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Cushions (Ah jeeze, not again . . . )

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/18/2008 : 21:09:50

I am looking at replacing some, if not all, of my interior cushions. I have read the many, many threads on interior cushions; those who have replaced through Catalina or CD, those who have demonstrated great skill in creating your own, and those who have used local sources to get the job done. At this time I have two questions of those who did not go the Catalina/CD replacement route. First, is related to what you would -- or would not -- do again related to materials. As the windows/ports leak and "stuff" happens, would you use a different bottom material and or a different top material to maximize comfort, durability and appearance (e.g. stains). I know that naugahyde is used on the bottom of original cushions and my tops are a tanish pattern "sofa/chair" cloth -- and that some use Sunbrella -- any experience or thoughts on better fabric options or do these materials work best. The second question is, has anyone replaced only @half of their cushions? I really need to replace the settee cushions for my traditional interior but would like them to at least compliment the original cushions if I decide not to replace everything. Finally, a bonus question; as the v-bearth and aft bearth are slept on and the settees are used more for seats, should different foam be used for each. As this is an expensive or time consuming project (or both) I want to get it right the first time! Any and all input is welcome. Equally, those who made new cushions a few years ago and posted in the past feel free to update on how your cushions have held-up.

Thanks all.

Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2008 : 23:00:49

We need to recover our cushions as well, so we are thinking the same thoughts as you. As a stopgap measure, an old towel strategically placed will temporarily take care of known leaks until you can get them fixed. Once you recover the cushions, get some scrap or roll end pieces of vinyl seat cover cloth to protect the new fabric while you are away from the boat.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3460 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2008 : 23:10:56

I am up to the step on my extended bunk project to order the mattress pieces. My wife finds that the seat cushions are too soft for sleeping and so I was looking for a firmer foam. One mattress website has some info that may help as far as different foam options:
http://www.foamfabbed.com/cgi-bin/foam/description.htm

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 08:45:35

Originally posted by Peter Bigelow;<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> As this is an expensive or time consuming project (or both) I want to get it right the first time! <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The price of these things is outrageous and just about makes me sick. My PO made his own interior cushions, or at least recovered the existing, but the ones on the settee's are about 5 inches to short. Just one more project ............

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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3460 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 09:04:48

I agree...the prices are steep. Here is another one that sells just the foam and then either get some other company to do the fabric or do it yourself. These companies sell the foam in mattress sizes as stock off the shelf or cut the foam into the size you need. Sometimes the cost of a full mattress size may not be all that different than much smaller section's needed for a project....so it is an individual thing whether to acquire the bulk material or put the dough toward the custom cuts.

http://www.foamreplacement.com/index.html

By the way...I have not committed to any of these companies yet. Right now, I am just trying to get quotes on the small mattress pieces I need from the first mfr I mentioned in the earlier posting. So far...they did not answer my original EMail and sketch I forwarded. Then I called them and discussed basics after faxing them the sketch of the pieces I needed....and that was last Friday and I am still waiting. I will probably move on to perhaps the mfr listed in link above and see what they have to say. Then I can buy the bulk matl or have them custom cut. Then see what to do about the fabric cover.

Edited by - OLarryR on 01/19/2008 09:09:01

newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 09:50:09

Having made all new cushions for my old Contessa 26, I decided to remake the cushions for the C25 myself. The prices are outrageous and it really is not a difficult winter task. All you really need is a fairly good sewing machine...it helps if you have an older one with steel gears rather than one with plastic gears. I bought an old Singer off of Ebay for $50 and it works very well!

I have always used Sunbrella for its abrasion resistance and because it is pretty waterproof. If it does get wet it dries out pretty fast.

I am reusing the foam that was in the old cushions as it was in pretty good shape. We did wash the foam with a water/bleach solution.

i would be happy to post pictures of several of the cushions that are finished if anyone would like to see them. I don't know if I will do the v-birth and quarter berth cushions this winter or not. I started on the cabin cushions as that is what most folks see when they come on the boat.

