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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Cushions

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Downbucket
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
188 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/05/2006 : 14:23:05

Hi:

Just came back from pulling out the rubber bladder waste tank on my Catalina 25. The stench was revolting. Thank goodness it's winter here in Maine. The project would have been horrible in the heat of summer.

Anyway, that said, I've noticed a lot of moisture on the headliner and will have to deal with that later but I am now concerned about whether or not sunbrella material is the way to go when having my new cushions made. I looked at your cushions Frank and they are very nice however, I favor a softer material like a velour. Anyone have any comments about first, whether moisture down below is just a "feature" of the Catalina 25; Second, using sunbrella or velour or some other type of softer fabric for the interior cushions?

Thanks.

Will

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2006 : 14:42:50

Hi Will, I have newly upolstered cushions and they used Sunbrella, but is it soft and supple. I think I read in the post about Franks cushions that they are covered with exterior materials. Sunbrella comes in interior as well and the stuff I have is soft to the touch. About the moisture, I have two dehumidifying buckets on the boat and it stays fairly dry. When I get in the water at the slip, I will have 24/7 shore power and will run a dehumidifyer. (too much Rum and too big of words) Cheers.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2006 : 14:43:18

>"...some other type of softer fabric for the interior cushions"

Sailrite (and others) offer a marine upholstery fabrics that are durable, yet softer than sunbrella.

>"moisture down below is just a "feature" of the Catalina 25"

Heh... condensation and moisture down below is a "feature" of ALL vessels. C25's don't have any monopoly on that.

Edited by - on

takokichi
Captain

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USA
321 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2006 : 16:38:36

Will - is the moisture you're seeing condensate or a leak? Without heat to raise the temperature in the boat above the dew point, there will always be condensation on the hard surfaces. This is particularly true if the boat itself is cool and the air inside warms up. There was a little water coming through one of the portlights - I think the aft/port unit. You can make that stop. You are less likely to overcome the condensation issue without heat.

Edited by - on

Downbucket
Navigator

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USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2006 : 17:04:07

Hi Justin:

Nice to hear from you. Thanks for the reply. I believe it is condensation. The headliner was wet to the touch but I didn't see any leaks. What do you think about the material for the covers? During the summer months, did you find that down below was frequently damp or moist? What material would you use?

Will

Edited by - on

takokichi
Captain

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USA
321 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2006 : 17:12:17

Will - I didn't find that the cushions were wet unless I went ashore with the forward hatch open and it rained - you'd think I'd have learned the first time...

That said, I have been on boats that had cushions that felt wet at times. Especially on cooler nights on the bay. I think that the open weave of the old cusions helped them feel dry. The tigher weave of sunbrella or something would feel slicker, enchancing the wet feeling.

We tended to hang out on a friend's boat most nights - as the temp dropped we got condensation in the boat nightly. They never had condensation. I eventually figured out that it was because we were warming the air in their boat by being in it all night. If you and fam are on the boat in the evening your bodies will warm it somewhat and it will be drier. Don't try to warm the air with the Origo, btw. The alcohol stove throughs much water into the air and makes things worse. I had a cheap coleman catalytic heater that screws onto a camping bottle of gas. Worked a charm. The device on the bulkhead in the head is a carbonmonoxide detector, not a smoke alarm. It never sounded even when using the coleman heater. I tested it in the outboard exhaust and it did work - test it before you trust it, though. At the least, you need a 9v battery for it.

Edited by - on

ct95949
Captain

Members Avatar

Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2006 : 09:11:23

I've had auto upolstery cushions in my boat for three years with no problems,easy to clean.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2006 : 12:43:56

We too had new cushions made with Sunbrella upholstery material--much different from their exterior canvas. We also used 4" medium-density foam instead of 3" for the berths/settee bottoms, and the maker added a fiber mat on top of the foam for an even softer feel--much like what is often done on upholstered furniture.

The moisture thing is a common problem. I bought a solar vent to help alleviate it, but have yet to buy the hole saw or select the location (and worked up the nerve) to make a big hole for it. The principle here is that the worst condensation occurs when air that the moist, warm air from daytime starts to cool at night. If air circulates as it cools, the incoming air will have lost some of its moisture (as dew or frost) and will not be as saturated. To allow some circulation this winter, I left my forward hatch open just barely an inch, with the thumb-screw tightened so it doesn't flip up. The design of the rim around the hatch seems to prevent rain from entering even in a blow--probably better than the companioway hatch slots do. I've seen no signs of moisture getting in yet, and the interior seems drier.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2006 : 15:41:04

I like the way Catalina covered the cushions at the factory. They used vinyl (naugahyde) on the bottom surfaces, and velour on the tops and sides. If there is a leak, and water runs down onto the fiberglass or plywood under the cushions, the water doesn't get absorbed into the cushions. It prevents the velour from getting stained.

