Cheap way to replace seat cushions on yacht

[Paul1972stevens]

Been looking around to replace all the soft furnishings on my boat..... Any tips to do it cheap.????

 

[VicS]

Been looking around to replace all the soft furnishings on my boat..... Any tips to do it cheap.????

DIY ...... but it helps to have had some instruction .........eg evening classes

 

[Paul1972stevens]

The foam seems so expensive like crazy price

 

[VicS]

The foam seems so expensive like crazy price

yes not cheap. Did not have the benefit of the internet either when i did mine


Must be fire retardant ... but any you buy from reputable sources for upholstery should be anyway Needs to be firmish for bunk cushions ..... but not rock hard!


I guess you are not looking at Dralon velvet ... if you are be warned it needs a little more know how to make a really good job. Did cushions for a small chair with it but not the boat.

 

[seanfoster]

The foam seems so expensive like crazy price

Yes they are, like virtually everything connected with boat ownership!

 

[VicMallows]

The foam seems so expensive like crazy price

What is wrong with your existing foam? Mine is 30 years old. I have washed it (by treading on it in the bath!) a couple of times, and it is still perfectly comfortable. Of course that will have negated any fire-resistant properties ....but I don't think it had any to start with.

Reupholstering is pretty straightforward if you use the old covers as templates. In my case I reused the base fabric as that was still in good condition. Possibly the hardest part is choosing a suitable material!

 

[Poignard]

If you decide to make your own, you'll find all you need to know on the Sailrite website:

http://www.sailrite.com/easearch#!How-To-Instructions-Videos/Videos&ea_a=How-To:Cushions

 

[Concerto]

If you want to DIY then Hawke House in Gosport do a useful course. http://www.hawkehouse.co.uk/ It is not mentioned on their website, so send them an email if you are interested.

If you do not want to DIY then search out a local upholstry supplier or caravan upholsterer.

There is a trade upholstry supplier that will supply retail customers in Bristol called Foam for Home (http://www.foamforhome.co.uk/store/scripts/default.asp) They also will cut foam and will also make up as well. http://www.foamforhome.co.uk/brochure/FFH_Brochure.pdf pages 95 and 98. I have no personal experience of them but found them whilst searching for fabrics.

For my Westerly Fulmar (32ft & 6 berth) my local marine upholsterer has quoted £600 for labour and foam, I just supply fabric which I expect to cost about £500 to £600. I had been quoted £2500 upward elsewhere.

 

[Paul1972stevens]

Thanks for info people

 

[halb]

If you live in the SW, PLUS in Exeter, they are not for profit company, I've just had my seating and bunks re covered, they've done a superb job for a very reasonable price, about half the cost of marine upholsterers, PM me for any more info.

No connections with the company, just a very happy customer

 

[ronsurf]

There are caravan scrappers around that can provide cushions that may be suitable.

 

[charles_reed]

If you decide to make your own, you'll find all you need to know on the Sailrite website:

http://www.sailrite.com/easearch#!How-To-Instructions-Videos/Videos&ea_a=How-To:Cushions

A great resource - thanks - just need to be aware that import-costs will be levied on anything one orders.

Here in Telford we have a local supplier of cut-to-size foam - just got 3 replacement settee (in the house) cushions for £44.43 where the price quoted by a furnishing house was £183.
Ace Foam ,
www.acefoam.co.uk/

 

[duncan99210]

We bought the fabric when we replaced the cushions in saloon from a warehouse shop in North Wales for about £100. Foam was bought in Greece via a Nidri based lady who does boat upholstery for about €250 IIRC. I left SWMBO to do the job as she wasn't in the mood to accept help or advice about five minutes after the job started.......

 

[BlueChip]

If you live in the SW, PLUS in Exeter, they are not for profit company, I've just had my seating and bunks re covered, they've done a superb job for a very reasonable price, about half the cost of marine upholsterers, PM me for any more info.

No connections with the company, just a very happy customer

could you please post their contact details?

 

[prv]

could you please post their contact details?

http://bit.ly/1NgzYOR



(It's actually Pluss, but Google can figure it out.)

Pete

 

[BlueChip]

http://www.plussupholstery.org.uk/index.php?page=upholstery

Thanks for that link, I'll pay them a visit and get a quote next week.

 

[halb]

FYI they are not open at the weekends, I didn't bother with a quote knowing that I would have been hard pressed to get a better price and was pleasently surprised at the final bill.

 

[BlueChip]

FYI they are not open at the weekends, I didn't bother with a quote knowing that I would have been hard pressed to get a better price and was pleasently surprised at the final bill.

Do you know if they could also make a copy of a sail cover?

 

[halb]

Can't see why not they seem to work with most fabrics, one can only ask.

 

[William_H]

DIY is not so hard. Assuming you can get new foam and cut it to the right shape and size. A bit more difficult if you want really plush looking job. I chose a cheap plain coloured cotton drill for my covers on a small boat. This is easy to sew and to wash and fairly cheap to buy. It means that one does not get so pained at people standing on cushions or spilling stuff on them.
Basically you cut out a top shape from the fabric with about 2cms extra all round. Cut out the bottom piece also. Now cut out side walls all with the extra 2cms.
You will need to cut an opening for actually puting the foam in. I cut down the middle of the back wall and used velcro to hold the edges together. The opening needs to be 75% of the length of the cushion. You may need to make the back wall fromn 2 pieces of cloth to allow for hemming and overlap for the velcro.
Sew the whole thing together while inside out using a domestic sewing machine. Sew the velcro on then struggle to get the foam inside. easy peasy. good luck olewill