So, bottom line is that if you have the time and want to learn a new skill, making them ourself is the way to go.

newell

Edited by - on

dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 11:40:18

newell

just got an industrial sewing machine

please post your photos

thanks in advance

dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr
hard and dry near carlyle lake
in southern illinois

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3460 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 16:54:00

Please post the pictures. Let's see how they turned out.
Maybe...I would try to make them myself....but it helps the economy to have a company do it.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 17:04:51

I sewed by hand all the cushions for my boat using blue jeans material and the old vinyl bottoms and foam. No sewing machine. I got rid of the seat backs and use pillows. I have not done the V berth yet.

I could do one cushion in an evening while watching TV.

So far they have held up for 4 years. I had to do a little repair on the quarter berth. That one has a really hard shape and you'll be sewing by hand anyways.

I also recovered the cockpit cushions using marine vinyl and those came out great (I sewed new covers and just put the old ones inside covers and all). On that project I used the sewing machine. With left overs I made bags to hold the lines, covers for the instruments, and an outboard cover.

Get a heavy duty needle or two and use the heavy foot on your machine. I also used nylon upholstory thread.

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1981capri
Navigator

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USA
175 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 17:11:35

We bought a sewing machine off Craig's list too. It's an older heavy duty one, but not quite an "industrial" machine. It will sew through 8 layers of Sunbrella, which is what you need at the overlap on the seams. So far we have made new cabin top cover, tiller and winch covers, redone the main cabin settee cushions and have the fabric for a new sail cover.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5368 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 18:00:12

Thanks Dan and Beth for posting your pictures.

When I got PASSAGE from the PO, Bill, who got it from Dave B, the cushions were in great shape. Thanks to them for keeping them so clean.

All I had to do was shampoo them last summer and they were beautiful. Now my problem was, like many others, the myriad little leaks letting in the rain and salt, which stain the cushions.

I spot cleaned the cushions several times last year, which of course results in spots! So this year, I plan on shampooing them again.

Now, when I looked over the photos, the last one shows a very simple tarp covering the entire pop top and windows. How utterly brilliant and elegant!

I may choose to use some Sunbrella fabric or a waterproofed canvas tarp, but the picture says it all. Maybe a few nice brass eyelets in the corners and along the sides. I'd have to sew down the edges with the sewing machine.

Many thanks for the photo

Edited by - on

1981capri
Navigator

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USA
175 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 18:44:34

Yes, well, the cabin top cover was what convinced me to go the do-it-yourself route. I got 2 quotes for a custom cabin top cover, $430, and 425. It still wasn't cheap. I think we have about $125 in the Sunbrella fabric, webbing strapping, thread and stuff. That more then pays for the machine so all the rest is gravy. Of course this all depends on having the time available and desire to do-it-yourself. I certainly wouldn't fault anyone who has the money and just wants to get the job done by a professional.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 20:28:43

Interesting comments so far. Gotta ask -- how and where do you wash teh foam? In a bath tub? with what mix of soap and other "stuff"? and does it retain the soap etc? Also, it sound slike vinyl bottom and sunbrella top is the most durable, or am I missing something?

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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1776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 20:30:38

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 20:51:47

I replaced one piece of settee foam last year. I took it in to a foam supplier who helped me choose density and cut it to match. took two days and sixty dollars. She also suggested lower density for sleeping - fewer pounds per square inch reclining than sitting - or combining two thinner sheets with one inch of lower density on top. I spent $300 on fabric at Hancocks (nation chain); they helped me find suitable fabric for the application and my wife found a pattern we loved. Sunbrella is very durable if you find a color or pattern you like - we didn't. Anyway, another $275 to a seamstress who used the old vinyl and the interior was renovated. By the time I replace all of the foam I'm sure I'll have a $1000 dollars invested. Local sewing shops usually have a list of people who sew. DIY would be very satisfying if you have the skill and time - I didn't.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2008 : 23:04:46

I just posted pics of the powerboat cover I converted to a sailboat cover. It's still a bit rough, but you get the idea. Total cost under $80. In the General forum section.

