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23-02-2011, 18:37
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Boat: Lagoon 380, 38', I Dream of Jeanne
Posts: 313
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Best Material for Salon Cushions
I'm looking for opinions on the optimal material for re-covering salon cushions. I re-covered mine 4 to 5 years ago with a Sunbrella material and am now thinking about upgrading to leather. What are the pros and cons of leather? Does leather do well with wet bathing suites? Is there an artificial alternative that wears better? Is there a special leather finish for a marine environment?
Experienced opinions and/or advice requested.
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23-02-2011, 18:47
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Boat: Nassau 42 SV Ceol Mor
Posts: 789
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
Leather in hot, humid areas would not be my first choice. Leather can get very hot if sunlight is hitting it and bare legs will sweat like crazy on it. In the winter, its cold. You will still have the risk of mold and mildew,
We are redoing our settes in a microfiber ultrasuede. Easy to keep clean, quick to dry, no sweaty legs sticking to it, its not cold in the winter and while its not cheap it is less expensive than leather.
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23-02-2011, 18:49
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Narragansett Bay
Boat: Able 50
Posts: 3,139
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Tough topic. I think I preferred the one about measuring a piece of string.
Oh well, I open with a vote for wool because it handles moisture the best and doesn't make you sweat. Leather is good if you are OK with keeping up the maintenance on it.
Definitely nothing with even a whiff of plastic which includes that vinyl faux leather.
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23-02-2011, 19:01
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Boat: Lagoon 380, 38', I Dream of Jeanne
Posts: 313
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
Mimsy,
You mentioned a microfiber ultrasuede. I've seen suede leather stain from water or a wet bathing suit. Does the material you mentioned do this? Do you have a link to it?
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23-02-2011, 19:11
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: In transit ( Texas to wherever the wind blows us)
Boat: Pacific Seacraft a Crealock 34
Posts: 4,115
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
Check out Ultra Leather, I had it on my Cat and loved it. Acts like real leather so it doesnt stick to your skin, very good stain resistant, tough like vinyl. The BIG downside is that is is wicked expensive 70-90 dollars a yard. There are Ultra Leather look alikes but I am not sure it breathes and stays cool like UL.
Erika
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24-02-2011, 05:43
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,009
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
I agree with Boatman61. I don't want anything covering my cushions that I can't toss into the washing machine when the time comes.
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24-02-2011, 05:54
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: A real life Zombie from FL
Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris
Posts: 5,416
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
A large determinant is what surface texture you want for the salon cushions. Any artificial (version of plastic) will not rot but can gather mold and mildew. So will the interior foam material. Generally the bottom of the cushion is done with open web cloth so that air can get to the interior. Another consideration in choosing the material is your bare bottom. Picking a material that irritates your delicate bare butt can be irritating. In warm climates wearing clothes below decks is rare.
- - Then there is overall design considerations. The salon is where you "show off" your tastes to visiting friends so coordinating and designing the "look" should be a factor.
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24-02-2011, 06:18
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New Bern NC
Boat: Searunner 34 Trimaran
Posts: 1,660
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
In the past, I have used a really attractive nylon tweed couch fabric, from an upholstery shop. On a boat, with all of the abrasion, it was threadbare in one year!
On my current boat, we use Sunbrella "furniture fabric" on all cushions & bunks. (on the curtains too) It is soft, available in "tweedey" textures, comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, and rally holds up! Ours are 15 years old and running. M.
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24-02-2011, 06:26
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#10
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Eastern Shore, MD
Boat: Camper Nicholson 44 Ketch
Posts: 2,060
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
We have done one boat completely over with Ultraleather, and can echo the comments about the material. We found a good place for lower prices, I am sure there are others out there as well:
Wholesale Upholstery Fabric, Drapery Material NYC, Discount Decorator Fabric, Silk Velvet
Chris
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24-02-2011, 06:47
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,524
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
Either Ultra Leather or Ultra Suede is the way to go if the cost is tolerable to you. These are very stain resistant, very tough, clean well, and breath. Great color selection. I actually prefer the feel of the suede. Most high end car manufacturers such as BMW and Lamborghini use it (called Alcantara in Europe).
Carl
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25-02-2011, 07:08
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: In transit ( Texas to wherever the wind blows us)
Boat: Pacific Seacraft a Crealock 34
Posts: 4,115
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
Witzgall,
The website you gave is quoting 22 a yard marked down from 85+, is this real ultraleather? you have this aboard? Dang that is a great price, just wanted to verify that it is real ultraleather, and talk to someone who has used product from this company.
Erika
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25-02-2011, 07:20
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#13
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Eastern Shore, MD
Boat: Camper Nicholson 44 Ketch
Posts: 2,060
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
As far as I can tell it is the real stuff, but I am no expert. I certainly feels like leather, and others have commented on the fell as well. They will send you free samples if you ask.
We bought 20 yrds, and it is working out well.
Chris
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ocean Girl
Witzgall,
The website you gave is quoting 22 a yard marked down from 85+, is this real ultraleather? you have this aboard? Dang that is a great price, just wanted to verify that it is real ultraleather, and talk to someone who has used product from this company.
Erika
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25-02-2011, 07:59
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Boat: Nassau 42 SV Ceol Mor
Posts: 789
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
Tim- here ya go.
New ultrasuede.com
It doesn't stain like leather as it is washable. The beauty of microfiber is its stain resistance. Since we are cruising withkids- this is a priority.
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25-02-2011, 08:52
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Cruising the Caribbean
Boat: Baba 35, Play Actor
Posts: 119
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Re: Best Material for Salon Cushions
We would vote for Ultrasuede. We've had it for 8 years of hard, full time cruising, and still like it. Ours is about the color of natural suede, and we've spilled everything from red wine to hot engine oil on it. Everything washes out with fresh water and soap, and it's comfortable to sit on in all climates. When the time comes, we'll use it again. We used the real thing; friends who've used the generic microfiber fabrics haven't had quite the same experience, but they still like it.
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