Macgregor cockpit cushions yes or no?

[1st Sail]

Thanks to all for for your great response. The pics are awesome just like all the contributors on this board. Looks like it will be a honey-do project. Like Honey I know you really don't like the sail boat but would you mind sewing up some cushions. I'm going the Sunbrella / closed cell foam route. I know she likes to sew more than sail. Go figure.

[puggsy]

The answer can be yes and no.

Yes when you are moored and enjoying a few drinks...

but no when you are sailing...you need a firm deck if things ever go wrong and you have to move fast...

[bubba]

We have the ones that came with our Mac 26M but we had to trim the length about 5 inches to accomidate our rope bags in the stern corners for the spinnaker sheets and the bow end of the seat for our sheet and hallard rope bags and the captian's cusions from Bottom Siders that wrap across the entire curved seat and snap down. In Puget sound a single tack can last for hours and we take turns naping. With our biminy up at night we have no wet cockpit.

My wife took my spell check off last night sorry.

[Steve]

I like that idea of wrapping the original cushions foam in trashbags. Does it make them sound like a big diaper when you move around on them though? Also, is the camping mat the blue pads Walmart sells? I used that under the front and rear birth a few years back and it made a HUGE improvement when sleeping.

I have the stock factory cushions on my X and wasn't satisfied with them, as they absorbed water and also weren't quite thick enough. So I wrapped the original foam in trashbags and added some camping mat closed foam (total investment about $8) and they are vastly improved. They don't absorb water (which was mostly through pooling around the bottom edges and the camping mats raise the original foam a bit and the trashbags prevent absorption) and the camping mats add alot to the comfort.

When motoring WOT, I sit on a fender for added height.

So, given the cost difference between factory and aftermarket, if I had to replace mine, I'd go factory and add the same enhancements...

[PatrickS]

I like that idea of wrapping the original cushions foam in trashbags. Does it make them sound like a big diaper when you move around on them though?

No noticable sound different from stock, though they tend to be a bit like an air mattress and take longer to settle out the first time someone sits on them after being unused for several hours. But nothing odd or annoying (to me).

Also, is the camping mat the blue pads Walmart sells? I used that under the front and rear birth a few years back and it made a HUGE improvement when sleeping.

I don't know what type the blue pads are at Walmart, but I used pretty standard 1/2" foam camping mats, and have added similar padding to all interior cushions and mattresses, and yes, it improves sleeping and sitting comfort significantly.

I have the stock factory cushions on my X and wasn't satisfied with them, as they absorbed water and also weren't quite thick enough. So I wrapped the original foam in trashbags and added some camping mat closed foam (total investment about $8) and they are vastly improved. They don't absorb water (which was mostly through pooling around the bottom edges and the camping mats raise the original foam a bit and the trashbags prevent absorption) and the camping mats add alot to the comfort.

When motoring WOT, I sit on a fender for added height.

So, given the cost difference between factory and aftermarket, if I had to replace mine, I'd go factory and add the same enhancements...

[PatrickS]

I like that idea of wrapping the original cushions foam in trashbags. Does it make them sound like a big diaper when you move around on them though?

No noticable sound different from stock, though they tend to be a bit like an air mattress and take longer to settle out the first time someone sits on them after being unused for several hours. But nothing odd or annoying (to me).

Also, is the camping mat the blue pads Walmart sells? I used that under the front and rear birth a few years back and it made a HUGE improvement when sleeping.

I don't know what type the blue pads are at Walmart, but I used pretty standard 1/2" foam camping mats, and have added similar padding to all interior cushions and mattresses, and yes, it improves sleeping and sitting comfort significantly.

I have the stock factory cushions on my X and wasn't satisfied with them, as they absorbed water and also weren't quite thick enough. So I wrapped the original foam in trashbags and added some camping mat closed foam (total investment about $8) and they are vastly improved. They don't absorb water (which was mostly through pooling around the bottom edges and the camping mats raise the original foam a bit and the trashbags prevent absorption) and the camping mats add alot to the comfort.

When motoring WOT, I sit on a fender for added height.

So, given the cost difference between factory and aftermarket, if I had to replace mine, I'd go factory and add the same enhancements...

[Steve]

I think I'm going to try this too, thanks for the easy (and cheap) trick. Now just to wrestle out the foam from the zipper covers!