Edited by - dmpilc on 01/19/2008 23:05:39

newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2008 : 10:54:36

Some have asked to see my cushions. I have attached photos of one of them as well as a pic of the sewing machine used in the production. The cushions are made from Sunbrella and the piping was ordered from Sailrite. For information purposes it took 9 yards of 60" Sunbrella to do all four of the cushions in the main cabin.

[http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df01b3127cceb4577404a11300000026101AcM27dyzbsY][http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df01b3127cceb457740f202800000026101AcM27dyzbsY]

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newell
Navigator

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USA
113 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2008 : 11:13:24

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2008 : 11:42:17

We had the cushions made that Bruce refers to above... The fabric is Sunbrella, but not their canvas--it's a very nice upholstery fabric that supposedly cleans and holds up well. We picked medium-density foam (4" for berths and seat-bottoms) topped by 1" of fiber mat that softens the feel. (I used all the same stuff, except for the color, in my new Sarge.) We didn't use the old foam because it smelled of the mildew that had built up in the old Herculon covers, and we wanted the thicker berths--seemed worth it at the time, and we appreciated them as time went on.

The vinyl bottoms seemed best, for protection against water that can find its way to the surfaces under the cusions. I've read some recommendations for using nylon mesh on the bottoms to keep moisture from building up in the foam... but the shop we used didn't think much of that strategy--it probably makes more sense if the tops are vinyl.

Yes, they were expensive, but we knew we'd be doing it when we bought Passage, so we figured that as part of our initial cost. It was primarily a bonus for my late wife, and made her much happier about our choice overall. You want all interested parties to share your good feelings!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 01/20/2008 11:54:36

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 09:45:57

It is hard to not spend a thou on cushions, and for that money you can get them from Catalina Yachts and they will be spectacular. I would not consider Catalina Direct for cushions,that is not what they do, they are a hardware vendor. I used a local shop and provided the sunbrella myself and reused my old foam and it was still a thou. Catalina will go 4" if you want it. I have seen their work on both new cushions, (that was the grand prize for the 05 Nationals), and on carpet and their work is awesome. These are mine, I had custom backs added to the settees, they are short which allows a behind to get further back in the seat which makes the settees deeper. I still have the regular backs as well. My cabin has the regular settee backs acting as wall liners in the vberth and quarterberth, the regular starboard seatback doubles as the added width on my salon double. Don't pass up a chance to do something new with your cushion project, I did the short seatbacks, others improve the foam, etc.

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Downbucket
Navigator

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USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 11:59:32

Hi Peter:

My cushions were recovered 2 years ago with fabric on top, vinyl on the bottom, zippers, vent holes and piping. They were done by the medium security correctional center as part of vocational training for inmates. They did an outstanding job and at half the price of new ones from Catalina. The price also included a sail cover and companion way cover, both made with Sunbrella fabric. (The inmates also recovered a sofa and chair for me about 5 years ago). Check around and see if any of the prisons in your area have such a program. There may be a wait but the savings is worth it. You may want to look at some of their work before you have them do it.

Good luck,

Will

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1981capri
Navigator

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USA
175 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 14:08:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">They were done by the medium security correctional center as part of vocational training for inmates.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Would be especially good if you want cushions with built in contraband smuggling compartments...Arggg

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robinettemb
Deckhand

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6 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 18:17:59

I am in the process of replacing my cushions both foam and fabric. Our church decided to replace the fabric and cushions on the pews. So, I went dumpster diving and
picked up some pretty good fabric and foam for a really good price (just a little embarrassment on a Sunday afternoon). I found the foam to be of higher quality and more
comfortable than the original Catalina foam. If you can get the foam and fabric from the first few rows it will probably be good as new.

I would also recommend that you take new measurements of the cushion you want to replace. I made exact replicas of my current cushions only to find that they didn't fit
well to start with. So now I have new cushions that also dont fit very well either. Now I just need to find another church that is replacing their pew cushions.

So if you are not picky about the type of fabric and you dont mind recycled church pews you could save a grand and make your own for the price of some thread.

Good Luck
Marty

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 18:32:13

from prisons to pews

I guess there's really nothing left to say.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 22:12:59

Now that's what I call a really blessed boat!

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