Free cockpit cushions.....

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Sumner
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Free cockpit cushions.....

Post by Sumner »

This past fall Ruth made new cockpit cushions for our Mac which leaves us with the question of what to do with the old cushions. We have decided to give them away if anyone wants them.

There is no catch the only thing we ask is that you use them or give them to someone who needs them and that you don't put them up for sale now or in the future.

The other condition is that we would like to see you give a $10-$20 donation to this site. Moderators I could post this in the for sale section if needed and if that is where it should be then delete it here.

Again though the cushions or free to anyone who wants to pay the freight on them. I don't have them boxed and don't know what that will be, but if someone wants them I'll box them and see about the postage before shipping.

Also the foam on them is pretty soft and I think I could roll them and get them into 2 bigger boxes or ship them wrapped UPS. The other option is that if you wanted to add new foam just ship the covers.

They don't have any rips or tears, but a few dirty spots and a couple magic marker marks where I marked them when figuring how to cut the new ones. As I mentioned the foam is pretty soft on them, but we used them last year as is.

They are from a 1990 MacGregor 26S and would probably fit the D, but I don't know about anything else. Please don't ask for them if you have doubts that they will fit your boat.

Here are 2 pictures and there are more at the link under the pictures.

Image

Image

Here is the link to other pictures....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sum...c-pics-20.html

c ya,

Sum

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March
Captain
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Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Iowa, MacGregor 26X, Yamaha 4 stroke 50 HP

Re: Free cockpit cushions.....

Post by March »

That's a very generous offer,Sumner! I wish they would fit a 26X. I've been looking for a new set of cockpit cushions for years now. The original ones got thrashed. I patched up the snaps the best I could and they didn't last. Two years ago I found a local business willing to make me a new set, using the old ones as templates. The shoddiest job one could imagine. They used the original zippers "to keep the price down" (even so, they charged me an arm and a leg) and attached the zippers badly--they are now fully exposed and suck the water in in the worse imaginable way. They guaranteed that the material was heavy-duty, industrial stuff and I already have a couple of places where the plastic ripped. Of course, I upgraded them in the wintertime, so I didn't check the quality of their work until it was too late.

I have been looking for replacements for several years now. Anyone might have other suggestions?
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Sumner
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Re: Free cockpit cushions.....

Post by Sumner »

I posted the following elsewhere earlier today, maybe it will help:

Our old cushions were a soggy, heavy mess once wet and we had to endure that last year. They also were way to soft and non-supportive. We looked at the closed cell, but felt that it was too hard for extended trips when you spend day after day in the cockpit. We decided to try DryFast Foam from ......

http://www.foambymail.com/Hi-FlowFoam.html

....instead of the sheets listed on the above page we ordered it cut to sizes that we could then further cut to shape. We ordered that using the following link...

http://www.thefoamfactory.com/Merchant2 ... shape_id=1

We got one piece that goes in front of the traveler 3X12X66 for $42.08, 4 pieces of 3X11X32 ($74.80 total) for the back rests and 4 pieces of 3X21X33 ($147.28 total) for the bottom cushions for a total of $264.16 (free shipping).

Foam isn't cheap, but we really like this foam after using it for almost a month. It is firm with a ILD: 60 LBS, but not near as firm as closed cell as far as I can tell. We used the firmest foam they had for the V-berth and cabin cushions called Lux-HQ with a 55lb ILD and really like it for those applications. The dryfast is just a little stiffer, but as you sit on it you kind of sink in a little kind of like memory foam, but don't go to the bottom.

The first days out we had dew on the cushions in the moring and it rained on them also a few times. Normally if wet we just turned them over and used the other side. They always dried very quickly. We would buy this stuff again and this is about the 3rd purchase from that company and we like them also.

One other key to the quick drying was that we used Phifertex Plus Vinyl Mesh Dupioni Poolside ....

http://www.sailrite.com/Phifertex-Plus- ... ide-L37-54

..that we got from Sailrite. We also wondered how it would feel since it is a vinyl mesh. We didn't sit on it with bare skin and the feel of it was fine for us. It isn't a cloth, but fine. It is open so you don't sweat on it and it helps dry the cushion great. We didn't know if we would like it or not so bought some really long beach towels that we could put on it if necessary. We never used them. When the cushions had been rained on hard we did turn them over and put the doubled up towel on them for a couple hours to keep our butts dry, but then took the towels off as the cushion dried. Our old cushions would of been wet for a couple days as you mentioned.

Here are two pictures prior to being covered and after....

Image

Image

and here are links to the two mods page......

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... -31-a.html

and

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... -31-b.html

....I'll have more info and construction pictures on the second page with text maybe by tonight.

One last thing. We really like having the multiple shorter cushions vs. the long ones. More options in how we use them. Some of the time we might only have one back one on one side. Ruth sometimes didn't like a back one at the tiller and I did working the sails. Also they are much easier to store below if we want to as they aren't as bulky. If it is going to rain and you want to make sure you have two dry ones in the morning you don't have to take as much below.

c ya,

Sum

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Sugar Bear
Deckhand
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Joined: Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:05 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
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Re: Free cockpit cushions.....

Post by Sugar Bear »

Sumner, looks like Ruth did a very good job. Two questions, how thick are the cushions that are in the pictures, the new ones, and will you secure them with snaps or any other thing to the cockpit?

Thanks for the web site we have been wanting cushions for our :macx:
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Sumner
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Re: Free cockpit cushions.....

Post by Sumner »

Sugar Bear wrote:Sumner, looks like Ruth did a very good job. Two questions, how thick are the cushions that are in the pictures, the new ones, and will you secure them with snaps or any other thing to the cockpit?

Thanks for the web site we have been wanting cushions for our :macx:
They are 3 inches and we ran out of time to put some short straps on the zipper side, so for the time being until we get the boat back home.....

Image

....I tied them down on nights that we expected heavy winds. The lines probably aren't needed as they stuff in there pretty tight.

Image

I added another page with some pictures of making the cushions and such.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... -31-b.html

The three pages on the cushions ......

Image

.... start here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... -31-a.html

Good luck,

Sum

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J.Teixeira
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Re: Free cockpit cushions.....

Post by J.Teixeira »

PURPLE SAGE CUSTOM MAC MODS TRADING POST.

:wink:

You could make money out of it ...

specially with your canvas...

It's PROFESSIONAL QUALITY WORK :o

Jose
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Sumner
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Re: Free cockpit cushions.....

Post by Sumner »

J.Teixeira wrote:PURPLE SAGE CUSTOM MAC MODS TRADING POST.

:wink:

You could make money out of it ...

specially with your canvas...

It's PROFESSIONAL QUALITY WORK :o

Jose
Thanks, but we are retired and for the moment plan to stay retired 8) , but if you just want to send money and don't expect product in return we could live with that :wink: .

Guys at this point the cushions have found a new home and will go on a Mac 25 that was donated to a sailing organization that teaches people how to sail for free,

Sum
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Ivan Awfulitch
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Re: Free cockpit cushions.....

Post by Ivan Awfulitch »

March wrote: I have been looking for replacements for several years now. Anyone might have other suggestions?
I purchased a set from Softopper. They show only cushions for the C,S, and D's on their web page, but Bob did make a fantastic set for the X. You'll need some foam, and he can give you information about what is required. I've used them for 3 years and they look as good as new. We were so impressed with them that we bought a set of interior cushions as well. You might contact him and see if they're still available by special order.
http://www.softopper.com/Marine_Products-list.aspx
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