Cockpit seat cushions Catalina 30

[Trixster]

Greetings,
I could use some cushions for the cockpit. Any recommendations that work and not labeled as "boat or marine" to be more cost effective?
Thank you
Trixster,
Glen Cove NY

 

[shemandr]

Options are limited.
I don't understand why power boaters get to have cushions that remain in place while we have to put up with fiberglass butt. I used to come home from sailing races and my wife would ask if I was beaten by a bag of oranges. I know about sliding cushions being a hazard, and cushions being a danger to footing in the cockpit but jeez why do sailors have to suffer. On a six day ocean trip I was fine with the T-Storms, the seas, the lack of sleep, but at some point I just wanted something comfortable to sit on.
Closed cell cushions are pretty hard. Better than fiberglass but only OK for a weekend or less. I don't know why we can't do better.

 

[dmax]

Cockpit cushions need to fit the cockpit seats to be of any use, meaning the cushions need to be designed to fit a Catalina 30, meaning it'll be pretty hard to find something non-marine. My favorite is a sunbrella type fabric over closed cell foam. I don't think there is a cheap solution that would be satisfactory unless you want to make them yourself.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Why? The cushions do not have to be full length, do they? I find that my butt only sits in one place at a time. I'll bet yours does, too! My solution was to use square cushions and move them around to, gosh, where I was sitting.

Cockpit cushions need to fit the cockpit seats to be of any use,

 

[dmax]

I find random cushions slide around too much, at the worst time. I like cushions that stay in place.

 

[Indysailor]

We used a a non-marine online source for our Catalina 27 to create rectangles and trapezoids which worked perfectly for the three cushions we wanted.
The cushions are sunbrella over closed cell, basically the same materials as a patio cushion

We didn't fashion anything to secure them, but sail rite has great options that are fairly easy to add..

It was quite a bit cheaper than custom and worked out nicely.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

There's sellers on amazon that let you specify the size and shape but once I priced out an entire cabin, it was nearly the same price as a local upholsterer who used sunbrella

The best cockpit cushions I ever owned used what was essentially carpet padding for foam. They were 30 years old and hadn't deformed one bit

 

[Trixster]

Thank you all for your responses
Trixster

 

[Tally Ho]

I use these seats, with backs. Very comfortable for the Admiral.

Blue Go Anywhere Low-Back Outdoor Seat Cushion | West Marine

Go Anywhere low-back blue outdoor chair. Portable and comfortable seat cushion for boating, camping, or beach trips. Folds flat for easy transport.

www.westmarine.com

Greg

 

[watercolors II]

Cockpit cushions work better if they are made in two pieces, makes them much easier to store below when not in use. Sailrite has a bottom material that is full of small breather holes that is very cheap, this material allows any water to drain out of the foam padding in the cushions.

To hold them in place, so they will not slide around have your canvas shop sew a length of 1 inch webbing 1/2 in from the back on the bottom of the cushion the full length and sewed along the inside edge to act as a tab on the bottom to hold a couple round snap buttons. Screw in the male part of this snap into the top of the cockpit seat, back very near the vertical seat back to attach these button to hold them in place, out of the way so that your clothes and shoes will not catch them when the cushions are not in use.