| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| MrW |
Posted - 07 Jan 2012 : 17:16:26
Hi all
The person I bought my norman 20 from used it as a day boat but I will hopefully be using it as a weekender. As the boat has the original cushions which are 33 years old, I am looking at getting them replaced as I don't think they'll be that comfy!
I have had one quote which came to £800, a bit more than I had hoped to pay. Since then I have looked at cheaper ways of getting it done. I have found someone local to do the sewing side of things & some fair priced fabric but am having trouble finding where to get the foam from which can be cut to size?
I realise foam can be ordered off the internet but as you all well know, the cushions are not simple to measure & have awkward angles so could really do with taking the one's I have to them & have them cut to size using the old one's as templates.
I am moored on the Medway so am really after somewhere in Kent?
Hope someone can help.
Thanks |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Stan the Man |
Posted - 11 Jan 2012 : 06:49:58
MrW
We had new cushions made for "Hunky 'B'" last autumn. We [paid quite a bit more than your quoted price although our little boat is a 27 and hence included the two large cushions in the rear cabin plus a large vinyl cushion for the rear cabin roof.
Our little boat is 28 years old and much of the internal foam was the "yellow" variety which was life-expired, providing little of a cushion effect when say or laid on. We had most of this foam replaced by new "blue" variety which provided a great deal more comfort and support. The foam cores were also wrapped in stockinette before fitting inside the new covers.
Regarding the various covering materials, most of the these seemed to come out at £22 to £25 a metre. One or two (particularly one which the domestic authorities particularly liked before the price was known) was over £35 a metre. This does, perhaps, put the quote into context.
I appreciate this all costs money and the "blue" foam is somewhat more expensive than the "yellow". Nonetheless, if you intend keeping your boat for some time it might we worth going that extra distance.
Best of luck for your refit |
| MrW |
Posted - 08 Jan 2012 : 13:09:18
Thanks for all the replies, given me a lot to think about & look into. Once I have the new one's done the original one's will be for sale so if anyone wants them, give me a shout. They have been covered by the previous owner so I haven't actually seen what condition they are in.
Kev13
I am still waiting for the prices to get it done separately but once I find out i'll let you know. |
| Sonny |
Posted - 07 Jan 2012 : 23:43:47
sorry fogot the link !!muppet
http://www.efoam.co.uk/indexm.html |
| Sonny |
Posted - 07 Jan 2012 : 23:42:47
hi mr W
We have just been doing the same thing searching for foam for the cockpit seats as our ones are missing and we came across this site.
we are going to give them a go as they sell rounded edges and even have a section dedicated to boating. you just put in the measurements they ask for and they give you a price, well worth a look. |
| cliveshep |
Posted - 07 Jan 2012 : 20:08:56
I would be surprised if the foam cushions are not still good under the covers - Norman used quite good foam.
Being a cheapskate I have made quite a few sets up over the years (and wrecked a few sewing machines in the process). I buy the expanded vinyl from E-bay in whatever colour I want to use for covers and make my own. Last year I made one set in Royal Blue (for a 20) and one in white for an 18.5, including full cockpit berth sets. They are only a box basically with foam inside and I never bother with piping as domestic machines cannot handle it.
For foam, and assuming you aren't going to set yourself and the boat alight, and also bearing in mind that even if the foam is fire-retardant the entire boat is a highly combustible bomb with fuel and gas plus the grp hull I have always questioned the extra costs vs advantages of fire-retardant.
I have most often used old caravan cushions, stripped them down to recover the foam which is nearly always of good quality, and made up my cushions from that. Foam is easy to cut with a bread knife if you cannot be bothered to make a hot wire cutter, and you can stick pieces together with Evostik easily. Just hold wet glued surfaces together for a few minutes and it bonds perfectly.
Consequently, buying a set of old caravan cushions off e-bay is going to give you enough foam for the fore-cabin, and if the van is a big one you'll have enough for cockpit as well. After all a 20 is a 2 + 2!
You should be able to do the entire fora and aft set for well under £100, or £225 if you also buy a new sewing machine to make the covers with if herself won't let you use hers!
Or pay a lot more and go to an upholsterer!
The cost of boating is insignificant compared to costs of a young wife and two teenage kids! |
| df |
Posted - 07 Jan 2012 : 17:53:13
Foam is never as cheap as you expect, get fire retardant stuff to keep bss happy (ask for a datasheet to prove it) and go for fully synthetic fabric as it's less of a damp magnet, once again get fire retardant fabric.
When it comes to measuring cardboard templates are your friend, you can tape bits together to get the sizes required and still be fairly accurate.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
| kev13 |
Posted - 07 Jan 2012 : 17:20:13
There's many shops on ebay selling foam. Couldn't you send just the covers as templates?
Has it worked out much cheaper than your £800 doing it this way as I need the same for my 23
Kev13 |
