Why Not Regular Mattresses?

[Chotu]

My entire life I’ve assumed I needed to buy foam to create comfortable cushions for berths.

I’ve done this on all my boats and some RVs.

My girlfriend was challenging me on this and I didn’t have a single reason to support my belief that a standard mattress was a bad idea while foam was a good idea.

So, why do we use foam and not just a regular mattress??

I have a true queen size berth in each stateroom. Can I just buy a queen size mattress (without metal springs) and put it in?

[Tupaia]

What is a regular mattress without metal springs?

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Chotu

My entire life I’ve assumed I needed to buy foam to create comfortable cushions for berths.

I’ve done this on all my boats and some RVs.

My girlfriend was challenging me on this and I didn’t have a single reason to support my belief that a standard mattress was a bad idea while foam was a good idea.

So, why do we use foam and not just a regular mattress??

I have a true queen size berth in each stateroom. Can I just buy a queen size mattress (without metal springs) and put it in?

Hi, take a look at regular mattresses with pocket springs ( I think that's what they are called, each spring in it's own fabric pocket ), I know some over here that have gone down that path and been very pleased. ( No good if there is any shape to the berth )

[simer]

Foam for berths is closed cell and does not absorbe moisture on the other hand a regular mattress will.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

What is a regular mattress without metal springs?

I don’t know. To be honest, I don’t know anything about regular mattresses. They’ve never been a focus in my life.

I thought there was a “box spring” which goes below a mattress on a standard land bed, then a mattress that goes on top of that.

I’ve seen ripped mattresses and they have metal springs in them. However, you hear about latex mattresses, memory foam mattresses, etc.

I’m assuming some mattresses are all foam. Is that not the case?

Why do we always just buy a chunk of foam to make berth mattresses?

I’ve just accepted this as how it’s done on boats.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by simer

Foam for berths is closed cell and does not absorbe moisture on the other hand a regular mattress will.

I’ve never used closed cell foam for my mattresses. I’ve used very high quality regular foam.

Closed cell is for wet places like outdoor cushions.

If my berth is wet, I’ve done something terribly wrong. Lol

In any case, thanks to the slew of allergies that developed from my epoxy allergy, I have to encapsulate my mattress in an airtight, waterproof encasement to keep dust mites down. So my mattress, no matter what it’s made of, can’t absorb moisture.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Hi, take a look at regular mattresses with pocket springs ( I think that's what they are called, each spring in it's own fabric pocket ), I know some over here that have gone down that path and been very pleased. ( No good if there is any shape to the berth )

Thanks for the tip! I’ll take a google of these.

[GRIT]

Typically, on a boat, there is a lack of headroom, and a regular mattress (8 inches) will not help the situation. On our boat, we built the mattress "beds" at a level that will accommodate an 8" thick mattress, and that's what we installed. No springs, just foam. We bought it at a "mattress" store, not a marine store.

The box spring is a scam anyway, there's no need for a box spring, if you have your mattress sitting on something solid, like plywood.

Cheers.
Paul.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by GRIT

Typically, on a boat, there is a lack of headroom, and a regular mattress (8 inches) will not help the situation. On our boat, we built the mattress "beds" at a level that will accommodate an 8" thick mattress, and that's what we installed. No springs, just foam. We bought it at a "mattress" store, not a marine store.

The box spring is a scam anyway, there's no need for a box spring, if you have your mattress sitting on something solid, like plywood.

Cheers.
Paul.

You are up early, my friend!

Thanks for the confirmation that a standard mattress can be used.

I stand corrected by my girlfriend. It’s also exciting to find another area where a standard, off the shelf item can replace the usual way of doing things on a boat. This keeps labor and costs down, while making a future replacement easy.

[valhalla360]

That's exactly what we did on our Gemini. Foam sucks.

Took some measurements and found an RV short mattress fit the space. Found one that had a small tear on the bottom, so got a great deal on an upgraded model. It was a real wrassling match to get it thru the boat but when we sold the boat 9yr later, no indication the metal springs were rusting or otherwise failing.

It was a huge improvement over foam.

Usually foam is because boat beds are weird shapes.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Hi, take a look at regular mattresses with pocket springs ( I think that's what they are called, each spring in it's own fabric pocket ), I know some over here that have gone down that path and been very pleased. ( No good if there is any shape to the berth )

There are mattress makers who offer boat shapes with pocket springs. Handcraft Mattress Co, for one.

There was at least one long mattress thread here (4-5 months ago?) that mentioned several other brands and mattress solutions...

-Chris

[gonesail]

why do you need the springs anyway? we have foam for all beds and berths. For me the mattress lets in too much cold air in the winter. foam always warm and never lumpy.

[mako]

Might want to not lay your mattress on solid plywood, it instead insure there is some air circulation available underneath.

[Phantom Jim]

Inner spring mattresses can be cut down to fit odd size areas. We have done that with two mattresses, one was a 4" mattress from a hide-a-bed, the other an 8" regular size mattress. Good Old Boat magazine had an article describing the process this year.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Phantom Jim

Inner spring mattresses can be cut down to fit odd size areas. We have done that with two mattresses, one was a 4" mattress from a hide-a-bed, the other an 8" regular size mattress. Good Old Boat magazine had an article describing the process this year.

Wow. That’s some really good craftsmanship on these mattresses alterations.

Luckily, I have standard queen size berths so it’s just plug and play, but these are great pics.