Aloha Patrick: we bought a set of Bottom Siders, which go all the way around the cockpit (they have the pattern to make them for the 424). These have been very comfortable for us. We take the piece that goes in front of the companionway and use it as a back rest most of the time.

The seating in our cabin is new foam, which we recently updated with new upholstery. When using the throw pillows, we find it to be comfortable. Your foam might be loosing its cush. Of course, good foam is really expensive. Perhaps Mexican prices might be better.

Dan Kalinowski
Jolly Lama #135
Ko Olina, O’ahu

I replaced the bottom cushions in the main cabin settees a few years back. I used mattress foam, about 6″ thick. Its very comfortable but raises the seat by a few inches. The extra height makes it difficult to raise the table leaves when you are seated. You of course don’t have this problem if you’ve removed the table. If you think the settee too narrow, why not leave it pulled-out a couple of inches?

If you think the back cushions to be too vertical, you could taper them.

The only original cushions I have left are the V-berth cushions. They are very uncomfortable. We don’t sleep there because its a bit short for me. My wife and I plan to replace them in the next few weeks. I plan to buy a memory-foam mattress and cut it to fit. I think a king-size mattress will do. I think the thinnest I can find is 10″ however. This will raise the bed too high. Still looking…

I’ll put a water resistant mattress-cover on it rather than pay to have it covered. No sense spending money on fabric that will just get covered by bedding anyway.

Rich

Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

Rich

Lots of memory foam suppliers out there. One is ikea that has several thicknesses, including a 5 1/2″ king size for $300.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30139835/#/80139828

Ikea also carries latex mattresses if you want to go that route.

Paul

Patrick,

Like Dan, I have BottomSiders for cushions in the cockpit. They are a
great improvement over the vinyl covered, closed cell foam cushions that
came with the boat. The cockpit benches are too narrow for me or any one
who crews for me to sleep comfortably. I view that as a good thing. The
main ergonomic problem I have with the cockpit is the height of the
coamings. I get very little back support as the top of the coaming comes
about my mid back. They are also nearly vertical, which is not that
comfortable. My solution are the bench seat cushions sold at the Boat
Shows. They have racheted back that provides support full back support at
several angles. These are not the cheap ones WM sells, but I don’t
remember the make. I had two of them in the cockpit 24×7 for 15 years
before I replaced them in the last 2 years. The cushions were still fine,
but the ratchets had broken.

As far as the cabin cushions go, I replaced mine with new foam and covers
about 8 years ago. I went with 5″ foam, which still leaves another inch
below the back rests. I wish I had gone with 6″ foam as Rich did. I also
wish I had gone with a slightly firmer foam. I sit mostly on the starboard
side and that cushion gets most of the wear and tear. Fortunately the
cushions are symmetrical and are covered by an Ultra-Suede-like product on
the tops and bottoms. Every month or so I switch them.

I agree the settees are not deep enough for comfortable lounging, but I am
normally sitting on a settee only when working on the computer or eating
they and they are OK for that use.
If and when I replace these cushions I will go with firmer 6″ latex foam
and have the inside edge of the cushion raised with bunting or extra foam.
That will provide additional support for the thighs when lounging. I would
also add another knotch to allow the settee to be fixed inboard 1 or 2
inches for some extra depth. I would slide them to the normal outboard
position when sitting at the table.

When using the settees for berths (only when I have crew), I put down one
of those mattress toppers sold at Walmart. People who have crewed for me
find them very comfortable. At these times the settees bunk boards are
pulled fully in board, which still leaves enough room for people pass
between the port settee and the table to get to the forward cabin. The
only problem with the mattress toppers is what to do with them when the
settees are not being used for berths. I stuff mine in those Space Bags
and compress them with the vacuum cleaner and store them on top of the
forward water tank.

So I agree, Pearson did a poor job of ergonomically designing the settees
and the cockpit benches, but there are workarounds I can live with.

Regards,
John Stevenson
http://www.svsarah.com

On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 9:04 AM, Paul Lefebvre wrote:

John, I don’t think ergonomic was a word in 1978…

I can only assume that Pearson designed the boat for someone 5′ 9″ or so
because I’m perfectly comfortable wherever I am – although I find the
cockpit seats a little too deep, but generally speaking, I’m sitting on the
coaming anyway. When I put the cockpit cushions down for company, I use a
few WM throwable cushions as back rests and it’s totally comfortable. I
can sleep on the cockpit seats quite comfortably.

