premade 26X cushion covers

[paul I]

So does anyone have any experience with these? Seems like a great price.

https://www.softopper.com/macgregor-26x ... ion-covers

[Starscream]

Wow, custom made for the 26X.

Nice looking product, love the leather....except my personal taste doesn't like that particular color in my particular boat. In a nice black BMW, yes, but to be honest it seems out of place in the X cabin to my eyes. Eye of the beholder, I guess.

If they made the same product with a nice marine fabric, or white leather, I'd be a buyer. I've still got the original foam and fabric in the seat cushions, and original covers over new memory foam in both berths.

Too bad you have to supply the foam...adds to the cost a bit. And, the color warning on the website didn't make a whole lot of sense to me at first read.


Oops sorry I meant nice black Cadillac of course.

[sailboatmike]

$599 for just covers in "Leather Look" is a bit steep in my book, not even nice contrasting piping around the edges AND then you have to use your own foam so add another $250 minimum on top if you want better foam.

[paul I]

$599 for just covers in "Leather Look" is a bit steep in my book, not even nice contrasting piping around the edges AND then you have to use your own foam so add another $250 minimum on top if you want better foam.

That's a 9 piece set, so about $67 per cushion cover. In my part of the woods, you'd be hard pressed to get any cover repaired for less than $50 or so, let alone new ones made. I guess it all depends where you are.

[sailboatmike]

That's a 9 piece set, so about $67 per cushion cover. In my part of the woods, you'd be hard pressed to get any cover repaired for less than $50 or so, let alone new ones made. I guess it all depends where you are.

Paul, you do realize that a good machinist would make a cover in around 10 minutes, my ex was a machinist and the speed they make things in phenomenal.

[C Buchs]

I bought a set of their cockpit cushions for my 26X. They are a nice upgrade over the original covers. I like that the button snaps are on a loop. Makes installing them much easier. I'm very happy with them.

Jeff

[paul I]

I bought a set of their cockpit cushions for my 26X. They are a nice upgrade over the original covers. I like that the button snaps are on a loop. Makes installing them much easier. I'm very happy with them.

Jeff

They sell cockpit cushions too... I gotta go look

Edit: I searched, no cockpit cushions that I could find. And I hope to get a new set this year, so i'm looking... Looks like I basically got two choices

either C-cushions or the Sunsure stuff the other Mac site sells

[paul I]

That's a 9 piece set, so about $67 per cushion cover. In my part of the woods, you'd be hard pressed to get any cover repaired for less than $50 or so, let alone new ones made. I guess it all depends where you are.

Paul, you do realize that a good machinist would make a cover in around 10 minutes, my ex was a machinist and the speed they make things in phenomenal.

Yep I believe all that... but in my locale, the people that do this type of work do not work cheap. Its like paying for custom upholstery in a car.

And I don't have a talented ex. And if I did she'd probably try to charge me even more.

[NiceAft]

We still don’t know what the fabric actually is. “Leather look” could mean a Naugahyde type of fabrics. That type of fabric does not breath. One of the problems with the original equipment cushions on and , is that they don’t breath. You end up sitting in sweat puddles. You get what you pay for. I replaced with Sunbrella, and the cushions have lasted over ten years. You get what you pay for.

Ray

[Ixneigh]

I need two replacement covers for my M is anyone knows a place.
I don't like the leather look. But, the price in my area would be more like 800.00

Ix

[sailboatmike]

I used a waterproof outdoor material, it looks awesome and cost me about $60 for enough material to do all the seat cushions and backs.

The chances are you could find a local machinist that would whip them up for you for a couple of hundred $$, its those damn upholsterers that want a arm and leg for their "special" talents

[C Buchs]

We purchased the cockpit cushion covers from Soft-topper because our sewing machine wouldn't do the thicker material and they had them in stock. We were able to do all the interior cushions. We got outdoor furniture fabric and outdoor foam. The foam was by far the most expensive part.

Jeff

[NiceAft]

Foam brings up anothe topic in cushions, closed cell, or open cell. There are opinions as to which to choose.

Open cell allows drainage, a good thing for pillows which are subject to getting wet.

Closed cell is a firmer, more comfortable foam to sit on, but it does not allow water to pass through.

The pillow casing’s I had made, are made of Sunbrella. Sunbrella has a reputation for being a very high quality fabric that is waterproof. Because of that, I chose closed cell foam. The upholster I used had experience with making nautical furniture, and he said get the closed cell because it’s not going to get wet by using Sunbrella, and will be much more comfortable to sit on for long periods. This Summer will be 12 seasons of use, and they look great, and are going strong.

I made the templates for the cushions myself. I taped together a bunch of cut up brown paper grocery bags, and then drew the outlines of the cockpit seating area. It worked!

Go for the best quality you can afford. In the long run it usually pays off.

