Slip covers

[Roger Long]

I have very nice and breathable cushion covers on my boat that are ideal 90% of the time. When it's wet enough that people come below with foul weather gear on though and someone thoughtlessly sits on a settee, someone is going to be sleeping in a wet spot.

I would like to have waterproof slip covers made but am having trouble finding the right material.

It should be:

Waterproof
Semi absorbent so water doesn't just run off over the edge and under the berth cushion.
Not too thick so they can be rolled up and stowed.
Not too unpleasant to sit on. Not slick like Naugahyde.

Any suggestions?

 

[Tim R.]

Some variety of Sunbrella comes to mind. I used their furniture grade fabric to recover the cushions in my Pearson 28. It is a little softer and more pliable than the awning grade and I think it did shed water. Most Sunbrella resellers will send you swatches to compare and match.

 

[Capn Ellis]

We solved this problem by carpeting the benches under the cushions with a thick, synthetic (cut from a single remnant from a local shop, chosen to match the interior decor). Now summer-sweaty folks or wet from swimming folks or foulie folks can sit and rest. The saloon cushions are stored in the V-berth while under sail.
IMHO - a much cheaper solution at $30.

 

[Steve Dion]

Roger: Contact US Yacht Cushions in Fl. has patterns for many of the boats and can provide you with excellent technical advise. The redid my interior on my Hunter 31 several years ago. I cannot say enough good about them. They use commercial fabrics and not this stuff that we would use for household furniture. Much of it wears like iron.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Roger, Wright's idea has great merit.

There is always the sign that reads: "Crew members who sit on new cushions with wet foul weather gear get keelhauled."

If they need the definition of keelhauled, they'll probably also need the definition of wet!

 

[Tim R.]

If they need the definition of keelhauled, they'll probably also need the definition of wet!

Luckily Stu, you can educate them about both terms in a single demonstration!