My friend gave me some foam and I cut it to fit. Next I'm going to make the covers out of cotton cloth, heavier stuff from Walmart. I think it is 4 bucks a yard. I will post pics as I go.
Making my own cushions
- Thread starter Mac
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Mac..
Do yourself a favor and use an acrylic exterior grade synthetic product. You can use a Sunbrella knock off if you want and it will be cheaper than th real deal. Cotton will almost never be dry on a boat, will get moldy, not stand up to UV and will eventually rot from moisture and extended UV exposure especially when used for cockpit cushions. I would also recommend using Pfifertex http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html?cat82.htm on the bottoms so, when, and if, they do get wet you can store them in the cabin up side down and allow the foam to dry out. This is a labor intensive project and you'll kick yourself in the end for cutting corners and not using decent exterior grade fabric. What density is the foam you are using?
Do yourself a favor and use an acrylic exterior grade synthetic product. You can use a Sunbrella knock off if you want and it will be cheaper than th real deal. Cotton will almost never be dry on a boat, will get moldy, not stand up to UV and will eventually rot from moisture and extended UV exposure especially when used for cockpit cushions. I would also recommend using Pfifertex http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html?cat82.htm on the bottoms so, when, and if, they do get wet you can store them in the cabin up side down and allow the foam to dry out. This is a labor intensive project and you'll kick yourself in the end for cutting corners and not using decent exterior grade fabric. What density is the foam you are using?
Cotton is fine
I remember a time when sails where made of cotton because it stands up to weather. Your choice in cotton will last a good long time, dry substantially faster than the plastic alternatives, and save some $$$$ Cotton (being a design God had his hand in) is impervious to UV, and salt, it wears better than sunbrellea (much better) and comes in about a gillion colors and patterns. I'd steer away from dark colors as they are hot in the sun and tend to fade over time.
I remember a time when sails where made of cotton because it stands up to weather. Your choice in cotton will last a good long time, dry substantially faster than the plastic alternatives, and save some $$$$ Cotton (being a design God had his hand in) is impervious to UV, and salt, it wears better than sunbrellea (much better) and comes in about a gillion colors and patterns. I'd steer away from dark colors as they are hot in the sun and tend to fade over time.
Take them inside ....
....the cabin when you are not actually using them they will last for years. You can usually find relatively inexpensive outdoor grade fabrics if you poke around in the sale bins of stores. If you use 54" or 60" wide fabric it won't take much. Good luck! I made my own cockpit cushions, recovered my settee cabin cushions, V berth cushions and made a bunch of throw pillows this winter. My friends were so impressed I recovered their cabin cushions for them too. Made the winter fly by.
....the cabin when you are not actually using them they will last for years. You can usually find relatively inexpensive outdoor grade fabrics if you poke around in the sale bins of stores. If you use 54" or 60" wide fabric it won't take much. Good luck! I made my own cockpit cushions, recovered my settee cabin cushions, V berth cushions and made a bunch of throw pillows this winter. My friends were so impressed I recovered their cabin cushions for them too. Made the winter fly by.
I would not...
use cotton. Will not dry easily... Will not clean easily... Will Fade... Will rot... UV will break it down. You leave these cushions out in the rain... it will take 2 of you to ring them out and drag down below. I would assume that you have a regular sewing machine... so cotton is your fabric of necessity. If you are going to spend all this time and effort... find some vinyl of similar material and have at it. Don't forget to run the pipeing along the edges. Actually that's where you can change colors... from blue to white! Better yet... go to a canvas place that specializes in boat covers and cushions. Problem solved... but you will be out some $$$.
use cotton. Will not dry easily... Will not clean easily... Will Fade... Will rot... UV will break it down. You leave these cushions out in the rain... it will take 2 of you to ring them out and drag down below. I would assume that you have a regular sewing machine... so cotton is your fabric of necessity. If you are going to spend all this time and effort... find some vinyl of similar material and have at it. Don't forget to run the pipeing along the edges. Actually that's where you can change colors... from blue to white! Better yet... go to a canvas place that specializes in boat covers and cushions. Problem solved... but you will be out some $$$.
