Upholstery. Looking for inspiration.

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Mike Jennings

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Jun 17, 2022, 1:11:12 PM6/17/22
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I am contemplating having the seating reupholstered in my 30C. The benches on either side of the cabin.

I would appreciate photos that may bring some inspiration also comments about comfort, suitable fabrics and anything else I may not have thought about.

At the moment the seating is dark blue and it always seems like I am going into a submarine, so brightening up the interior is important to me.

I look forward to your suggestions.

Mike Jennings.
NS005 Chancy.
Port Moody. BC.

Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C.

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Jun 17, 2022, 2:05:38 PM6/17/22
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Check out the interior photos on the photo galleries. It will take a while but should give some ideas.

Mixed coloured fabrics general show marks and stains less than solids.

Consider replacing the foam as well. Good chance it has developed mild over the years.  Discount Foam on Fraser Street in Vancouver is pretty good for foam. Prices have gone up.  You can take in the old foam for patterns but you will have to dispose of it afterwards.

Buttons help keep the fabric in place. 

If you don’t have to fight to get the foam in either the foam is too small or the covering too large. 

Pick fabric that you can throw in the bath tub to wash.

Good luck.

Mark Powers

Ernie Abugov N22 - #56 "Moustaches" Toronto

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Jun 17, 2022, 2:15:55 PM6/17/22
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Actually, Mike, pick fabric that you can throw into your clothes washer. That would include just about any fabric that might be used for upholstery. If you're careful, you can wash a 3-piece man's wool suit in your washing machine.

Ernie A. in Toronto

Gail

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Jun 17, 2022, 5:24:09 PM6/17/22
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Our boat came with Sunbrella terracotta canvas cushion covers. I think they are pre-2014 and still in fine shape. We just bought the boat. I took all covers off to launder in my machine. I'd never make cushions with buttons. I had to remove and replace 44 pairs of them just to clean them. I serged all the interior seams because Sunberlla ravels like crazy and the maker didn't cut the pieces with a hot knife. The foam in these seemed fine, but I would have ditched them if they smelled. Settee foam is closed cell, probably four inches, wrapped in a layer of polyester batting that gives them a much nicer, softer feel. As for stuffing the foam into the cushion, you do want the foam to be a little bigger than the cushion. You can shrink it to install it by using cushion silk. It's pretty amazing, but I'd have a second pair of hands help. https://www.sailrite.com/Cushion-Wrap-Silk-Film-Center-Fold-54 I didn't think I'd like the color, but it's quiet and you can do whatever you want around it. Go to Sailrite.com for tons of ideas about fabrics, foams, and lots of other products. But, beware, the how-tos are sneaky. I now own a Sailrite heavy-duty sewing machine and just made new cockpit cushions.  https://www.sailrite.com/Sunbrella-Canvas-Terracotta-54-Furniture-Fabric. And here is the new throw pillow fabric. https://www.sailrite.com/King-Textiles-Vibe-Tangy-Orange-54-Fabric Here's a photo from the prior owner. Good luck. 

i-srfX7sT-X4.jpg

Gail

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Jun 17, 2022, 5:27:04 PM6/17/22
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Whoops, forgot to sign my post. 
Gail Marshall
Nepeta 30 C
Mount Desert, ME

Paul Miller

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Jun 17, 2022, 6:32:31 PM6/17/22
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Mine were musty smelling and 35 yrs old when I got Sandpiper. I wanted to try something with a little more “pop” than the usual boat upholstery fabrics present so I went with much less expensive outdoor furniture fabric that comes in a lot of brighter options. They still look pretty good after 4 years in a construction site / summer getaway venue but I doubt they will last as long as the traditional materials. This is just fine with me because my wife can sew new ones quickly and the fabric is much much less expensive. I like the idea of getting to change the look every half dozen years.
Yes, they will pop off easily and go in the washer.

Paul M
NS30U, Sandpiper 
Cowichan Bay, B.C.
EC2F8238-E42D-4BF7-A3FA-EEE8FF22EFBF.jpeg

Hinman, John

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Jun 17, 2022, 7:54:36 PM6/17/22
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Nice work, Gail! Our 30, new to us in '21, came with recently reupholstered cushions throughout. It's a lighter tan than it looks here, but the fabric is wonderful--a microsuede that I think is made by Sunbrella. Very stain resistant and soft. 

One other tip for folks with this configuration: if you open the cabinet door at the aft end of the port berth and throw a Chapman's or similarly sized tome under the aft cushion, the legroom increases by about a foot with the cushion raised up and over the lip of the bulkhead and into the locker.

