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22-01-2025, 03:01
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 30
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Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
I am trying to decide how to either replace or cover the original (70s) cushions on my S2 9.2a. Any suggestions how to go about doing this? I am attaching a picture of the layout, which I think is pretty standard for many boats of similar size. Is there company that any of you used in the past that you would recommend?
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22-01-2025, 05:04
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#2
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 51,775
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
Where are you located.
This kind of work is usually done by a LOCAL upholstery [or marine canvas] shop.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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22-01-2025, 05:39
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2023
Posts: 292
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
What Gord said. BTW if your cushions are old, covering won’t be sufficient. Foam ages badly and holds smells. Replace foam and covers.
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22-01-2025, 06:05
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Boat: Island Packet 35
Posts: 45
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
+1 on what Leadfree said. You’re likely better off replacing the cushions and covers.
You might consider making the new cushions yourself. Sailrite has some good video tutorials. The previous owner left his Sailrite sewing machine when I bought the boat and I spent less than $1000 to replace my settee cushions. Even if you have to buy a sewing machine, you’d come out ahead in the end if you go the DIY route.
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22-01-2025, 11:14
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Paradise Village, MX
Boat: Pearson 367, 36 Foot
Posts: 65
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
If you decide to replace your foam cushions I would highly recommend using latex foam. It is much firmer and doesn't break down over time like standard foam. It does cost more, but I have found it to be worth the extra cost. I replaced my cushions over 20 years ago and they are still as firm and comfortable as new.
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22-01-2025, 13:01
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#6
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, in Tasmania, Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 29,958
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JPonHudson
I am trying to decide how to either replace or cover the original (70s) cushions on my S2 9.2a. Any suggestions how to go about doing this? I am attaching a picture of the layout, which I think is pretty standard for many boats of similar size. Is there company that any of you used in the past that you would recommend?
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Let's talk about it a little, especially if you are interested to DIY. Generally speaking, cushion covers are easy to sew.
1- For the cockpit cushions, consider using closed cell foam, some is softer than other, softer is more comfy for kneeling or sitting. Available from foam shops. Mine are covered with dark red acrylic canvas fabric (not Sunbrella brand, but the same type of fabric) on one side, and white on the other, because it is uncomfortable to stand on dark red when there is too much sun on it.
2- For below decks, select foam firm enough to sleep on comfortably if the settee or V-berth is long enough for you. [On our previous boat, we made a triangle shaped insert, so as to fill in the "hole" at the head of the V-berth, which facilitated constructing the fitted bed sheets.] I have always chosen washable fabrics for cushion covers, but some people prefer plastic, for waterproofness. I never liked sticking to plastic, and yes, you can fit beach towels to cover it.
3- If you are going to have the cushions dealt with by a business, just take the cushions you have now in to the shop and talk with them. This saves you paying for them to come to the boat while you are there for them to measure them, because they can do it right there and then.
If you edit your avatar to include a general idea of where you use the boat, or mention it here, someone may be able to give you a referral near you.
After you've had a chance to think about it, please feel to PM me if you want more detailed information about doing it.
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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22-01-2025, 13:09
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: Moody 376
Posts: 616
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mshozda
+1 on what Leadfree said. You’re likely better off replacing the cushions and covers.
You might consider making the new cushions yourself. Sailrite has some good video tutorials. The previous owner left his Sailrite sewing machine when I bought the boat and I spent less than $1000 to replace my settee cushions. Even if you have to buy a sewing machine, you’d come out ahead in the end if you go the DIY route.
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This is the way. for interior cushions you can get by with a nicer homeoenwer type, but if spend a bit more and get a proper walking foot, sailrite or one of the many clones.
the walking foot will be great for doing canvass work or the occasional sail repair. what you spend up front and on material will be pennies compared to what you'd pay someone to do it.
Yes you have to sacrifice your time. but int he winter when you can't sail what else are you gonna do. for the price of one dodger. I was able to buy a sewing machine (SR clone), and all the supplies for one dodger, one bimini(including pipes) stackpack and lazy jacks, pedestal cover, winch covers..
interior cushions are easy since they are mostly rectangles and easy to replicate shapes. did those too...
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22-01-2025, 13:15
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BC
Boat: O'Day 40
Posts: 1,112
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
+1 on Sailrite and DIY.
We bought a new Sailrite, new foam and Brisa fabric and saved a couple of thousand over what local pros wanted.
Plus we ended up with the machine and have made new dodger windows, a complete cockpit enclosure and miscellaneous covers.
The Sailrite videos are truly a great resource.
Latex foam is great but really heavy if the cushions are on top of access panels. We tried on-line foam and it was junk but found really good Canadian made foam locally and it has been very durable.
