I have a 23 ft 1982 O'Day - 20+ years and the cushions in the cabin are okay but looking old and tired and have that "old boat smell". I am considering making some covers - I had some experience with a sewing machine some time ago so the task does not scare me too much, although I have not used a machine for years - Oh well nothing ventured nothing gained! The question I have for anyone who has done this is - are there any tricks or suggestions which will help me - things like ...... fabric selection - what works, .......measuring and cutting to make sure the new covers are nice and tight on the foam or what ever is inside the current plaid? ..... Easy closure techniques, velcro, hand stitching or ??? Thanks in advance for any advice.
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Don Casey's Book
James, I'm considering the same project for my 79 H33. While it seems like we cite him so often Phil should have a "See Don Casey's Book _____" button here, Don Casey has a great book on this subject titled Canvaswork and Sail Repair. It's part of McGraw-Hill's nal Marine Sailboat Library. He also covers this in some depth in his book This Old Boat. Good luck. Tom
James, I'm considering the same project for my 79 H33. While it seems like we cite him so often Phil should have a "See Don Casey's Book _____" button here, Don Casey has a great book on this subject titled Canvaswork and Sail Repair. It's part of McGraw-Hill's nal Marine Sailboat Library. He also covers this in some depth in his book This Old Boat. Good luck. Tom
Replace the Foam
I think it would be wise to replace the foam at the same time. Your foam is 20 years old and in some areas is no doubt compressed and probably has odor problems. You can also use thicker foam since most manufactures put in marginal foam. Lots of places on the web to get a good deal. By the way you can glue end to end to make longer pieces. The spray adhesives work very well. Since you are putting in all this effort then you might as well do it right. Link below to what I just used. Usual disclaimer about no vested interest etc.
I think it would be wise to replace the foam at the same time. Your foam is 20 years old and in some areas is no doubt compressed and probably has odor problems. You can also use thicker foam since most manufactures put in marginal foam. Lots of places on the web to get a good deal. By the way you can glue end to end to make longer pieces. The spray adhesives work very well. Since you are putting in all this effort then you might as well do it right. Link below to what I just used. Usual disclaimer about no vested interest etc.
Don't replace foam
We did our original '79 cushions and had them steamed. Oder gone and a full inch thicker. Geoff
We did our original '79 cushions and had them steamed. Oder gone and a full inch thicker. Geoff
New Cushion cover tricks
Sewing new covers is soooo easy. It's just a straight stitch, nothing fancy. My advice would be to take the old covers apart and use them as the pattern for your new covers. You can also re-use the zippers if they are in good shape cause they don't give those away. If you do need zippers I recommend Sailrite, they have everything. The most important thing to consider in picking a new fabric is that the fabric be totally synthetic. Any upholstery fabric that is polyester or olafin is fine. If your wallet is deep enough you can splurge on ultra suede. If you ever log into Sailnet.com and search their archives you'll find that Sue & Larry have a lot of articles on refitting a boat. I just love Sue & Larry. Sue recommeds a synthetic valour(?) as the best fabric for interior covers. Don Casey is my guru ! He's a Mainer !!!! His books have given me so much courage to "just do it". If you don't own "This Old Boat" or the Canvas works book I highly recommend their purchase as I own both. I agree with Jeff D, replace the foam. Even as we speak mice are making beds in my old foam because I am going to get new foam. We are going to go with 6" foam in the V-birth and the quarter birth but because of drawers in the salon will have to stick with the 4" or we won't be able to open the drawers. If you aren't don't think your sewing are up to making a upholstered cover you could pick a lightweight material and make a cover similar to a fitted sheet. Just look at how a fitted sheet is made and apply that technique to your cover, it's just a channel sewn all around the perimeter of your cover and then you feed a piece of elastic or shock cord (you use a safety pin to feed the elastic through) through the channel and tie it off. TA DAAA.... fitted sheet.
Sewing new covers is soooo easy. It's just a straight stitch, nothing fancy. My advice would be to take the old covers apart and use them as the pattern for your new covers. You can also re-use the zippers if they are in good shape cause they don't give those away. If you do need zippers I recommend Sailrite, they have everything. The most important thing to consider in picking a new fabric is that the fabric be totally synthetic. Any upholstery fabric that is polyester or olafin is fine. If your wallet is deep enough you can splurge on ultra suede. If you ever log into Sailnet.com and search their archives you'll find that Sue & Larry have a lot of articles on refitting a boat. I just love Sue & Larry. Sue recommeds a synthetic valour(?) as the best fabric for interior covers. Don Casey is my guru ! He's a Mainer !!!! His books have given me so much courage to "just do it". If you don't own "This Old Boat" or the Canvas works book I highly recommend their purchase as I own both. I agree with Jeff D, replace the foam. Even as we speak mice are making beds in my old foam because I am going to get new foam. We are going to go with 6" foam in the V-birth and the quarter birth but because of drawers in the salon will have to stick with the 4" or we won't be able to open the drawers. If you aren't don't think your sewing are up to making a upholstered cover you could pick a lightweight material and make a cover similar to a fitted sheet. Just look at how a fitted sheet is made and apply that technique to your cover, it's just a channel sewn all around the perimeter of your cover and then you feed a piece of elastic or shock cord (you use a safety pin to feed the elastic through) through the channel and tie it off. TA DAAA.... fitted sheet.
Tammy re Thicker Foam & Hyper-Vent Mat
Read your post about installing thicker foam for the V-berth and want to suggest trying out a Hyper-Vent mat before doing so. What I found was the Hyper-Vent mat provides some cushion that, in combination with the foam, provides a much cushier feel to the mattress. I’m suggesting doing this "before" test so you can compare easier with the "after" test. With the thicker new 6-inch foam it might be difficult to discern much difference. The Hyper-Vent provides great breathe-ability and doesn't cost that much, either. http://www.hyperventmarine.com/product.htm
Read your post about installing thicker foam for the V-berth and want to suggest trying out a Hyper-Vent mat before doing so. What I found was the Hyper-Vent mat provides some cushion that, in combination with the foam, provides a much cushier feel to the mattress. I’m suggesting doing this "before" test so you can compare easier with the "after" test. With the thicker new 6-inch foam it might be difficult to discern much difference. The Hyper-Vent provides great breathe-ability and doesn't cost that much, either. http://www.hyperventmarine.com/product.htm
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