Bill are you for real??
Please tell me that post about cotton was a joke? "dry substantially faster than the plastic alternatives" = 100% false "impervious to UV" = 100% False "and salt" = Salt embeds in the cotton fibers then absorbs moisture and refuses to dry. "wears better than sunbrellea (much better)" = Also un-true "I'd steer away from dark colors as they are hot in the sun and tend to fade over time." = Maybe with cotton but not with Sunbrella. We've seen 18+ year old dark Sunbrella that showed little to no signs of fading. Contrast that with my cotton baseball hat that is two years old and does not even look orange any more and when it gets wet it takes days to dry on the boat! It can rain and soak my Sunbrella and it's dry on 20 minutes or less when the sun hits it.. C'mon do you just make tis stuff up to get a laugh out of people? There was GOOD reason boats switched from cotton based sails (waxed and treated cotton) to "plastic" alternatives!!
Please tell me that post about cotton was a joke? "dry substantially faster than the plastic alternatives" = 100% false "impervious to UV" = 100% False "and salt" = Salt embeds in the cotton fibers then absorbs moisture and refuses to dry. "wears better than sunbrellea (much better)" = Also un-true "I'd steer away from dark colors as they are hot in the sun and tend to fade over time." = Maybe with cotton but not with Sunbrella. We've seen 18+ year old dark Sunbrella that showed little to no signs of fading. Contrast that with my cotton baseball hat that is two years old and does not even look orange any more and when it gets wet it takes days to dry on the boat! It can rain and soak my Sunbrella and it's dry on 20 minutes or less when the sun hits it.. C'mon do you just make tis stuff up to get a laugh out of people? There was GOOD reason boats switched from cotton based sails (waxed and treated cotton) to "plastic" alternatives!!
Synthetic fabrics last longer
A couple of boats ago I bought a roll of cotton canvas from a local store made some cushion covers, winch covers, sail cover, and some covers for butterfly chairs. They only lasted 2 years. I have since made some covers from synthetic materials eg. dacron. They last a long time. Seems that the sun breaks down the fibers in cotton. Be sure to use dacron thread.
A couple of boats ago I bought a roll of cotton canvas from a local store made some cushion covers, winch covers, sail cover, and some covers for butterfly chairs. They only lasted 2 years. I have since made some covers from synthetic materials eg. dacron. They last a long time. Seems that the sun breaks down the fibers in cotton. Be sure to use dacron thread.
There is an awful lot of labor involved in making upholstered cushions.
I can't imagine why someone would not use the very best material for the purpose. Everything that Maine Sail has said concerning cotton is accurate and correct. Cotton is a wonderful fiber which is why they make towels and underwear from it. I don't believe that it is posible to buy a cotton canvas tent any longer for all of the reasons mentioned. For wear resistance you would choose polyester fabric for sunlight resistance you need acrylic fabric. You wouldn't want a pair of jeans made from sunbrella and you wouldn't want your winch covers made from cotton denim.
I can't imagine why someone would not use the very best material for the purpose. Everything that Maine Sail has said concerning cotton is accurate and correct. Cotton is a wonderful fiber which is why they make towels and underwear from it. I don't believe that it is posible to buy a cotton canvas tent any longer for all of the reasons mentioned. For wear resistance you would choose polyester fabric for sunlight resistance you need acrylic fabric. You wouldn't want a pair of jeans made from sunbrella and you wouldn't want your winch covers made from cotton denim.
I just read Bill's post to Nancy. She has her masters degree in textiles and clo
Her responce was, "HUH!!!" Maybe I need to go back to school. Incidentally she wrote her thesis on "the future of natural fibers in an age of synthetics."
Her responce was, "HUH!!!" Maybe I need to go back to school. Incidentally she wrote her thesis on "the future of natural fibers in an age of synthetics."
That's why...
That's why when surfing the net and forums you NEED to be careful and more thorough in your research. There is plenty of bad advice given on this and other forums that is spoken as fact..?? Most here give good advice, backed with evidence, history or research and some just shoot from the hip with bunk?
