Cushion materials

[zz4gta]

I don't have any cushions in the boat, would like to make some. I'm posting b/c I'm not sure what material to make them out of. I'm thinking of closed cell foam to help combat mold and such. Also curious as to what you use to cover them. I'd like some quick drying material as this boat is primarily a racer, but does some overnight races and weekend cruises, so sleeping is essential, and the sleeping bags over fiberglass aren't very comfortable.

Must be light, but dry fast, must be durable.

Please help, thanks.

[mitiempo]

If you're a "serious" racer any cushion is too heavy!

[ereiss]

We used Crypton fabric (1/2 price coupon from JoAnn's fabric helped). Don't tell the Admiral but I have spilled used oil on it and it cleans up without a problem. Not the easiest to sew, I am told, but it is bulletproof without feeling industrial. No, I have no financial interest in the stuff, but it just works.

Performance and stain resistant fabric for upholstery, furniture, pet beds

[Stiche]

Closed cell foam is great if it's going to be exposed, but on the interior of my boat, I use regular foam. I had my cushions remade last year by Foamorder.com. They cut the foam and sew the cushions. Because its a la carte ordering , though, you get to select which foam you want! Head over to their site and select "Foam Mattress" form the side bar. It will show you the different types of foam out there. I used DuraFlex medium and firm, 3 inches thick for a mattress or seatback, 4 inches thick for a seat cushion.
We combat mold with an air dryer, $60 West Marine. Works great. Cabin stays dry all (Seattle) winter and no mildew smells.

If you're going to be getting them wet a lot, from racing, I'd recommend an high density outdoor foam, like the foams used for (good) patio furniture. Water passes through them and they dry fairly quickly (much faster that conventional foam).

[SVCarolena]

There was a recent thread here on this and one recomendation for the v-berth was to buy a serta foam mattress from Overstock, which is a combination of regular foam and memory foam. I've also heard good things about the new sunbrella interior fabrics - soft to the touch but very durable and easy to clean. Sailrite is a great source for Sunbrella and all the related bits and pieces. Here is a link to the thread: http://www.sailnet.com/forums/genera...ions-help.html

[olson34]

Remember: All upholstery foam is NOT the same.
Many boat builders used 1.8 density foam for new boats because it was a little cheaper and because it "sits" fine when the boat is new. A few years later your butt is resting on the hard settee surface and when sleeping your hip bone is hard against the hard underlying surface.
Move up in weight and durability to 2.6 or thereabouts when you start out.

15 years later you will still have that "like new" cushy feel to them when you sit or lie down.

Also, wrap each foam piece with dacron gauze ( a fluffy sheet material) before you put the new covers on.

We re-foamed and dacron-wrapped our original flattened-out stock upholstery covers in '95, and they still sit and sleep wonderfully.

YMMV, and all advice worth about $.02 on a good day....


L

[zz4gta]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

If you're a "serious" racer any cushion is too heavy!

If I had the room for pipe berths, I'd definitely put them in! Problem is that the floor and settees are molded into the hull. The settees are about 6" abover the "floor" and putting a pipe berth over it would just reduce the cabin space even more.

I have heard they are the bees knees when racing though, best sleep you'll get while sailing.