Ray

[paul I]

Foam brings up anothe topic in cushions, closed cell, or open cell. There are opinions as to which to choose.

Open cell allows drainage, a good thing for pillows which are subject to getting wet.

Closed cell is a firmer, more comfortable foam to sit on, but it does not allow water to pass through.

The pillow casing’s I had made, are made of Sunbrella. Sunbrella has a reputation for being a very high quality fabric that is waterproof. Because of that, I chose closed cell foam. The upholster I used had experience with making nautical furniture, and he said get the closed cell because it’s not going to get wet by using Sunbrella, and will be much more comfortable to sit on for long periods. This Summer will be 12 seasons of use, and they look great, and are going strong.

I made the templates for the cushions myself. I taped together a bunch of cut up brown paper grocery bags, and then drew the outlines of the cockpit seating area. It worked!

Go for the best quality you can afford. In the long run it usually pays off.

Ray

I'm trying to research all this kind of stuff now since i'm looking to replace cockpit cushions. My take on it so far is...

It is true that closed cell foam does not allow water to pass through. But it also doesn't adsorb any water. That being the case, I'm not sure if it matters that the cover is "waterproof" in the respect that it will let no water inside the cushion. As a matter of fact, if water does get into the cushion from the stitched seams or the zipper, and because the cushion cover is sealed with waterproof Sunbrella, how can that trapped water get back out? Wouldn't it just be trapped there between the Sunbrella and the closed cell foam, until what? Until the Sunbrella breathes enough to allow it to evaporate? Still, I've read comments from several captains that this combination works fine, just as you report. So maybe i'm overthinking it.

Open cell foam does not allow water to pass through, it collects water. Its what sponges are made of. I have that style foam now with my cockpit cushions, and i'm looking to be rid of it. My old cushions are covered in vinyl, which is also a waterproof fabric, but water seeps in somewhere with the first rainstorm and they get wet. They continue to stay wet all season until I remove the covers and wring out the foam and dry it in the sun. The foam is green with mildew which only partially washes out each year.

Dry-Fast foam is open cell foam that does allow water to pass through it. It does not retain water and does dry quickly. Perhaps this is the type of material you were referring to. I have read of instances where people have used this foam with a mesh like cover with good success. Water just passes through the whole cushion, cover and all.

As far as comfort, yes the closed cell foam is firmer than open cell, but for most people that extra firmness seems to negatively affect the comfort level. The "uncomfortableness" of the closed cell seems to be its biggest detraction. But for seating as opposed to sleeping, it seems to be more than acceptable. It is one of the big reasons given by people going the Dry-Fast foam route... its open cell and hence,it has a softer cushion and is more comfortable.

I'm leaning toward the Sunsure covered cushions offered at the Macgregor Owners site and would be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with them. The foam is closed cell. The covers are made from a fabric that has mesh-like characteristics allowing water to pass through. The UV resistance is supposed to be on par with Sunbrella material, and its resistance to abrasion is said to be significantly better. And poor abrasion performance is supposed to be one of the few knocks on Sunbrella, but I have not read a lot of complaints in that regard. Because Sunsure is a mesh its supposed to breathe even better than Sunbrella.

So my Engineers sensibility says it makes sense to have an outdoor cushion made with foam that dosent absorb water and cover it with a fabric that allows water to pass right through. Im thinking fast dry, lots of breathability for evaporation, no accumulating mildew.

My other option is C-cushions, which I have had in the past. They worked well. Their biggest problems were the propensity to tear at the edges and the issues with washing them. You cant use anything abrasive or any strong chemicals. They are also about $300 more per set that the Sunsure cushions (which when they become dirty I can unzip them and bleach them in the washing machine).

Either way I also need to replace the seat backs on my boat. Im trying to find out if the Sunsure vendor will do those for me as well. If not, I will have to find someone locally to fabricate them either with Sunsure or Sunbrella covers. But these are much simpler and less costly than the seat cushions are.

So what say you all? Your comments are welcome... but please no more advise about sewing my own, that just isn't gonna happen.

[NiceAft]

I have had my cushions for many, many seasons. The reason I used closed cell foam is because of comfort. In all of those years I have had absolutly no problems with water leakage. It is theoretically possible, as you say, but its not probable. The cushions I have are not cheap, but they are well worth the cost. It is not worth worrying about if water gets in. Thinking like that would prevent one from crossing a street because it is possible to get hit by a driver running a red light. I understand about the concern, it’s just not worth worrying about.

Concerning how uncomfortable closed cell firm is, as an interior designer, I have over forty years of helping my clients choose cushions for seating. When it comes to thin cushions, like the ones that are on our boats, firmer is better.l. Do some think otherwise, of course. Most do not.

The subject matter isn’t worth this much attention. When it comes to likeing cushions your way or my way, it’s an example of the 3SW rule. Some Will, Some Won’t, So what.
Ray