Replacing foam in the cushions

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Oct 21, 2010
350
Macgregor 26S, "Myuna" Brisbane, Australia
We wrapped our cushions in dacron before installing in the covers. Makes it easier and breathes better too.
Great idea - thanks for the tip. My new foam had just arrrived and I am putting off the thought of fitting it back in the covers - not now.:)
 
Sep 26, 2010
808
Macgregor 1993 26S Houston
Just wondering here. I installed a laminate flooring in my house a while back. We bought rolls of a moisture barrier. Looks like closed cell foam, about 1/8" thick and 4 ft wide and on a roll.
Would it be good to stick that to the foam with something, then put my new foam in the covers?
Jim
 
Sep 15, 2011
10
macgregor 26M Dunedin, Fl
I added foam to a previous boat cusion with the same issue - the original foam"4 inch" was too soft and my hip was on the plywood base by morning. I added 2 inch high density foam (from Sam's Club) when I had them reupholstered and it did the trick. Strangely, I laid it out on the garage floor first and there was a difference when the foam is under the old foam vs when it is on top of the old foam. When the new foam was on the bottom, under the old foam, the feel is softer but the combination of the foams works nicely - no plywood contact. Doesn't work as well when the high density foam is on top of the other foam - the feel is harder. This option is also less expensive than buying 4" high density foam. Hope that helps.
 

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Just wondering here. I installed a laminate flooring in my house a while back. We bought rolls of a moisture barrier. Looks like closed cell foam, about 1/8" thick and 4 ft wide and on a roll.
Would it be good to stick that to the foam with something, then put my new foam in the covers?
Jim
We haven't had any problem with moisture with the high density foam inside the boat, V-berth and cabin, so I don't see a need to do anything there myself. We have had the boat in the dry west and humid Florida with no problem.

We used the dry-fast in the cockpit,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
Sum, I tend to agree, but its not too humid during the fall/winter months. July/Aug/Sept are much much different... if my fan stops running for a week I have small black mold spots on the walls...

I'm in the cheap camp with powersailor. adding to the top of old foam.

Doe, Sum, what thickness did you guys get? 4"?
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Sum, I tend to agree, but its not too humid during the fall/winter months. July/Aug/Sept are much much different... if my fan stops running for a week I have small black mold spots on the walls...

I'm in the cheap camp with powersailor. adding to the top of old foam.

Doe, Sum, what thickness did you guys get? 4"?
All of the foam we have used both the high density and the dry-fast has been 3 inches thick. It is very firm, but we like it a lot. They have some that is not so firm if that is what one wants.

The lux high quality ....

http://www.foamdistributing.com/products/lux-hq.html

....has a 14 year life expectancy and a 2.8 lb/cu. ft density and a 50 lb. compression rating. It is $122.00 no tax, with free delivery for a 3 inch X 82" X 76".

The lux regular quality...

http://www.foamdistributing.com/products/lux-r.html

...has a 7 year life expectancy and a 1.8 lb/cu. ft. density but still a 50 lb. compression ratting, so might feel the same and it is only $83.25 for a 3 inch X 82" X 76" sheet.

You might be able to get these as cheap as the 'cheap' local stuff that won't be near as good? I've bought foam before in some of the larger cities for the teardrop trailer and none of it was as good as the above foam and I think I even paid more years back. I think they are a good deal.

They also have cheaper, less dense, less firm sheets also...

http://www.foamdistributing.com/products/products.html

This is what we used on the cockpit cushions in 3 inch thickness...

http://www.foamdistributing.com/products/dryfast.html

... and really like it. It is about the same firmness as the high density above, doesn't seem that wet even when it gets wet and dries very quickly. Of course we have it covered in a material that really allows air to pass through, not vinyl.

