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The Blue Water Sailor's Guide to Foam

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Blue water sailing is a form of long-term, open sea sailing in which you are away from land for extended periods of time. Some forms of blue water sailing include ocean crossings and even circumnavigating the globe. Blue water sailors are at least part-time — if not full-time — liveaboards. This means either that their boat is their only residence, or that they spend half their time on their sailboat and the other half on land.
The Blue Water Sailor's Guide to Foam

In any case, blue water sailors all have one thing in common: They spend a lot of time on their sailboats. This means that they need high-quality materials to get them through their long journeys. In this blog, we're going to discuss which types of foam a blue water sailor needs for the various cushions and mattresses that fill their boat — inside and out.

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In the Cabin

There are two places inside your sailboat where you'll need high-quality foam: in your communal living area (called the saloon) for sitting down to meals and recreational activities, and in the sleeping berths.

As a liveaboard, you will be using your cushions and V-berth mattress as often as a landlubber uses their couch and bedroom mattress. Therefore, you need something incredibly durable that will last for years.

For these high-use applications, we recommend our most durable, comfortable, high-density foams:

  • CushionRite® Premium Upholstery Foam: Our densest foam (2.8) with a 10-12 year lifespan, offering incredible longevity and support.
  • CushionRite® High Resilience (HR) Upholstery Foam: Our top-tier, commercial-grade foam (2.3 density) with a responsive, spring-back feel for luxurious comfort that lasts 12-20 years.

What About Moisture in the Cabin? Even inside the cabin, moisture and humidity are a concern, especially in tropical climates. If your cabin is prone to dampness, we still recommend the above, but you should protect your high-quality foam.

We recommend wrapping the foam in Silk Film to make it waterproof and/or placing Moisture Prevention Underliner under the cushion. This breathable mesh promotes airflow and prevents condensation, mold and mildew from being trapped under your cushions. If you are using the foam for a mattress, we recommend wrapping the foam in CushionRite® Foam Mattress Protector and still using the Moisture Prevention Underliner under the mattress.

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[Photos of v-berth mattresses and saloon seating] We recommend high-density CushionRite® Premium or HR foam for v-berth mattresses and saloon seating. Photos courtesy of customers Kathleen C. and Debbie G.

In the Cockpit

Let's move outside the boat. When it comes to foam for your cockpit cushions, you have two primary choices: CushionRite® Dry Fast Antimicrobial Foam and CushionRite® Flotation Antimicrobial Foam. Your cockpit cushions will take the brunt of the sun, rain and saltwater. Even if your cockpit is covered with a dodger or bimini top, your cushions will still be exposed to the elements. Let's take a closer look at these two very different foams to help you decide which one is right for your boat and your sailing needs.

These foams are very different, so choosing between them comes down to personal preference and what you want from your cockpit cushions. CushionRite® Dry Fast Antimicrobial Foam's main advantage is its quick-drying properties. It's an antimicrobial, reticulated, open-cell foam. Water runs right through it, so your cushions will dry out very quickly, even after a storm. Another plus is that Dry Fast is much more comfortable to sit on than Flotation foam; however, it does not last as long.

To promote the foam's quick drying, pair it with a cushion fabric that won't impede water drainage. A vinyl mesh fabric is the best choice for promoting water drainage. However, sunlight will penetrate the mesh and reach the foam. UV rays will speed up the foam's disintegration, reducing its lifespan. To help protect the foam from UV exposure, a layer of CushionRite® Polyester Batting can be applied around the foam. You can also cover Dry Fast in woven canvas. Though canvas does not have as open a weave as vinyl mesh, the Dry Fast will still dry out. Covering Dry Fast in a woven canvas fabric will also help it last longer.

CushionRite® Flotation Antimicrobial Foam, also called closed-cell foam, is dense and hard. It's a PVN foam three times firmer than polyurethane foam. Closed-cell foam is antimicrobial, and its main selling point is that it floats in water. So if you want your cockpit cushions to also function as flotation devices, then Flotation foam is your only choice. The foam's density can be an advantage when climbing in and out of the boat. The stability of the foam means you are less likely to lose your footing or roll an ankle when stepping onto your cockpit cushions.

We recommend covering closed-cell foam with a durable outdoor canvas fabric for cockpit cushions. Sunbrella® Marine Grade and Sattler® Marine Grade are both excellent choices. These fabrics are solution-dyed and won't fade in the sun. They also boast high abrasion, water and mold/mildew resistance. Don't cover the Flotation foam with vinyl mesh fabric, as the sun will break down the foam, drastically shortening its lifespan.

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Cockpit cushions covered in durable and weather-resistant Sattler fabric will last for years. Photo courtesy of customer Ernato E.

We hope this information has been helpful to you! Let us know if you have any additional questions about foam types and usage. We carry an excellent selection of high-quality CushionRite foams for all of your boating needs. Just type "foam" into the search box to explore our foam products, as well as informative blogs on how to get the most out of your foam.

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