Memory Foam Mattress Topper

[trapezeartist]

I know many people have memory foam toppers on their bunks, so hopefully someone can give some advice.
What thickness foam is needed?
Is it necessary to have the sort with a zip-on cover? ie does bare foam deteriorate quickly?
Can it be easily cut to fit a funny-shaped bunk?

Thanks, in anticipation of the usual valuable advice.

 

[VicS]

I am considering buying one for home. I reckon to go on top of a rather firm mattress I will need 2". It is already a pretty thick mattress so do not want to go above 2" otherwise I might be considering 3". 2" is the minimum I think that will be effective

In use it does need to go on a firmish base so you would probably be wasting your money if you are putting it on top of soft cushions.

There is a lot of helpful info to be found on line.

There are different grades but not a lot of info about the differences

It'll be interesting to read other replies to your question.. might even prompt me to go ahead and get one.
We do already in fact have a memory foam mattress on one bed. Not sure of the thickness of the memory foam layer on that .. no way of telling AFAIK.

Id say a cover would be essential.

I'd think that like ordinary foam an electric carving knife would be the ideal tool for cutting to shape.

 

[Marsupial]

Land based in the UK we had a memory foam matress, about 8 inches thick, it helped SWMBO through two frozen shoulders - yes two. Those who have had them know.

In our house in Turkey we have a firm mattress with a 75mm topper and is OK not as good as the uk mattress.

On board we have the Jeanneau foam cushions with a 75mm topper and IKEA slats and this is OK but not as good as the UK mattress, but my back is heathier and no shoulders problems from SWMBO, so at least 75mm in our humble opinion.

 

[VicS]

Land based in the UK we had a memory foam matress, about 8 inches thick,

But that is not 8" of memory foam is it? I thought they were normally a layer of memory foam bonded onto a base.

 

[Marsupial]

But that is not 8" of memory foam is it? I thought they were normally a layer of memory foam bonded onto a base.

no thats 8" of memory foam, like sleeping in a hot swamp, but it did the buisiness for Chris and her frozen shoulders.

 

[trapezeartist]

So far it seems like my preliminary ideas are being confirmed: I was thinking of going for 75mm and a cover. The snag with the cover is that it limits the freedom to shape the topper (given that neither SWMBO nor I are likely to get the needle and thread out).

I'm interested in the slats idea. I've seen mention of slats as an anti-condensation measure, but do they improve comfort? The foam mattresses we have at the moment seem intent on emulating the sheets of plywood that lie underneath them, so putting the foam on top of something springy might do the trick. But then it is going to become more difficult to access under-bunk stowage space.

 

[VicS]

no thats 8" of memory foam, like sleeping in a hot swamp, but it did the buisiness for Chris and her frozen shoulders.

I had not realised you could get them all memory foam.
The ones I have seen are either memory foam on a base of some other foam or on a spring base. Ours ( made by Meyers) is memory foam on a sprung base. I though it was two layers of foam but I was not involved in its purchase. Bought by SWMBO and daughter for daughter. Today is the first time I've bothered to look at it!

I think I'd give the hot swamp a miss!

 

[TQA]

On a solid base I started with 4 inches but that was not enough. I am a big guy, sleep on my side and my hip was bottoming out.

So added an extra 1.5 inches and that did the trick. A really comfortable bed and a good nights sleep.

 

[jakeroyd]

Raskelf

we have 2" Raskelf toppers over rather poor 1.5" existing cushions.
They are the single width type of IIRC medium firmness.
Because they are single we can offset them to cover the funny shape of our double aft cabin.
I let the side just go up the part at the stern where the boat narrows without cutting it.
They do pretty well and we generally get a good night.
On problem I did not think about with an under cockpit berth is shoulder room.
Banished to the low bit underneath the middle of the cockpit I only just have space to turn over , I guess my shoulder width is about normal.

We do have the zipped covers which are very practical and acn be washed.

Have not noticed any 'foam breakup' in the 4 years we have had them.

 

[Marsupial]

I think I'd give the hot swamp a miss!

It was a subjective remark but giving it a miss is exactly what I thought 4 years ago, now I wouldnt be without it.

Back to the OP, our 75mm topper on the boat was easy to shape with a very sharp knife, not a serrated blade; I used a carving knife. Put the original cushions on the dock with the memory foam on top and cut round them, even managed to mimic the flare of the hull. The cover it came in was easy to modify to. That was 3 years ago and so far the thing is still doing what its supposed to do and has not fallen apart. The topper is cooler to sleep in/on than the full blown mattress - temps are currently often over 30 at night here in Greece.

As to other comments, we have adjustable IKEA slats under the bunk, they are worth the extra in terms of comfort

 

[capsco]

I have 50mm topper, it does the job but, as others have said it is warm/hot to sleep on, I would call it uncomfortably so at this time of the year.

Easy to cut, long stanley knife type blade works well.

 

[Croak]

Electric carving knife cuts foam well.

 

[ean_p]

As to other comments, we have adjustable IKEA slats under the bunk, they are worth the extra in terms of comfort

are the slats a retro fit to your boat and if so did you remove the solid berth base/locker top, or did you fit the slats on top of the base?

 

[MoodySabre]

We have a 2" topper that is warm but kind to these ageing bones. The topper came with a cover which has been altered like the foam. We also have a mattress cover under the sheet.

 

[vertford]

That hot swamp feeling

I have the full 8" inch memory foam mattress at home and have the hot swamp feeling aswell, which was surprising. We even brought the cover which promised to keep things cooler, but doesn't seem to make much different. With hindsight would probably go with a decent sprung mattress.

On the boat, looking at IKEA slats and then a 10mm camping mat to see if that works. Friend brought his onboard and was impressed by comfortable it was as a mattress and cockpit cushion.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have had a 2" topper from Raskelf for the last 5 years with the zip on sheet.I would highly recommend it.You can buy cheaper ones on Amazon nowadays,but Raskelf do a good product range.

 

[nickfabbri]

We had a 2" in the forepeak and it was "ok". Upgraded to a 3" for the aft cabin, and I sleep like a baby. It really depends on your weight. I am 12 stone.