I’ve found the settees need the back cushions removed for sleeping unless I
open them to the mast. But then I need to figure out what to do with 7
oddly shaped cushions so I don’t do it.

All my interior cushions are 4 inch thick of the hardest foam available and
that’s my preference. Comfort is a personal thing so what works for me may
not for others.

Bob

On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 11:03 AM, John Stevenson
wrote:

Patrick,

Like Dan, I have BottomSiders for cushions in the cockpit. They are a
great improvement over the vinyl covered, closed cell foam cushions that
came with the boat. The cockpit benches are too narrow for me or any one
who crews for me to sleep comfortably. I view that as a good thing. The
main ergonomic problem I have with the cockpit is the height of the
coamings. I get very little back support as the top of the coaming comes
about my mid back. They are also nearly vertical, which is not that
comfortable. My solution are the bench seat cushions sold at the Boat
Shows. They have racheted back that provides support full back support at
several angles. These are not the cheap ones WM sells, but I don’t
remember the make. I had two of them in the cockpit 24×7 for 15 years
before I replaced them in the last 2 years. The cushions were still fine,
but the ratchets had broken.

As far as the cabin cushions go, I replaced mine with new foam and covers
about 8 years ago. I went with 5″ foam, which still leaves another inch
below the back rests. I wish I had gone with 6″ foam as Rich did. I also
wish I had gone with a slightly firmer foam. I sit mostly on the starboard
side and that cushion gets most of the wear and tear. Fortunately the
cushions are symmetrical and are covered by an Ultra-Suede-like product on
the tops and bottoms. Every month or so I switch them.

I agree the settees are not deep enough for comfortable lounging, but I am
normally sitting on a settee only when working on the computer or eating
they and they are OK for that use.
If and when I replace these cushions I will go with firmer 6″ latex foam
and have the inside edge of the cushion raised with bunting or extra foam.
That will provide additional support for the thighs when lounging. I would
also add another knotch to allow the settee to be fixed inboard 1 or 2
inches for some extra depth. I would slide them to the normal outboard
position when sitting at the table.

When using the settees for berths (only when I have crew), I put down one
of those mattress toppers sold at Walmart. People who have crewed for me
find them very comfortable. At these times the settees bunk boards are
pulled fully in board, which still leaves enough room for people pass
between the port settee and the table to get to the forward cabin. The
only problem with the mattress toppers is what to do with them when the
settees are not being used for berths. I stuff mine in those Space Bags
and compress them with the vacuum cleaner and store them on top of the
forward water tank.

So I agree, Pearson did a poor job of ergonomically designing the settees
and the cockpit benches, but there are workarounds I can live with.

Regards,
John Stevenson
http://www.svsarah.com

On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 9:04 AM, Paul Lefebvre <

wrote:

We have 4 inch cushions in the cockpit and pillows for the back. Last year I did a full enclosure so the cat could get outside. About a month ago I picked up an 18,000 btu a/c from a friend for no money and payed to have it installed. It cools the aft cabin and I have 2 outlets in the cockpit. Basically bug free and comfortable. I have a 16,000 btu in the locker in the V-berth.

Bob

Spell check

We are putting in two easy chairs on lazy susans on the port side.
These are made from leather office chairs and an adapter plate I
fashioned that goes between the bottom of the chair and the lazy susan
bearing. I will publish an article on this in a few months.

Pete

On 5/23/2012 5:45 AM, wrote:

Pete,

Cool! I’ve always liked easy chairs in a boat big enough to accommodate
them. Thought about puttikng them in Silverheels, but having 2 salon
crew berths has proven useful during offshore passages, when I sometimes
have extra crew along. Have you considered ways to convert the chairs to
a temporary pilot berth?

Tor

Only if the pilot wants to sleep sitting up…. (ala international
economy class….) ;^)

I figured that having the chairs on the port side gives us the pullman
on port and the settee on starboard.

Pete

On 5/25/2012 5:07 AM, Silverheels wrote:

yup

On 5/26/2012 9:50 AM, Peaboy Walters wrote: