Cushions for a Boat
Selecting cushions for a boat is a very important exercise. We are not talking about the upholstery down below but we are talking about cushions used for propping yourself up down below to read a book or whatever. More importantly we are talking about cushions for use on deck.
On my boat we have the standard cushions to lay down and fasten to the cockpit seating. At anchor or alongside we have these installed, to either just sit around in the shade or enjoy boat drinks with friends and any other boat visitors who enjoy sundowners. But when sailing that is a whole different scenario.
Cushions for a Boat
For the standard cockpit seat cushions, these are generally closed-cell foam types covered with a waterproof vinyl material. No one uses open cell foam as it is water absorbent. The closed cell types provide all weather performance and generally very practical and hold up well, but when sailing they are stored in the forward cabin out of the way. Even though closed cell cushions are relatively heavy they still don’t stay in place even when you have relatively high cockpit coamings like my boat.
Cushions for a Boat
At sea they are not that safe, they are slippery when wet, they are subject to repeated physical movement when one is going in and out of the cockpit and the fasteners generally do not hold up well. There are many tales of trips and slips resulting in broken bones as a result of cushions. Some cushions may benefit from non-slip surfaces to the cockpit timber seating, and having tried that found it wasn’t that successful. Like many things on a boat, it is a compromise between aesthetics and the required functionality. There are vinyl coverings and there are vinyl coverings, some much higher quality types are more resilient to mechanical wear from stepping on the cushions a lot. The coverings should be UV treated as well as saltwater and humidity tolerant. Many quality cushions can be made from breathable fabrics from the Sunbrella range and also the foam can be multilayer much like mattresses to improve seating comfort, although they are somewhat expensive, but worth it if you are spending a lot of time seated in the cockpit. Quality cushioning will incorporate and light weight inner lining that covers the foam. Fabrics should be breathable and some good upholsters have small vents in the sides and also use quality plastic zippers.
Cushions for a Boat
Having spent many hours on watch in the cockpit or seated at the helm in rough and damp conditions I know how quickly that can create issues. The rear end gets sore and the constant movement often results in sores, chafe and unpleasant skin infections and worst case even boils of water has seeped into your clothing. Having your rear with some of these symptoms is very unpleasant and will ruin a good voyage. It is very hard to concentrate when you are moving around cheek to cheek to ease the discomfort
Cushions for a Boat - Freebags
Many years ago, I discovered the ideal alternative. These are called the Freebag®. They are the ideal muti-functional, lightweight and water repellent cockpit cushion option. They were originally developed by Norwegian yachtsmen as an answer to uncomfortable seating when sailing on passage and they got the design right. They are the best thing I ever invested in as well, and having done much cold weather European sailing and challenging Biscay crossings while stuck at the helm in very wet conditions, they are excellent. They are effectively innovative bean bags and comprise bags filled with polypropylene beads which are smaller than traditional bean bags. They are easy to manipulate to suit any posterior shape, big or bony like mine. To say they are versatile is an understatement and I use my Freebag® Classic both on deck and below. As a helm position fatigue reducer, it is unparalleled and there are not many things that live up to the advertising. I have included an image below of my original Freebag® which is some 20 years old now and survived many voyages, extended storage and rough treatment and still fully serviceable. To find your own supplier or go direct to Freebag® click the Freebag link.
Cushions for a Boat - Freebags
The key traits are the light weight, insulative against the cold, very durable fabric that is water repellent and they provide the right ergonomic support when seated for long periods. Like any quality boat cushion, they have an inner bag containing the beads and the outer bag is machine washable. They have a shoulder strap for easy carrying ashore if needed, and they weigh less than 2kgs. About the approximate dimensions, when laid out flat they are about 1m (39″) long, and around 75mm (3″) thick. They float as well although use as an emergency flotation device is not recommended although they might be an extra MOB marker. So successful was my first Freebag I recently bought a second one along with a spare cover for my original unit. Bright yellow to make visibility easy. So get online and buy a Freebag® for your boat and give your sore rear end some comfort.