That's why when surfing the net and forums you NEED to be careful and more thorough in your research. There is plenty of bad advice given on this and other forums that is spoken as fact..?? Most here give good advice, backed with evidence, history or research and some just shoot from the hip with bunk?
Thanks Mainesail, Bills' post gave me a
brain-cramp. Bill, it's not April 1st! My experience with cotton canvas is from the commissioning of our boat. We ordered a dodger through the dealer. The price was cheap. And so was the dodger. Aluminum hoops and Canvas. The color we liked was gone in a month. It was good for one thing; The following winter we would reinstall it to keep the properly built stainless and Sunbrella NEW dodger from being out in the weather. That was 22 years ago and we didn't have a clue. We thought all marine canvas was the same. Cotton is not marine. It's made for underwear.
brain-cramp. Bill, it's not April 1st! My experience with cotton canvas is from the commissioning of our boat. We ordered a dodger through the dealer. The price was cheap. And so was the dodger. Aluminum hoops and Canvas. The color we liked was gone in a month. It was good for one thing; The following winter we would reinstall it to keep the properly built stainless and Sunbrella NEW dodger from being out in the weather. That was 22 years ago and we didn't have a clue. We thought all marine canvas was the same. Cotton is not marine. It's made for underwear.
The foam is fairly light
I wanted to do this on the cheap. I guess you get what you pay for. Everyone here makes alot of sense. I thought I could put them down below when not in use to save it from the UV. I'm going to check on prices for a synthetic material, thanks, Mac
I wanted to do this on the cheap. I guess you get what you pay for. Everyone here makes alot of sense. I thought I could put them down below when not in use to save it from the UV. I'm going to check on prices for a synthetic material, thanks, Mac
Take a look at this companny if you go with fabric.
This is where I bought my Odyssey III fabric. Tested it in the sun exposing half of it to the sun and covered the other half and I could see no difference. Really inexpensive compared to Sunbrella. I ordered from them. If you can afford it order extra fabric so that it matches future projects. Best of luck Frank
This is where I bought my Odyssey III fabric. Tested it in the sun exposing half of it to the sun and covered the other half and I could see no difference. Really inexpensive compared to Sunbrella. I ordered from them. If you can afford it order extra fabric so that it matches future projects. Best of luck Frank
Well!!
OK, I'll bow to the more informed among the group. I don't share your enthusiasm for seats made out of sunbrella and I have not found the things said to be true. My cotton duck sail cover has lasted 3 years now and the only maintenance it gets is a fresh water hose down from time to time. The hand is better (to me) than sumbrella and the cost was significantly less. Even if it only lasts 9 years (half of Mainsail's 18+) I'm still money ahead. Who wants the same color seats for 18 years anyway?
OK, I'll bow to the more informed among the group. I don't share your enthusiasm for seats made out of sunbrella and I have not found the things said to be true. My cotton duck sail cover has lasted 3 years now and the only maintenance it gets is a fresh water hose down from time to time. The hand is better (to me) than sumbrella and the cost was significantly less. Even if it only lasts 9 years (half of Mainsail's 18+) I'm still money ahead. Who wants the same color seats for 18 years anyway?
Bill, obviously you don't allow your cushions to remain wet
If cotton fabric is allowed to be wet and stay wet for a week with no ventilation(as with the underside of a cushion) the foothold that mold will get will severely degrade the fabric. There are many choices of acrylic upholstry fabric that are as durable as sunbrella but would be welcome in the living room of any house.
If cotton fabric is allowed to be wet and stay wet for a week with no ventilation(as with the underside of a cushion) the foothold that mold will get will severely degrade the fabric. There are many choices of acrylic upholstry fabric that are as durable as sunbrella but would be welcome in the living room of any house.
There is some difference...
