needs finishing.
Use 3/4” veneered plywood for the front and rear of the trundle as well as for the 4” sides. Use a 300 grit sandpaper and add two coats of a
clear satin varnish.
Use a quality glue and countersunk 4” wood screws on 4” centers to assemble the trundle frame.

The mattress support as well as the perimeter brackets are identical to the components used in When dry, add your mattress as shown. There
the upper mattress. should be 1” clearance around the mattress
within the frame.
Add eight 2” casters to the bottom of the mattress support and the trundle will roll smoothly in
and out for use and storage.
-
Add matching handles to the drawers...

Finally, complete the trundle by finishing the edges with veneer...

Plan Name Captain’s Bed Youth - Simple with Trundle Revised June 2006 Scale As outlined by page
Plan No: 13201-V2
Materials List for Captain’s Bed

Recommended in hardwood or select pine

Headboard and Footboard Supply of premium carpenter’s glue

4 1 1/2 by 4 by 3’8” cross frame pieces
4 1 1/2 by 4 by 3’2” vertical frame pieces Supply of 2 ½ “ and 2” wood screws
30 1/2 by 2 1/2 by 48” tongue and groove stock
Supply of 2” finishing nails
Side Rails and Interior Frame
2 6 by 6’6” upper rails in veneered 3/4” plywood Supply of wood plugs
2 12 by 6’6” lower drawer frames in 3/4” veneered plywood
3 1 1/2” by 1 1/2” by 8 ft stock for perimeter braces 12 3/8” by 6” lag screws with washers
1 3/4” plywood sheet cut to 42” by 78” 48 1” by 1” metal “L” brackets
2 4 ft by 8 ft by 1/2” plywood for internal center supports and 8 2” by 2” metal “L” brackets
drawer supports

Drawers
12 1/2” by 18” drawer glides FINISHING THE CAPTAIN’S BED
4 1” by 9” by 1’11” solid drawer fronts
2 1” by 9” by 2’5” solid drawer fronts 1. Throughly sand all surfaces.
1 4 ft by 8 ft sheet of plywood for drawer boxes
1 4 ft by 8 ft sheet of plywood for drawer bottoms 2. Cover all exposed screws with plugs, but do not glue in

Trundle 3.. Finish the unit using a satin finish varnish.

1 3/4” plywood sheet cut to 42” by 78”
2 1’1” by 6’6” by 3/4” veneered plywood for front and rear 4. Cover exposed edges with veneer
2 4” by 3’6” by 3/4” veneered plywood for side braces
3 1 1/2” by 1 1/2” by 8 ft stock for perimeter braces
8 2” casters