Making Cushions

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SEADANCE

SEADANCE

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Mar 28, 2007
211
Hunter 33' Cherubini Biloxi Back Bay,MS
As you all know the cushions on Tukki Bird are a mess and need replacing. My husband has too much faith in me to do this, I truthfully have not sewn in years but was pretty good at it then. For those that have..what do you recommend material wise and foam? Can I walk into a regular fabric shop and find something or do I head down to the sailboat upholstery place and pay an arm and a leg? Can I get away with a regular sewing machine? I have Don Casey's Sailboat Maintenance Manual with a chapter on there with "how to pictures" of how to repair or make your own but any advice will be as always used. Thanks, B/Seadance *_/)
 
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larry w

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Jun 16, 2005
476
- - long beach, CA
cushions

Take your old cushions to an automotive upholstery shop and have them duplicated in Naugahyde (lots of colors, stay with a light-colored) with two or three inch foam. Don't use closed cell foam, as it's very hard to sit on.
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
I made my own using Sunbrella material.

The foam on the Mac 25 was only two inches thick so I replaced it with the same open foam but in a 3" thickness. If I had to do it over. I would have gotten some thin close cell foam and bonded it to the top and bottom of the existing foam. There is a lot to be said about the close sell foam. It does not absorb water, resist mold, floats and insulates better. It is expensive and harder. With the Existing 2" layer however you get the best of both worlds for less than buying open celled foam in a 3 or 4" thickness. I made mine with piping at the insistence of the admiral who was not there for the project. I had to do it over again I would have never mentioned the piping option. It looks nice but takes about twice as long and uses a lot more material than you would think. I ripped the seam of the old cushion cover with a razor blade, a trick I learned from our old Chinese seamstress. this gave me accurate patterns for the tops and bottoms. I reused all of the old plastic zippers. I could knock out a cushion in about an hour if it weren't for the damn piping. Bought a used Juki for the job but my singer would have worked just fine. The cushions make a huge difference in the appearance of the boat. Good luck, Frank
 
SEADANCE

SEADANCE

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Mar 28, 2007
211
Hunter 33' Cherubini Biloxi Back Bay,MS
beautiful!

Princess your cushions (and boat!) look beautiful! Thanks for the advice..printing it out.While he is bringing her home this weekend (if the closing on her all goes well) this is what I will be starting. Did you make your curtains too and if not where do you recommend I look for some? any good websites? My Thanks! B/Seadance
 
C

clif

look in the history

Here in the archives there is a place call U.S. Yatch Cushions or something like that. We used them to make our Hunter 25.5 cushions To buy foam and material and do all the sewing we would only have saved about $150.00 The cushions are professionally done and look great. They only do Hunter sailboats and have all the plans. No measuring. Just call and tell them the boat you have. They also have a book of samples they can send you of the fabric.
 
C

clif

I fould it.

US Yacht Cushions (727) 528-9644 4055 35th St N, St Petersburg, FL You can read some of the reviews. I was very pleased. We had a little problem and they fixed it right away.
 
PrincessoftheLake

PrincessoftheLake

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Jun 9, 2004
963
Hunter 40.5 Bayfield, WI
Yep, I made the curtains too

and the pillows on the dinette seats. The curtain and the pillow fabric came from a local place called Hancock and they are now out of business. I found the material in a book at the store. It was buried in with some other non-nautical stuff and I can't remember the name of the designer or fabric. I'd suggest going to the local fabric store and looking through the books. Most likely you won't find the stuff on the bolts on the floor. Making them is a pain but we did save some serious scratch (almost a $1000 at the time, based on prices I got) and there is something satisfying in doing it yourself. Also I did them in off season which helped. I don't know, ordering now at the beginning of the season, I wonder what kind of price and delivery you'd get?
 
PrincessoftheLake

PrincessoftheLake

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Jun 9, 2004
963
Hunter 40.5 Bayfield, WI
Seadance, I found it

The fabric I used on the curtains and pillows was made by Waverly and it is called Topsail. They have some cute co-ordinating patterns in different colors. Very fun. You could check with Joann Fabrics and see if they sell them or check online.
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Get a price from US Yacht Cushions before you ....

Get a price from US Yacht Cushions before you start. If you are using the same materials as they do I don't think you will save much.
 
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DC1417

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Apr 4, 2005
37
- - Buckeye Lake, Ohio
sources for materials

Instead of the marine or auto route, find an awning maker an they'll have lots of Sunbrella or other appropriate fabric and you can get deals on roll ends. Then search out a foam fabricator and get "furniture grade" urethane foam. I'm in Columbus, OH and use Capital City Awning and Columbus Foam Products, both fabricators. Another source is gym mat manufacturers but they're not in every city. Do it yourself and you'll be happier.
 
R

Rick

Cutting Foam

As others have advised, if possible, have a foam company cut your foam. However, if you get stuck buy an electric carving knife(meat cutter) at a yard sale for a couple of dollars. Believe it or not, it does give you a pretty clean cut. We use one when reupholstering antique furniture. As for fabric get something durable, but face it, after a few years you will probably want to redecorate again anyway so get what makes you happy.
 
W

Waffle

Call Hunter

ask for the vendor's name that made the cushions. They are GREAT! They can make you a new set cheap. I think it was US Yacht Cushions. Cliff is right! Give them a call they are cheaper than you think.
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Sunbrella canvas is not the same as their interior

Sunbrella canvas is not the best material for an interior. Sunbrella abrades easily. Some of their interior fabrics are made to withstand thousand for abrasions. They are also coated to prevent stains too. Sunbrella makes interior/exterior fabrics that are made as upholstery.
 
Rick Webb

Rick Webb

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Jun 2, 2004
3,575
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
There is A Guy on the Corner of Iberville and 90

I just remembered him. He does great work.
 
Marcia

Marcia

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Mar 26, 2007
123
Paceship Yachts PY23 Cove Marina, NAB, Norfolk VA
Fabrics

If using the internet, Beacon Fabrics and Notions has a great supply of marine outdoor (as well as interior) fabrics, plus all the hardware you may need from snaps to zippers.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
The choice of fiber content is more important

than the source of the fabric. For the best wear ratings something in a twill weave or a basket weave is best, avoid satins and jachards with long floats. Acrylics and polyesters are good fiber choices, avoid the cottons and linens even in the blends.
 
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