cockpit cushions

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cockpit cushions

Postby mcqmga » Mon Oct 20, 2014 3:35 pm

Guys, I have been considering cushions for port/starboard benches in my ds1. Does anyone have source they prefer? Are cushions a good idea or is there some caveat I should heed ?

bob
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby GreenLake » Mon Oct 20, 2014 5:06 pm

Cushions are fine. I use throwable PFDs as cushions.

Image

I alternate between sitting on cushions or not. Sometimes I stick a cushion between my back and the coaming, but the PFDs are really a bit too thick - they reduce the width of the bench.

Some places sell seats with an internal frame so you get a backrest as well. Again, I don't know if they would push the seating position too far inboard to be comfortable.

General suggestion: make sure that whatever you get is closed cell foam so it cannot get waterlogged.
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby mcqmga » Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:00 pm

ok- thanks
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby jeadstx » Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:22 pm

If you are looking for full length cushions, you might check with Stuart Marine. I know they make cushions for the early Rhodes 19. The early R19 has a cockpit similar to the DS1. The bench seats are close to the same size I think.

John
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69_Rhodes19_TX_3_Light Blue.jpg
Cockpit area of Rhodes 19
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1976 Day Sailer II, #8075 - Completed the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Texas 200
1952 Beetle Boat Swan Catboat
Early Rhodes 19
1973 Mariner 2+2, #2607 - Completed 2014, 2015 and 2016 Texas 200
1969 Day Sailer I, #3229
Fleet 135; Canyon Lake, Texas
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby Lorry » Tue Aug 25, 2015 5:47 am

Hi,

I worked for a bed linen company and I have experience of bedding and cushions. And it is a good idea, you must have the good quality cushions. If you use the branded that will be preferable!
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby K.C. Walker » Tue Aug 25, 2015 10:36 am

I've thought about cushions as well. I've used the throwable PFD cushions for years. I find that they are only useful in very low wind conditions and otherwise are in the way. For me, this means they are mostly not useful. However, the last couple of weeks have been low wind conditions and I have been using them and thinking about what might be better. Because we are sailing big dinghies we need to be able to move around quickly to keep the boat under control. It is not like keelboat sailing where you have cushions and just sit there.

I glued some .75" minicell foam to my side decks which hugely increased comfort. http://www.clcboats.com/shop/products/b ... -foam.html I spend most of my time sitting on the side decks or hiked out.

I have thought of gluing the same foam to my seat tops. It's easy to cut and it sands easy on the edges so I can make it look pretty decent. The surface texture ends up being kind of suede. However, I've also considered other self-adhesive foam like they sell for standup paddleboard traction pads, jet skis, and boat decks. I think even 5 mm of foam would make the seats much more comfortable. I also like the idea of this foam because it is nonskid. Stuff like this http://www.seadek.com/c-5-sheet-material.aspx .
KC Walker, DS 1 #7002
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby GreenLake » Tue Aug 25, 2015 5:36 pm

I use the cushions mostly to support the boom and rudder while trailering :)

I have two blocks of a special closed cell foam that I tie to the boat with a lanyard and that the crew can use while sitting on the side deck. As I still have the standard coamings, they are thick enough to elevate seating position above.

In the cockpit I find that the cushions or the foam blocks aren't as comfortable as the seats. Once I sailed an extended distance in someone else's DS. He had a board that went from side to side. It was for some other purpose, and just stored there, but I liked that it allowed me to get a seating position facing more forward (mostly for downwind or deep reaches where there's no sitting out).
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby TIM WEBB » Tue Aug 25, 2015 11:38 pm

Don't pad your seats, pad your butt!

http://www.apsltd.com/gill-performance- ... horts.html

I do however use a stadium seat type thingy for longer downwind stretches and light air sailing, when I know I will be on one side of the boat or the other w/o needing to hike out, for no other reason than back support when facing forward. Take the roughly 40 mile Friday leg of this year's FL 120 for example: wing 'n wing at about 5-7 kts for about 6 hours straight, and the only time I budged from my perch was to grab a snack from the cuddy ... ;-P
Tim Webb
1979 DS2 10099 The Red Witch
(I used to be Her "staff", in the way dogs have owners and cats have staff, but alas no longer ... <pout>)
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby GreenLake » Wed Aug 26, 2015 2:09 am

Oh, and I forgot, on reason the cushions are great is to even things out so I can take a nap w/o removing the life jacket. Hard to lie flat otherwise.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby K.C. Walker » Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:29 pm

Tim,

On a downwind leg like that, I might've run out of beer!


I need to put those shorts on my want list for Christmas.
KC Walker, DS 1 #7002
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby TIM WEBB » Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:20 pm

Trust me KC: unless you're a complete alcoholic, when you start sailing shortly after daybreak, and are going at it until late in the day, a cold one is the last thing on your mind when you have 40 nm on the bow. However, I will admit that I cracked a cold cylinder open after I crossed the pass and was safely in the lee of the island, and DAMN did that taste good! ;-P

Of course, in the words of an old mentor of mine, ya can't drink all day unless you get an early start! <grin>

The Gill shorts are good, but the padding seems to be designed for a rather "wider stern" than my skinny frame posesses, so your mileage may vary ... ?
Tim Webb
1979 DS2 10099 The Red Witch
(I used to be Her "staff", in the way dogs have owners and cats have staff, but alas no longer ... <pout>)
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby jeadstx » Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:01 am

On the last Tx200, we used a berth cushion on my Mariner in the cockpit. The Mariner cockpit is very similar to a DS cockpit, in other words, the fiberglass seats get uncomfortable after a while. We have daily kegs from 30 miles to 60 miles depending on the year. Usually we are on the same tack for long distances. Having a cushion that stretched most the length of the cockpit was great.

John
1976 Day Sailer II, #8075 - Completed the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Texas 200
1952 Beetle Boat Swan Catboat
Early Rhodes 19
1973 Mariner 2+2, #2607 - Completed 2014, 2015 and 2016 Texas 200
1969 Day Sailer I, #3229
Fleet 135; Canyon Lake, Texas
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby TIM WEBB » Fri Aug 28, 2015 8:55 am

jeadstx wrote:We have daily kegs from 30 miles to 60 miles depending on the year.

K.C., this is the event for you! ;-P
Tim Webb
1979 DS2 10099 The Red Witch
(I used to be Her "staff", in the way dogs have owners and cats have staff, but alas no longer ... <pout>)
TIM WEBB
 
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Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 10:28 pm
Location: RIVERSIDE, CA

Re: cockpit cushions

Postby K.C. Walker » Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:37 am

jeadstx wrote: We have daily kegs from 30 miles to 60 miles depending on the year.
John


The perfect typo, as it is so relevant to the conversation. :-) … Cushions and beer, the perfect solution for long downwind legs.
KC Walker, DS 1 #7002
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Re: cockpit cushions

Postby K.C. Walker » Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:41 am

Tim,
Well… A long downwind leg like that would probably drive me to drink. It is definitely not my favorite point of sail.
KC Walker, DS 1 #7002
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