Cheers,
John Hinman
Larkspur, N30U #351
Center Harbor
Brooklin, ME
LarkspurDoubleAndSingleBerths (1).jpg

On Fri, Jun 17, 2022 at 5:24 PM Gail <gailsm...@gmail.com> wrote:
Our boat came with Sunbrella terracotta canvas cushion covers. I think they are pre-2014 and still in fine shape. We just bought the boat. I took all covers off to launder in my machine. I'd never make cushions with buttons. I had to remove and replace 44 pairs of them just to clean them. I serged all the interior seams because Sunberlla ravels like crazy and the maker didn't cut the pieces with a hot knife. The foam in these seemed fine, but I would have ditched them if they smelled. Settee foam is closed cell, probably four inches, wrapped in a layer of polyester batting that gives them a much nicer, softer feel. As for stuffing the foam into the cushion, you do want the foam to be a little bigger than the cushion. You can shrink it to install it by using cushion silk. It's pretty amazing, but I'd have a second pair of hands help. https://www.sailrite.com/Cushion-Wrap-Silk-Film-Center-Fold-54 I didn't think I'd like the color, but it's quiet and you can do whatever you want around it. Go to Sailrite.com for tons of ideas about fabrics, foams, and lots of other products. But, beware, the how-tos are sneaky. I now own a Sailrite heavy-duty sewing machine and just made new cockpit cushions.  https://www.sailrite.com/Sunbrella-Canvas-Terracotta-54-Furniture-Fabric. And here is the new throw pillow fabric. https://www.sailrite.com/King-Textiles-Vibe-Tangy-Orange-54-Fabric Here's a photo from the prior owner. Good luck. 

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Mike Jennings

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Jun 17, 2022, 9:30:47 PM6/17/22
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Fabulous, I have learned a lot already. Please keep your ideas and photos coming. 

I love primary colours, any thoughts or examples.

Thanks.

Mike.

On Jun 17, 2022, at 4:53 PM, Hinman, John <hin...@kent-school.edu> wrote:

Nice work, Gail! Our 30, new to us in '21, came with recently reupholstered cushions throughout. It's a lighter tan than it looks here, but the fabric is wonderful--a microsuede that I think is made by Sunbrella. Very stain resistant and soft. 

One other tip for folks with this configuration: if you open the cabinet door at the aft end of the port berth and throw a Chapman's or similarly sized tome under the aft cushion, the legroom increases by about a foot with the cushion raised up and over the lip of the bulkhead and into the locker.

Cheers,
John Hinman
Larkspur, N30U #351
Center Harbor
Brooklin, ME
<LarkspurDoubleAndSingleBerths (1).jpg>

On Fri, Jun 17, 2022 at 5:24 PM Gail <gailsm...@gmail.com> wrote:
Our boat came with Sunbrella terracotta canvas cushion covers. I think they are pre-2014 and still in fine shape. We just bought the boat. I took all covers off to launder in my machine. I'd never make cushions with buttons. I had to remove and replace 44 pairs of them just to clean them. I serged all the interior seams because Sunberlla ravels like crazy and the maker didn't cut the pieces with a hot knife. The foam in these seemed fine, but I would have ditched them if they smelled. Settee foam is closed cell, probably four inches, wrapped in a layer of polyester batting that gives them a much nicer, softer feel. As for stuffing the foam into the cushion, you do want the foam to be a little bigger than the cushion. You can shrink it to install it by using cushion silk. It's pretty amazing, but I'd have a second pair of hands help. https://www.sailrite.com/Cushion-Wrap-Silk-Film-Center-Fold-54 I didn't think I'd like the color, but it's quiet and you can do whatever you want around it. Go to Sailrite.com for tons of ideas about fabrics, foams, and lots of other products. But, beware, the how-tos are sneaky. I now own a Sailrite heavy-duty sewing machine and just made new cockpit cushions.  https://www.sailrite.com/Sunbrella-Canvas-Terracotta-54-Furniture-Fabric. And here is the new throw pillow fabric. https://www.sailrite.com/King-Textiles-Vibe-Tangy-Orange-54-Fabric Here's a photo from the prior owner. Good luck. 


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Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C.

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Jun 17, 2022, 9:50:33 PM6/17/22
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Ernie,
I am not allowed to put boat fabric in the washing machine.😩

Mark Powers

Rebecca Bray

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Jun 18, 2022, 1:18:06 PM6/18/22
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I still have the ultrasuede covers for my cushions that came with Tessa when we bought her 21 years ago. The material is not cheap if I were to replace them but worth it in regard to durability and feel. They clean up easy both in the machine and with spot cleaning. Soft and wears very well. Definitely air dry though. image0.jpeg

Rebecca Bray
Tessa, Nonsuch 30C #11
Watch Hill, RI

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 17, 2022, at 9:50 PM, Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C. <r...@shaw.ca> wrote:

Ernie,
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Rebecca Bray

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Jun 18, 2022, 1:18:11 PM6/18/22
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I still have the ultrasuede covers for my cushions that came with Tessa when we bought her 21 years ago. The material is not cheap if I were to replace them but worth it in regard to durability and feel. They clean up easy both in the machine and with spot cleaning. Soft and wears very well. Definitely air dry though. image0.jpeg

Ernie Abugov N22 - #56 "Moustaches" Toronto

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Jun 18, 2022, 3:20:45 PM6/18/22
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Beautiful, homey and warm interior, Rebecca. Looks lovely.

