Memory Foam...How much ?

[Hank Kivett]

I am wanting to either replace my existing "V" berth foam bedding with memory foam.....Now the questions is...#1. Do i replace the entire bedding (which is 4" foam" with 4" of memory foam...or #2...Split the 4" by removing 2" of form and replacing with 2" of memory...or #3...Just add 2" of memory foam over the existing bedding for a total thickness of 6". Regardless of which one I do is there any precautions I should take with the memory form in that it is in a marine environment.

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by Hank Kivett

I am wanting to either replace my existing "V" berth foam bedding with memory foam.....Now the questions is...#1. Do i replace the entire bedding (which is 4" foam" with 4" of memory foam...or #2...Split the 4" by removing 2" of form and replacing with 2" of memory...or #3...Just add 2" of memory foam over the existing bedding for a total thickness of 6". Regardless of which one I do is there any precautions I should take with the memory form in that it is in a marine environment.

We did no 3. I cut the foam to the right shape for the existing mattress. Worked out fine, and made the sheets fit a little better.

[MarkJ]

I just did this 6 months ago.

Added 2 inch memory foam as a topper to the normal mattress.

Holy @#$%& its great!

Highly recommend it!

I bought foam with little holes in it that a meant to make it breath a bit, maybe keeping it a little cooler.

Mark

[Shrew]

We did option #3 a few years ago. You find yourself having to readjust the memory foam 'topper' every now and then. It tends to move around a little bit. Sometimes it's slowly migrates to one side or the other. Sometimes a weird hump starts to form. We simply readjust it every time we make the bed. We do not consider it inconvenient enough to justify a full memory foam mattress.

[a64pilot]

I have a memory foam topper, likely the best / cheapest way to go. It just adds 2" to your current mattress, but does so at a very affordable price.

However I will never have another memory foam mattress, they are HOT in Summer and COLD in Winter.
I want a real Latex mattress.

On edit the topper isn't so bad, however the Tempurpedic memory foam mattress we have at home is what I speak of as hot / cold, I assume a full memory mattress on a boat would be the same.
I have a "froli" under our mattress too to deal with condensation and to add some give. It helps a little in springiness.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I have a memory foam topper, likely the best / cheapest way to go. It just adds 2" to your current mattress, but does so at a very affordable price.

However I will never have another memory foam mattress, they are HOT in Summer and COLD in Winter.
I want a real Latex mattress.

On edit the topper isn't so bad, however the Tempurpedic memory foam mattress we have at home is what I speak of as hot / cold, I assume a full memory mattress on a boat would be the same.
I have a "froli" under our mattress too to deal with condensation and to add some give. It helps a little in springiness.

I haven't fully investigated this yet, but friends in the tropics swear by the Froli option. I am considering slats in fabric belts ($15 at IKEA) as stand-offs and a couple of dozen holes drilled into the cool space underneath the double berth as a way to avoid condensation.

[gamayun]

Least expensive option is a topper. Most expensive is natural latex that doesn't absorb water and smells and doesn't have a "memory". My aft quarter berth where I sleep is about the size of a queen size bed and that cost (with cutting included) was right at $1000. I bought It at a local mattress place so maybe a bit higher but not that much more than online.

[PuttingDoctor]

Memory Foam? I forget..... ��

[aquestaer]

When I had new mattresses made a few years ago, the foam shop that I worked with recommended 2 inches of memory foam on top of 4 inches of regular foam. It turned out to be the most comfortable mattress that I've ever slept on.

[Wayfarer1008]

Memory foam has a habit of retaining moisture from your body as well as anything it comes in contact with so I would use it sparingly. If you are using the V berths full time think about a having a real boat mattress made up. I know they are expensive but well worth the money. The Ideal compromise is probably to use the Froli system to increase air circulation below your foam mattress then put a thin layer of memory foam on top in the form of a topper so you can remove and dry it out.

[redhead]

I added 3" of memory foam to the existing 4" mattress. I toss and turn a lot (think of a helicopter rotor) and the memory foam was always sliding off the original mattress. 3 days ago I used spray adhesive at the top and the outboard side and it works great!

Even though I'm up north I think this would be hot in the summer, though.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by gamayun

Least expensive option is a topper. Most expensive is natural latex that doesn't absorb water and smells and doesn't have a "memory". My aft quarter berth where I sleep is about the size of a queen size bed and that cost (with cutting included) was right at $1000. I bought It at a local mattress place so maybe a bit higher but not that much more than online.

If memory serves, it's going to cost me upwards of $3K for a real Latex custom made mattress.
But I spend up to a 1/3 of my remaining life there, so should I cut corners?

[Cheechako]

I would try putting it on top first and see how you like it.

[Sea Dreaming]

We added memory foam to our berth too. Its comfortable but hot even with the holes and "cool gel technology". We now call our bed the marshmallow coffin.
We did not do a custom mattress because we can not try out the results. If you can go to a show room.and feel what you are getting I would spend whatever it takes for a good nights sleep.

[rwidman]

I tried mattress toppers and they were a mess. They wouldn't stay in place. I have also read reports that memory foam mattresses are hot. At home, we have one but we have air-conditioning 24/7. On the boat we only have it on shore power, not when anchored.

Since we spend a lot of time on the boat and one third of that time sleeping, we opted for a custom mattress from a local mattress factory. It wasn't cheap but it's been worth every penny. It's "mattress foam", 7" thick. I sleep as well or better on the boat as at home.