I like that idea of wrapping the original cushions foam in trashbags. Does it make them sound like a big diaper when you move around on them though?

No noticable sound different from stock, though they tend to be a bit like an air mattress and take longer to settle out the first time someone sits on them after being unused for several hours. But nothing odd or annoying (to me).

Also, is the camping mat the blue pads Walmart sells? I used that under the front and rear birth a few years back and it made a HUGE improvement when sleeping.

I don't know what type the blue pads are at Walmart, but I used pretty standard 1/2" foam camping mats, and have added similar padding to all interior cushions and mattresses, and yes, it improves sleeping and sitting comfort significantly.

I have the stock factory cushions on my X and wasn't satisfied with them, as they absorbed water and also weren't quite thick enough. So I wrapped the original foam in trashbags and added some camping mat closed foam (total investment about $8) and they are vastly improved. They don't absorb water (which was mostly through pooling around the bottom edges and the camping mats raise the original foam a bit and the trashbags prevent absorption) and the camping mats add alot to the comfort.

When motoring WOT, I sit on a fender for added height.

So, given the cost difference between factory and aftermarket, if I had to replace mine, I'd go factory and add the same enhancements...

[NiceAft]

In a previous posting in this thread I said the following:

The black Sunbrella fabric of which our cushions are made, do not get hotter than warm. At any time of the day, in the most scorching of weather, they can be sat upon without any discomfort.

The Admiral and I just got back from two weeks in the Adirondacks. The temperature got into the 80's at times, and this gave me the opportunity to verify what I have known all along. In the most direct sunlight, during an 80 degree day, one could sit on the black Sunbrella fabric and not jump, cringe, wince, cry, or regret in any way the decision to sit on those cushions

Ray

[Captain Jim]

Ray,

Great feed back. I will have to purchase enough Pacific Blue sunbrella material for the Adirmal to make some slip covers for our OEM cockpit cushions.

Fair winds,

Jim
BOLD VENTURE

[Paul S]

Getting in a bit late in the chat.. Here is my 2 cents

Used the factory ones on the dealers demo boat for a week. Didn't like them. Hot, not enough support. holds water, etc

We had custom ones made (not cheap) out of sunbrella and closed cell foam. Used Sunbrella Navy Blue. Pacific blue is a bit too over-done. Everyone has it. Navy or Captain's Navy is a nice choice to be a bit different

Came out great.
Upside - comfortable, well made, doesn't hold water, good value despite price

Downside - expensive, hot (we have blue), slide around on the gelcoat.

To solve the sliding problem..we bought some carpet anti-skid to put under them. Works awesome.

Later, I made slip covers out of beach towels. This also helps with the sliding around (don't use the anti-skid anymore)

Now, I feel, they are about perfect. Comfortable, and with the cotton covers - cool (looking and feeling)


After they were first made:



The slip cover I made:


and how they attach on the underside ( commercial velcro)

[NiceAft]

Jim,

We saw Rick and Marge a week ago, and they are thinking of doing the same as you. I don't know what color though.

Ray

[Irafatsar]

here is a picture of ours I cant figure out how to post pictures directly here

!	kmclemore:
	well, you almost had it right. You were posting the URL to the page for the photo... you wanted to post the actual picture's location (http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/fu ... fa26cf.jpg). I fixed it. Cheers.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Just back from Cuttyhunk from one week (including tropical storm winds from Bill)

Paul - where did you get those covers made??

[Paul S]

Just back from Cuttyhunk from one week (including tropical storm winds from Bill)

Paul - where did you get those covers made??

I had the cusions made at Art's marine in Brockton, MA. They did an awesome job on them. Not cheap, but good workmanship never is. They were about 2+x the price of the MacFactory ones.

The terry blue fish covers I made myself, out of beach towels (from Costco). I made them on with my sailrite machine and some velcro. The cotton is far softer and cooler than the navy sunbrella!

[mjpurdyca]

We have used 2 Obus seat backs and cushions in Jedaro, our 26 X. They are well made and give us back support in a number of situations in both the cockpit and cabin. When my wife is at the helm she has both pads under her for a better view over the bow and we both don't have back pains during a day of sailing or motoring. Since we had them in the car the cost was $0. If you are not familiar with Obus seat backs for home or car check them out at most drug stores. We find this is a very cheap solution to a common issue.