__________________
Trying to make new mistakes.
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22-01-2025, 13:31
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,229
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
For a 70s 30ft boat there is no rhyme or reason to pay through the nose for a professional job like that. It may cost more that the value of the boat.
+1 for Sailrite and DIY.
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22-01-2025, 13:52
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: South Carolina
Boat: 40' Jeanneau
Posts: 537
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
Any decent home sewing machine can handle that job. I've reupholstered three boats with my late mother-in law's 1970's Kenmore.
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22-01-2025, 14:12
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#11
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, in Tasmania, Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 29,958
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
Tia Bu has the right of it. Jim sewed his spinnaker for his Yankee on a 2nd hand Singer he bought. I sewed the cushion covers, weather cloths and one of the boom bags, all on my Mom's old Pfaff 130. A 1970's or earlier home machine will do you fine. You will need to learn how to adjust it. No magic is involved.
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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22-01-2025, 14:44
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 648
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
I know it's hard to judge but how easy is it for someone with almost no sewing experience to make cushions that look at least semi-professional?
BTW, I did watch the SR video on making a basic cockpit cushion and it didn't look too hard. But having used instructional videos for lots of other things, I know the difference between the ease of watching an experienced person do something and reality of trying to replicate that yourself.
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22-01-2025, 14:48
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Monterey, California
Boat: Westsail 32
Posts: 889
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
Rectangular cushions are relatively easy. Sailrite has a good 30-minute, no frills, reversible box cushion video and associated calculator.
I will say it will take you more than 30 minutes each though, unless you really have the space and everything setup nicely. After doing a few, it's probably an hour a piece. Using a vacuum and the silk wrap to insert the foam is a major life hack and you should definitely do this.
For the more complex shapes, they also have videos and calculators, and will take a little more time.
If you're not in a hurry, I'd do it yourself.
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22-01-2025, 16:39
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#14
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, in Tasmania, Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 29,958
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by leecea
I know it's hard to judge but how easy is it for someone with almost no sewing experience to make cushions that look at least semi-professional?
BTW, I did watch the SR video on making a basic cockpit cushion and it didn't look too hard. But having used instructional videos for lots of other things, I know the difference between the ease of watching an experienced person do something and reality of trying to replicate that yourself.
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1- Choice of fabric makes some difference in how it looks when finished. Also if you want to have piping. I don't like it, it always chafes before the rest of the cushion, but ymmv.
2- Suggest starting with the cockpit cushion(s). They are simple rectangles. The most important thing about learning to sew is to make it easy for you to guide the cloth straight, so each stitch goes in where it is the same distance from the edge. When I started I drew the stitching line on the fabric to provide the necessary guide line. For me, it has taken a lot of practice before I felt confident; but if my concentration lags, I have had to pick out wows in the lines. Sunbrella and other acrylic fabric will show the needle holes if you have to do that, so don't sew too long after you start to notice your're tired. Polyester and cotton blends, the holes disappear after laundering, but is not so UV resistant. The people aboard Kialoa II used the royal blue Sunbrella for all their cushions, and it looked very "shippy" belowdecks.
3- When you sew, you put the right sides of the fabric together, and sew on the wrong side. You need to leave a little gap to turn it right side out. If you don't care about taking them off to wash them, you blind stitch the gap by hand. [Google blind stitching, or I can tell you, just PM me.] If you're going to use a zipper, or velcro closure you stitch it in last, or if doing a thick cushion, more than 1/2" thick, you will use a panel with the appropriate seam allowance (1/2" s a works well) -- for mine, I just made them open at the forward end, with a velcro closure on the bottom. For long cushions, I prefer the zip on the outboard side, going fore and aft. Fit should be tight. If you sail somewhere cold, having closed cell foam under you tends to keep you from losing heat from the contact areas.
4- Any cushion that may be thrown to give flotation should have some solas retroflective tape on it, patches on all sides to make it easier to find at night; in fact, I sewed some on my dinghy chaps, too, and stuck some on the top and sides of the o/b. All it takes is one night time dinghy walkabout.
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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22-01-2025, 19:42
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Minnesota, USA
Boat: Southwind 21 et al.
Posts: 1,807
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Re: Sailboat inside cushions ideas and solutions.
The self-stick seam basting tape is really helpful to keep panels in alignment/feeding evenly when using a non walking foot machine.
I did my interior cushions with a lighter weight woven polyester cloth, home machine, zippers, and foam ordered online. I did not have old ones to follow but the Sailrite videos cover how to make patterns. I bought a secondhand store electric knife for cutting the foam and a hot knife kit for cutting the fabric.
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Big dreams, small boats...
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