You live there, so I'd go by your recommendation on the humidity, but I liked the interlocking blocks you posted over putting closed cell on the bottom where the cushion would still be flat on the surface with no air under it,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
Oct 8, 2008
362
MacGregor/Venture 25 Winthrop Harbor, IL Drummond Island,MI
Kestle......thanks....no, but my father-in-law does........I hay elped....:dance: I can nearly lose fingers using my table saw, but the thought of driving a sewing needle through them gives me the willies:eek:.Momma picked out the fabric (sunbrella), and I did what I was told. Bro-in-law has upholstery supply business for the foam. Bob does fine work. That is the dacron in the background.
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Kestle......thanks....no, but my father-in-law does........I hay elped....:dance: I can nearly lose fingers using my table saw, but the thought of driving a sewing needle through them gives me the willies:eek:.Momma picked out the fabric (sunbrella), and I did what I was told. Bro-in-law has upholstery supply business for the foam. Bob does fine work. That is the dacron in the background.


Those really look nice :dance:,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 

Kestle

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Jun 12, 2011
702
MacGregor 25 San Pedro
Send over his business contact info if he's in the Los Angeles area. I'm about to do our cushions, and would like to help a friend if possible -especially one who does quality work.

Jeff
 

Kestle

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Jun 12, 2011
702
MacGregor 25 San Pedro
Duh...I forgot to check your location. Let me know which model and year you have, and perhaps we can do something if he already has the patterns.

Jeff
 
Oct 8, 2008
362
MacGregor/Venture 25 Winthrop Harbor, IL Drummond Island,MI
I could certainly ask. He is retired for the most part. When he does work, it is mostly custom furniture that he builds for past clients. The only auto, boat, airplane interior work he has done since I have known him, was for me.....errrr daughter:Liar:. Let me see if I can get him to put his golf clubs down long enough before he heads to FL for the winter. I did get him out on Lake Michigan once.........:)
 
Sep 26, 2010
808
Macgregor 1993 26S Houston
Update,
I received the 3" high quality Lux foam, cut it out and was all ready to stuff it into the old cushion covers. I laid down on the raw foam and it seemed too hard. (the admiral thought it was just fine!)
I ended up putting it under the old original cushions. I like it. It does take away 3" of headroom on the berth, but I can live with that. I'm 6'1" and 225 lbs. I always bottomed out before. Not now. It's pretty comfy!
I think it would work well for seat cushions by itself. That's coming down the pipe.
Jim
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Update,
I received the 3" high quality Lux foam, cut it out and was all ready to stuff it into the old cushion covers. I laid down on the raw foam and it seemed too hard. (the admiral thought it was just fine!).....Jim
I was wondering if it would be too firm for you or not. One reason it is hard to recommend foam or mattresses to others is that we all have different tastes.

Ruth and I are lucky in that we like the same. We like the firm, but at first I thought it might be too firm also, but now we have the same stuff in the Mac, on our bed at home, in the teardrop trailer and Suburban, and will have it in the Endeavour also. So now except for staying in a Motel we sleep on the same mattress everywhere :dance:.

We are using it also for the cabin cushions, but for me with a bony butt I start to bottom out if I'm on it say all evening. Ruth likes it just fine. I'd like to add 1 inch of the dryfast under the 3 inch for the cabin cushions. I think that would take care of me and Ruth would still probably be happy. I'm going to try it for the cushion I sit on at the Nav. station in the Endeavour in the spring and if it works will probably do it for the cabin cushions in both boats as we get around to making new ones.

If someone doesn't like a real firm bed maybe consider the ...

http://www.foamdistributing.com/products/hd36-hq.html

HD36 High Quality from them. It has an IFD of 35 vs. 50, but is still really good stuff with a life expectancy of 12-18 years.

The other option for you Jim would to maybe just put a 1 inch soft topper on the 3 inches so you don't loose so much head room. We are going to gain a couple inches of headroom in the Endeavour by replacing what is there now with the 3 inch foam, so that will be good,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
Sep 26, 2010
808
Macgregor 1993 26S Houston
I read all the specs on the stuff and the numbers don't really mean much to me. There's nothing like being able to test drive it before you buy!
That said, I just took a chance. I figured if they sell it for mattresses it couldn't be too hard.
I have travelled to other countries where the hotel beds were thin and hard and I get acclimated pretty quick. At most I'll only be out a few days, a week tops.
I'm getting anxious now. I'm ready to go. Dang weather!
Well I'll clean up the boat and pack tomorrow. Maybe I'll put in on Sunday and head for protected water to camp.
 
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