Ernie A. in Toronto

Rebecca Bray

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Jun 18, 2022, 6:16:19 PM6/18/22
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Thank you Ernie. The pillows are my creations. :)

Rebecca

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On Jun 18, 2022, at 3:20 PM, Ernie Abugov N22 - #56 "Moustaches" Toronto <ernest...@gmail.com> wrote:

Beautiful, homey and warm interior, Rebecca. Looks lovely.

Tim Cordes

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Jun 20, 2022, 10:07:42 AM6/20/22
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I don't think my prior post went through, so I resized my photos.

I re-upholstered with Sunbrella Sunflower Yellow and Forest Green piping from Sailrite.  The gold velour that was on the boat when I bought it last fall was stained and I wanted a brighter interior.  My deck canvaswork is Forest Green, so I wanted to tie the color together with the piping.

Surprisingly, my step-grandmother's 1938 Singer 201 with a cording foot did a better job than my Morse-clone with the walking foot on this job.  I used Sailrite's Pfifertex mesh for the sides toward the hull and bottom, and also for the zipper plaques.  The Sailrite  Cushion Wrap Silk Film with a shop-vac made putting the foam in easy.

I had a learning curve with the cording, since I have never done that before (only the second time I've sewed boat cushions ever), but I got better with practice.  I need to re-stitch the seat cushion because of some wrinkles.  I think I can tighten them up by just sewing the bottom seam allowance a bit wider.
Singer with piping.jpg
Old and new back cushion.jpg
Starboard cushions.jpg

Tim Cordes 
Nonsuch 26C #32 "ENCORE" 
Ford Yacht Club, Grosse Ile, Michigan 
Encore logo for email.png
 

Ernie Abugov N22 - #56 "Moustaches" Toronto

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Jun 20, 2022, 1:41:23 PM6/20/22
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That's great, Tim.

I may be in Toronto but, like many other nonsuchers, I'll be sending in my order for all-new custom crafted upholstery items to you for a 4 week turnaround. You'll take care of return shipping, right ?? And, I'll get a discount as my Canadian money ain't worth the plastic film that it's printed on

OK - the real truth is that your cushions look fabulous - good job !!

Mmmmmm - YELLOW !!

Ernie A. in Toronto

Gail

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Jun 20, 2022, 4:25:07 PM6/20/22
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Tim, 
As someone who just bought a Sailrite machine to make my first cockpit cushions (without piping!) I salute you! 
I am soon to try my hand at sewing some Chiliwich material to make floor mats for the cabin. There is NO end to the "trouble" one can get into on the Sailrite site! 
Gail Marshall
Nepeta 30 C
Mount Desert, ME

newelljc9

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Jun 20, 2022, 4:55:49 PM6/20/22
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We are using Mascouche's original upholstery from 1981. It is a light pattern that goes well with the varnished wood. In 2010 we had it cleaned and renewed the foam which had gone hard. Please note: 1) The Pangman's did not use curtains as they restrictDSCN5821.JPG the light from small portholes. If Eve had privacy issues, she hung dishtowels over the ports.  2) The small grubby teddy bear on the grabrail is Mascouche (Metis for tubby little bear)

People who have sailed with us have commented on her light airy cabin and its size for a 26 footer. (Dark cabins with dark materials look smaller)

John Newell
Mascouche 26C1
Toronto

Tim Cordes

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Jun 20, 2022, 6:58:08 PM6/20/22
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Thanks Gail!  I'd love a Sailrite machine, but they are awful expensive.  I bought a knock-off Morse machine several years ago that runs like the Sailrite zigzag would if you used sand instead of sewing machine oil.  I did the cushions on on my other boat with that, as well as converting a hank on jib to a roller furler  by sewing on 27 feet of luff tape (also a Sailrite kit).  It works well enough, but the Singer 201 has it beat hands down for smoothness of operation.  One of these days I might break down and get the Sailrite machine.  Let me know how you enjoy yours!


Tim Cordes 
Nonsuch 26C #32 "ENCORE" 
Ford Yacht Club, Grosse Ile, Michigan 

Thor Powell

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Jun 20, 2022, 10:41:20 PM6/20/22
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Brian @ SV Serenity

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Jun 21, 2022, 8:24:03 AM6/21/22
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Serenity also came with a set of terracotta upholstery, done several years ago by PO.  It's a very rough fabric (not the soft velveteen that some of the other pictures show), but seems very hard wearing and stain resistant.   It is a compliment to the varnished wood in the saloon, with teal and blue-green throw pillows.

Brian
SV Serenity
Nonsuch Nereus #003
Pax River, MD

On Friday, June 17, 2022 at 5:24:09 PM UTC-4 Gail wrote:
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