Edited by - on

IndyJim
Navigator

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USA
130 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2006 : 18:28:32

Will,
I did the interior cushions thing last spring. I went to an auto upholsterer and got a good deal on all weather velour (scotchguarded) and vinyl (naugahyde) on the bottom too. All 9 cushions in ribbed blue velour and I have to say it made my cabin look like a whole new vessel! The cushions are soft on your rudder....er..uh... rump, and the vinyl repels moisture too.
I sure hated to part with those beautiful 80's earthtone plaid cushions though. :) Of all the upgrades I've done, the admiral says it's the best investment we've made!

Edited by - on

IndyJim
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
130 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2006 : 18:30:02

And by the way.... I just did that holding tank removal too! And thank goodness I did it in January and not July! There's no mask strong enough to repel that stinch! :)

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2006 : 09:20:59

Ditto the vinyl bottoms... (Mine have them.) And I also got the same reaction from the Admiral--made it a whole new boat for her. ((I.e., you may get sticker shock, but it's worth it.)

Edited by - on

Downbucket
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2006 : 14:03:32

Hi Jim:

Thanks for the info. Tell me more about the holding tank. Maybe you could reply on my holding tank posting. Specifically, what type of tank did you remove? What did you replace it with? Where is it mounted? Any pictures etc.

Thanks.

Will

Edited by - on

jtbarrett
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
60 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2006 : 14:49:51

Dave...

When I got my boat it had the solar vent already installed. It doesn't seem to help much. I think the time and effort of putting it in would not solve the problem. I simply buy the humidity bags from the grocery store. Let me tell ya the humidity in southern va can get extremly high, and it seems to work great.

Jonathan T Barrett
#3047 sk sr
ypyc.org

Edited by - on

Captain Bill
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2006 : 21:27:05

"buy the humidity bags from the grocery store"

JT,

I need all the help I can get with summer humidity here in eastern NC.
What's the name of the Humidity Bags? Is that similar to something like Stay Dry, a white powdery substance when dry, which absorbs moisture?

Thanks, Bill

Edited by - on

Downbucket
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2006 : 05:58:50

Hi Bill:

Thanks. The address I used for your e-mail was in the Catalina 25 member's profile. Perhaps you can send me your e-mail address. Check my member profile for my address. I think we should communicate via e-mail rather than this forum.

Will

Edited by - on

Captain Bill
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2006 : 16:33:48

Will,
Check your email. I sent a reply this morning.

Bill

Edited by - on

Downbucket
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2006 : 12:38:34

Hi Bill:

I did not receive your e-mail as of today at 1337 hours. Did you send it to the one listed in the members section?

Will

Edited by - on

Captain Bill
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2006 : 18:49:34

Will,
See my reply on the general forum.

Bill

Edited by - on

southern cross
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2006 : 20:41:57

I just had new cushions made for my c-25 as well that is for sale. I went to an upholstery shop that carried sunbrella (i wanted to use it because of it's durability). The guy there showed 100's of sunbrella samples (i has no idea they had so many). I picked a light tan herringbone type materilas that is very soft and has all of the durability and non-fading characteristics of god 'ol sunbrela. I also had the bottoms redone is a darker brown vinyl and this seems to do a grat job at reppelling moisture and jusy looks beter I think.

Pura Vida

Edited by - on

southern cross
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2006 : 20:52:23

My take on the moisture problem. Here in NC in the fall the water is often warmer than some of the unexpected cold nights hene condensation in the cabin. My father who lived ona cruiser for two years turned me onto this thing from west marine (he actually gave me one). I am not sure what it is called but it about the diameter of a dinner plater and about three inches tall. Plugs into an outlet and has a fan inside that moves a very small amount of air. It also has a small heating element (doesn't even get hot enough to not be able to pick it up) and the fan moving this slightly warm air has completely eliminated my moisture problems. The hing only cost $20 or so and I will never go without one. It actually makes a very slight fan noise that is pretty nice to sleep by (drowns out the slapping noises from the hull)

Pura Vida

Edited by - on

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