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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Cabin cushions

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clippership
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/10/2013 : 12:59:23

New project 25 owner. Is the vinyl backing on cushions really necessary? The 80's fabric needs to be replaced, wondering if I can have the fabric cover the entire cushion(s)? Thanks

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4018 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2013 : 17:22:33

I believe the vinyl bottoms are there to protect the cushions from moisture that occurs under boat cushion's. Not sure why this happens but it does.

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2013 : 17:35:23

It's also more durable than furniture fabric, so it won't tear if it snags on a screw head or the edge of a storage panel.

My Pearson cushions use a very heavy fabric (it almost feels like carpet) instead of vinyl and that seems to work just as well. It would be just as hard to sew though, if not harder.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2013 : 19:38:02

I reused the vinyl bottoms on my new upholstery.

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clippership
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2013 : 02:59:51

Thanks I will take old cushions apart; then asses the worth of reusing. Also see if the foam will pass the smell test.

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clippership
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2013 : 03:00:23

Thanks I will take old cushions apart; then asses the worth of reusing. Also see if the foam will pass the smell test.

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TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2013 : 04:34:29

From someone who worked at a place that use to make cushions (and stuffed quite a few of them) for ComPac, Watkins, Island Packet, Caliber, and a few others...the vinyl is/was cheaper than the old herculon that was used for the top and sides...nothing more than a way to reduce costs. Island Packet did not use vinyl...

Good luck with the project

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hubbardbilly
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2013 : 04:41:09

My wife and I are having ours reupholstered by a friend right now. My wife went to Jo-Ann Fabric and bought a nice thick topside fabric (almost a soft blue denim) and some dark blue vinyl backing. Turns out there's really no price difference so I would recommend doing vinyl on the back. The reason is that if you get moisture between the cushion and the cabin interior surface, the cushion will be stewing in mildew and mold. With the vinyl backing you have a moisture barrier that will minimize the absorbtion of moisture into the cushion.

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2013 : 06:41:13

If you are doing DIY cushions then you can also do DIY foam. Find foam in mattress shapes (it is a lot cheaper this way) and cut it up yourself using an electric carving knife. I used a $20 knife from Amazon.

I bought my foam for my Pearson from here:
http://www.foamdistributing.com/foam-mattress.html

A twin mattress had enough foam for both V-berth cushions, and a full had enough for the big quarterberth on my Pearson. My guess is that a king could provide enough foam for the dinette and settee on a C-25 dinette layout, then you'd need a twin again in thinner foam for the backs.

It was a lot cheaper than having foam cut to order (which is what I did on my Catalina), but also a lot more work.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2013 : 12:45:35

Buy new foam and get 3" instead of 2".

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sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2013 : 19:52:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by clippership
 Thanks I will take old cushions apart; then asses the worth of reusing. Also see if the foam will pass the smell test.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I just completed a Microbiology class at Virginia Tech. They did not teach this point directly, but one thing I did learn is that the smell test is a reasonable test. No joke. Many disease causing microbes literally cause stink.

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hubbardbilly
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2013 : 08:53:15

Just got my cabin cushions re-upholstered prior to my maiden voyage last week. I had a family friend do the work (I can't reveal how good of a deal I got!!!!). ANyhow, they turned out great! The admiral bought all the fabric and vinyl (10 yards of each...and there's plenty left over) at Jo-Ann Fabric. Makes the interior clean and comfortable! Here's the link to the photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/hubbardbilly/NewC25InteriorUpholstry?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJHrvqjs-tT1ugE&feat=directlink

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2013 : 12:08:14

What? I don't remember that and I had Catalina make me new ones... My current vessel doesn't have vinyl on the back and I can't recall seeing that on any other yacht - ever! IMHO, that would just create an area that couldn't dry out. Also, if you cover both sides of some of your cushions, you can double their life by flipping them over from time to time, traditional layout only I believe.

Nice Job there Billy! Amazing how fugly the original covers were. The 80's just was weird style wise...

sten

Edited by - redviking on 05/22/2013 12:11:29

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2013 : 04:42:35

We are in the process of having ours redone. We are using Sunbrella material. We called Sailrite (material provider) and they did not recommend using vinyl on the backside. When finished they will not have the vinyl.

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hubbardbilly
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2013 : 06:12:22

I would think that the vinyl would help prevent the condensation/morning dew that accumulates between the cushions and the interior surfaces of the cabin from seeping into the cushion itself. On many occasions I've picked up the cushion to find moisture on the cockpit surface. I certainly wouldn't want this moisture in the foam of my cushions. Why wouldn't you want the vinyl? It's cheaper than fabric in some occasions. My 10-yard was somewhere around $60-$80 I think.

The only benefit I could imagine of "all fabric" would be that you can flip the cushions if they get stained.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2013 : 06:20:58

I've seen one recommendation to use nylon mesh on the bottom, to (1) keep the foam from contacting the surface that might have some moisture on it (when nobody's sitting there), and (2) allow it to dry more easily if it does get damp.

That said, the guy who made our cushions recommended vinyl, as did the woman who made them for my current $+!nkp*+. Upholstery fabric would be my last choice.

Your best protection from mildew, however, is a solar vent.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/23/2013 06:23:09

Merrick
Navigator

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USA
192 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2013 : 13:23:08

I've wondered about this also as my cushions are falling apart. At first I thought the vinyl was to protect from moisture, but now I wonder if the vinyl causes a lot of the condensation since the moisture can't evaporate. there is almost always condensation under our cushions. SC humidity probably. I guess I'm repeating what's been said, but anyway if most boats don't have it....I'll probably go the easiest (and cheapest) route.

Edited by - Merrick on 05/23/2013 13:27:39

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2013 : 19:45:15

Mine have vinyl and when I used to keep them on the boat I would prop them up when I wasn't on the boat so air could circulate around them. Never had a problem.

Since I'm almost always sailing alone I now keep all but one of my cushions at home in a climate controlled bedroom. When I sell the boat someone is going to have brand new cushions.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2013 : 21:01:45

Propping them up is a good idea--I did some of that...

The fiberglass "furniture" will probably cool faster than the cushions, due to the insulating properties of the foam. So moisture will condense onto the berth and seat surfaces more than onto the cushion surfaces. If the cushion bottoms are fabric, they'll absorb the moisture into the foam.

But with a solar vent, as the air and the fiberglass cool, the saturated inside air is exchanged with outside air that has already dropped its moisture. Late at night and early in the morning, the decks are soaked, and the interior is bone dry. From my experience, it works.

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