Best foam for bunk/settee cushions?

[Poignard]

The foam in my bunk/settee cushions could do with renewing.

I'm thinking of using memory foam as I suffer from intermittent severe backache. That would be fine for sleeping on but the bunks also serve as seats during the day. Would memory foam be OK for this dual purpose?

 

[Boater Sam]

I can't remember!

Ask a foam manufacturer?

Fire resistant vital.

 

[LittleSister]

You need quite firm foam for seats, because of the effective 'point' loading.

Any decent foam supplier will have advice on which foams to choose for which purpose.

One can sleep ok on foam of seat-appropriate firmness, but not sit ok on foam chosen purely for sleeping-on comfort, if you see what I mean.

You can combine two layers of different firmness to compromise (and some suppliers will glue them together for you), but ideally you'd probably want the firmest foam on top for sitting, and underneath for sleeping. Easy enough if your seat is symmetrical (or you have an exact counterpart on the other side of the boat) - just flip them over, otherwise you'd need two separate cushions or, more likely, just manage with a single firmness.

The foam needs to be cut slightly larger than the covers it is to fit into (otherwise you get baggy covers and creases). I seem to recall adding about 1" per 6', pro-rata, but I may have misremembered the ratio.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Try firm reflex .It’s more expensive but can be very comfortable,for both sitting and sleeping.

 

[WFA]

Try firm reflex .It’s more expensive but can be very comfortable,for both sitting and sleeping.

I have a "flecking" problem you may be able to help with. My bunk covers, which I thought were hard wearing, have started to strip on the outer layer - hence "flecking".
The replacement needs to be robust but attractive so any guidance on what material and weight I should be looking for would be much appreciated as the guy who made the original mattresses and covers tends to offer only what he has to hand at the time.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Try firm reflex .It’s more expensive but can be very comfortable,for both sitting and sleeping.

My sofa cushions are firm reflex, 4" thick on the bases and 3" on the backrests. As you rightly say, comfy for sitting on and sleeping on.

My forward cabin mattresses are also 4" firm reflex, with 1" of memory foam, very comfy to sleep on.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

For boats ,seating areas are best covered with contract type of fabric,
.It’s used for more hardwearing applications.
Some Coated fabrics can often end up shedding the surface in a marine environment.
As for flecking ,do you mean like pilling on a fleece ,bits coming off on the surface ?

 

[coopec]

You need quite firm foam for seats, because of the effective 'point' loading.

Any decent foam supplier will have advice on which foams to choose for which purpose.

One can sleep ok on foam of seat-appropriate firmness, but not sit ok on foam chosen purely for sleeping-on comfort, if you see what I mean.

You can combine two layers of different firmness to compromise (and some suppliers will glue them together for you), but ideally you'd probably want the firmest foam on top for sitting, and underneath for sleeping. Easy enough if your seat is symmetrical (or you have an exact counterpart on the other side of the boat) - just flip them over, otherwise you'd need two separate cushions or, more likely, just manage with a single firmness.

The foam needs to be cut slightly larger than the covers it is to fit into (otherwise you get baggy covers and creases). I seem to recall adding about 1" per 6', pro-rata, but I may have misremembered the ratio.

I agree. My mattresses (and seating) were made up by an upholster and I know he combined "two layers of different firmness" for the 4'' mattresses.

 

[Aeolus]

For the covers you need a fabric with a quoted Martindale rub test count. See here The Martindale Test: Fabric Rub Count | Just Fabrics for an explanation of what it means. I went for a synthetic material on the basis that the bits that get damp won't rot and, as long as the fabric is clean, won't go mouldy. It also dries quickly when it does get splashed. Places like Just Fabrics and End of Line Fabrics, and Ebay will often have good materials at much lower than 'marine' prices.

 

[WFA]

Some Coated fabrics can often end up shedding the surface in a marine environment.
As for flecking ,do you mean like pilling on a fleece ,bits coming off on the surface ?
More or less - the outer layer is stripping off wherever there is a slight abrasion resulting in 5mm x 2.5mm "flecks" littering the cabin sole, under the mattresses and in every connected crack or crevice.