Home made covers
We needed to get ahead of a few tears in the cushions that came with our new-old boat this year. They had torn along the zipper and the foam stuffing was intact. I was at the local home supply house and saw white canvas painters drop cloths. On a lark I grabbed one and we covered the cushion that was in the worst shape, sewing it by hand using large "basting" stitches. Must be the yankee in me. Turned out so well that we recovered the other cushion too so that we now have a matching set. The previous owner's comment was "Sure brightens up the interior, and makes it seem larger." Anyway, the total cost for the covers was around $35, they are mildew and stain resistant, heck they are drop clothes. I don't know how long they will last, but they got us through a season of weekend sailing, mostly daytrips to go swimming and exploring the Boston Harbor islands. They have stood up well to our two teenage boys and their friends damp butts and snacking. Most importantly, we don't worry about them getting stains on the new cushions. It's a boat for goodness sake, not a formal living room. They are comfortable to sleep on and we haven't noticed any unpleasant odors from the cloth or the chemicals they were treated with. They also clean up with a little damp sponge scrubbing and dry out in the sun in minutes. I'd say they are still in "near pristine" condition. When I get the dough, I might consider recovering them professionally but I would rather put the $1000 or so into sails, mooring fees, new safety gear or my retirement. Geof s/v Day-O
