Interior Upholstery

[brentjen]

I took all of the cushions out of the boat and brought them to a local upholstery shop. They were kind enough to give me a bid of $3,400 for all pieces. I was originally told that it would be in the neighborhood of $100 per cushion, there are 14 in all. I am having trouble getting my head around this one, it’s just too many boat units. I realize that they have to make a living but wow! Is this consistent with what you have seen out there?

The boat is a 28’ O’Day and appears to be original.
The fabric is from Sunbrella but from the outdoor furniture line.

Any help would be great.

Brent

 

[25yearslater]

See page 7 of "And so it begins" dated 2/26/11. I never sewed anything in my life. For less than 1000 The Admiral got a new Singer Confidence Quilter and YOT got 7 new cushions. Sunbrella for cushions? That's like sleeping on sandpaper. Great for the cushion bottoms. Think about it.

 

[tedsbeds]

I have benn a cushion/ mattreess maker for most of my life. When I have been asked to estimate boat cushions I ask " New foam? New fabric? Do your old cushions fit? " I have fabric that goes from $2.00 a yard, very palin to Sunbrella Furniture Fabric which can be as much as $65 a yard. "$100 a cushion" is what I would use as a ballpark figure fro just labor on one cushion. A simple rectangle cushion (how many of those have you ever seen on a sailboat) might take 2 hours. A quarter berth cushion with tapers and bevels might take 8 hours. 14 cushions at 4 hours a cushion at $50 an hour(which is cheap for a boat cushion shop) that adds up to $2800. Sunbrella futrniture fabric is wonderful stuff @ $55 a yard. Cushions for a 28 foot boat are going to use a minimum of 10 yards X $55= $550. Are use using new foam add $1000 easy for good foam. I have no idea or relation to whoever gave you the quote but it is a reasonable qoute from a professional. I am sure you can find it cheaper, but cheapness is usually inverse to quality. I would ask pictures of his work and an itemized quote.
Ted

 

[shipwreck66]

Gotta agree with 25yearslater on this. Sunbrella for interior just won't cut it, and my wife dug out her mother's old 1960 Singer and by trial and error made us the nicest new set of cushions. For new foam I actually found it cheaper to buy a queen mattress and cut it up for the interior cushions. Exterior pics are on my profile somewhere and are striped, no longer plain blue.

 

[CPseudonym]

Hi Brent,

Some great advice above.
I have made more cushions for RV's and boats than I've purchased.
Mind numbing and tedious are two terms that come to mind.
Quality craftsmanship costs as does convenience.

Eat at home or go to the restaurant

Welcome to the forum ~Craig