Vberth Cushions

[Bigsky]

Our vberth cushions are in great shape and built well but the 1st mate and myself wanted to soften them somehow. A lot of discussion here about it along with some great remedies. We decided not to deal with another layer on top of the stock cushions to simplify the whole storage access thing. Yup, I did it. Brought all the cushions home, unstapled the covers and inserted a 1" latex topper all around. Yes, a bit time consuming but we're pleased with the end result. I'm ball parking around 6 hrs. Just chipped away over some evening sessions. At least with our cushions the fabric had enough excess underneath to easily accommodate the 1" addition and restaple. We chose latex because of the rebound characteristic and breathability. Started shopping and found sleeponlatex.com. Seems reputable, four days free shipping and free return if dissatisfied. (they'll send return box) We were able to do our r25sc berth with 1 twin and 1 twinxl, medium firmness for $198. This is how bored one can get by the end of February in Montana. Hope this can help persuade or dissuade anyone.

Cheers

 

[scross]

I think replacing or adding too the original cushions is a great way to go! We added 3” of memory foam on top of the original cushions in ours. While very, very comfortable it does reduce headroom somewhat.
I’m curious - do they use concrete, granite or steel plate as filler inside the stock v-berth cushions?

 

[rpmerrill]

I did a similar thing. Just finished last week.
I uncovered the cushions and then "shaved" off the top 1-1/2" inches of the existing foam. Then I replaced it with an inch and a half of memory foam ($50 at WalMart) plus a layer of batting and then restapled it all back together.

The shaving was a little more difficult than I expected. If I did it again I might have bought a new layer of base foam instead. My shaving method used our electric carving knife and a large, sharp, kitchen knife. Like filleting a fish.
I might have also shaved a little less foam off the top, maybe only an inch. I used spray adhesive to hold the memory foam and batting in place during the recovering process.

You can't just use a 3 inch memory foam. I experimented with a 3 inch memory foam on the floor and you sink all the way down to the hard floor almost immediately. And finally, this is just a thought.... one of the nice things about memory foam is that it kind of swallows you up and it is warm. Thinking about a thick layer of foam I'm just guessing that it would be hot in the summertime on the boat when you don't always have A/C.

 

[Bigsky]

It's a pretty dense foam in there for sure. I'm thinking that they had to go that route in order to keep low profile cushioning without sinking all the way through. I know some people that need that level of firmness. My 1st mate...not. Hoping our efforts also pay off each time we go to access the storage.

 

[scross]

There must be hundreds of different densities of memory foam out there. The one we have in the v-berth is a prefect density for my 6’1” 235 pound frame. Don’t sink in much at all. Vicki finds it comfortable too. And in the PNW cold is the issue most every night, not heat. It’s great to be able to customize things for your own particular circumstances.

 

[Smcavana]

Has anybody purchased the mattress and bedding sets sold by yachtbedding.com, supposedly customized for R25 or R27? Curious about quality, fit, customer service, etc.

Michael & Susan Cavanaugh
Anacortes, WA

 

[Toot541]

We have the topper from Yacht Bedding and it's wonderful. We have been on our R29 for a month and it's very comfortable. Highly recommend this if you are planning to do long term cruising.

 

[Smcavana]

Thanks!

 

[BB marine]

We made this last year. 3" memory foam cut to match the V-berth cushions. We purchased 3 king size Duvets with sippers and cut and sewed them to fit the memory foam mattress. The blue Duvet that the mattress is in. Shown in picture stays on all the time. The two other covers that we made are used as fitted fitted sheets. They look just like the blue cover in the picture. The mattress slides into the duvet( fitted sheets) sip the end and it makes a very comfortable bed. The 3" memory foam is very easy to fold so access to side storage port and starboard is easy to get to. We spent a month on board last summer and it was very comfortable sleeping..

 

[Bigsky]

Brian, your set up sounds comfy. I like how you did your covers. Food for thought...on to our next project.

 

[Gin]

I'm a bit late to the thread, but I thought I'd throw in our experience. When we first got our R27, the foam in the mattress nearly killed both of us. Way too hard for our aging bones. We took it to a local shop and had the foam replaced with a quality latex. Much better. But it was still only the regular thickness (3" if memory serves). The guy at the shop (where they make custom mattresses of all kinds) warned that for many people, thinner foam cushions just aren't truly comfortable, no matter what kind or combination of foams you use. That proved to be true for us. The new foam was a worthwhile improvement, but not improvement enough.

So we later bit the bullet and got the mattress topper set from Yacht Bedding. Expensive? yes! Complicates access to storage? yes! Those were the downsides, and significant ones. But comfortable? double yes! The bed in the cuddy now sleeps like a dream, every bit as good as our home mattresses (which we have been equally demanding of -- like I said, aging bones and in my case, a bit of a chronic lower back issue).

In hindsight, if I had it to do all over again, I might go to the local mattress maker and have him make divided mattresses for the right, left, and middle all out of a thicker foam. There would be some design issues -- the need for a solid platform underneath, etc. But that would get the thickness up to the level we need for comfort (and I can't sing the praises of latex highly enough), without impairing access to storage as much as our current segmented cushions/single mattress topper set up.

Oh, finally, the Yacht Bedding sheets and comforter are expensive as well. But we sprang for them and have no regrets. Having the fitted sheets is wonderful -- they are high quality sheets as well. And the comforter is both functional and attractive. So for anyone considering them, if you can get past the sticker shock, the woman who makes them does a superior job.

Gini

 

[guthriejp]

We love the mattress from yacht bedding, but the sheets are worthless. They don't make them deep enough to stay on. We use regular sheets and it works much better. Plus, the sheets are one directional. You have to sleep their way!

 

[ALICE J]

Previous life I was in the marine canvas business. So when Alice J came along I took the advice of TugNuts and got the 3" memory foam from online, cut it to the shape of the full V Berth, no cutouts. then made a mattress cover out of water barrier cover, so when the hatch does not close itself 😳 when it rains, only the sheets get wet. This cover has a zipper 2/3's the way around the cover for ease of replacing the foam after washing. Fitted bottom sheet is done with elastic from JoAnn's Fabric (heavy duty 3/4") sewn all the around, allowing about a 4 - 6" tuck plus the 3" boxing. The top sheet is fitted at the pointy end about 2' back, made like an envelope so the point of the memory foam slips into the pocket. The top portion is given 6" each side for fullness, at the V to allow for pointy toes; tapered to the full width of the King size sheet so it tucks in for both sleepers without an ongoing "short-sheeting" war :shock: :shock: Finish off the seams with a serger, or tuck and fold the raw edges, or your washing machine and dryer will have a field day unravelling all your hard work.

I also made fitted slip covers for the settee seats and backs and the helm chairs, out of heavy duty terry cloth bath sheet towels. Get the good ones as they wear better on the high stress corners where you slip on and off the cushions. I used a thin draw cord in the hems to secure the covers. It was a challenge keeping the back covers in place, but spacers in the proper places helps.

 

[JoeLane]

We are NIXIE, an R25 Classic in St. Pete, FL. One too many bangs on the head in the V-berth made us give up the 4" foam on top of the factory cushions. If anyone is interested in a deal, we have one for you. Custom V-Berth foam mattress in it's zippered cover, great condition! Get back to us here and we can schedule a pick-up. It's way too heavy to ship any distance. Joe Lane

 

[Contento]

Joe - still have the 4” mattress topper? I assume it is memory foam or similar. Thanks, John Joiner