There is some difference between a marine grade cotton duck and regular cotton. A marine grade cotton duck fabric has been treated with a marine grade coating. There are two very popular fabrics one is called Vivatex and the other Sunforger. These are NOT plain cotton and they undergo a chemical treating process which gives them more UV resistance and more water & mold resistance. They will still not last nearly as long as Sunbrella or a solution dyed acrylic but are less expensive. Vivatex (what Fairclough uses) and Sunforger (a good tent fabric) usually sell for about $8.00 - $12.00 per yard. These should NOT be confused with Wal*Mart cotton, what MAc was intending on using, as they are two entirely different beasts. I would still not use Vivatex or Sunforger over a good acrylic.. Sunbrella also makes different grades of fabric and the furniture grade is what one should use on cushions. It's MUCH more comfortable than the stuff you would use for a dodger or sail cover.. Sailrite often has close outs on marine grade acrylics for $6.00 - $10.00 per yard. We happen to have a fabric company in Maine who buys closeouts from Glen Raven Mills and I can regularly buy Sunbrella for $5.00 - $12.00 per yard..
There is some difference between a marine grade cotton duck and regular cotton. A marine grade cotton duck fabric has been treated with a marine grade coating. There are two very popular fabrics one is called Vivatex and the other Sunforger. These are NOT plain cotton and they undergo a chemical treating process which gives them more UV resistance and more water & mold resistance. They will still not last nearly as long as Sunbrella or a solution dyed acrylic but are less expensive. Vivatex (what Fairclough uses) and Sunforger (a good tent fabric) usually sell for about $8.00 - $12.00 per yard. These should NOT be confused with Wal*Mart cotton, what MAc was intending on using, as they are two entirely different beasts. I would still not use Vivatex or Sunforger over a good acrylic.. Sunbrella also makes different grades of fabric and the furniture grade is what one should use on cushions. It's MUCH more comfortable than the stuff you would use for a dodger or sail cover.. Sailrite often has close outs on marine grade acrylics for $6.00 - $10.00 per yard. We happen to have a fabric company in Maine who buys closeouts from Glen Raven Mills and I can regularly buy Sunbrella for $5.00 - $12.00 per yard..
Go with the Sunbrella
On my previous boat(Pearson 28) I made the interior cushions out of Sunbrella furniture grade and I made exterior cushions out of the awning fabric. The backing I used for the cockpit cushions is rubberized shelf lining that any fabric store sells by the yard. It is easy to sew, breathes and it will keep them in place even at high angles of heel. Check ebay for Sunbrella. I never paid more than $7.00/yd for 54 inch width. You can often find a few ends that are enough to do your job. http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3071&PRODID=xprd408802&source=search
On my previous boat(Pearson 28) I made the interior cushions out of Sunbrella furniture grade and I made exterior cushions out of the awning fabric. The backing I used for the cockpit cushions is rubberized shelf lining that any fabric store sells by the yard. It is easy to sew, breathes and it will keep them in place even at high angles of heel. Check ebay for Sunbrella. I never paid more than $7.00/yd for 54 inch width. You can often find a few ends that are enough to do your job. http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3071&PRODID=xprd408802&source=search
Similar to Sunbrella
We got the sunbrella equivalent at Jo Ann Fabrics for a fraction of the cost. We used the four inch foam and then stapled gunned it to Luan Plywood (to make them light weight) and then used industrial strength velcro strip (about 3" long) on the ends to keep them secured. Several people on the dock ask us where we got our seats made and all could not believe that we made them ourselves. I then went back and bought enough fabric (to match the seats for a sun shade and used PVC pipe over the boom for the right arc. It turned out to look very good (does not look hillbilly). Good luck it looks like there is a lot of advice on the post.
We got the sunbrella equivalent at Jo Ann Fabrics for a fraction of the cost. We used the four inch foam and then stapled gunned it to Luan Plywood (to make them light weight) and then used industrial strength velcro strip (about 3" long) on the ends to keep them secured. Several people on the dock ask us where we got our seats made and all could not believe that we made them ourselves. I then went back and bought enough fabric (to match the seats for a sun shade and used PVC pipe over the boom for the right arc. It turned out to look very good (does not look hillbilly). Good luck it looks like there is a lot of advice on the post.
Pat? Photos?
Pat, I would love to see photos of your boom tent wit PVC supports! Thanks, Deborah
Pat, I would love to see photos of your boom tent wit PVC supports! Thanks, Deborah
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