How to Make a Bullnose Cushion With a Backer Board

Bull-nose cushions that are fastened to a backer board are a style of cushion often used for seating on pontoon boats, powerboats and sailboats. In this style of cushion, the outer end of the cushion (by the knees when seated) is raised higher than the seat. These cushions are also known as knee-rise cushions. This cushion is created by anchoring a strip of fabric between two separate sections of foam to form a tight-fitting transition between the two heights of foam.

We're using two different colors of upholstery vinyl for our cushion. The two colors separate the flat part of the cushion from the rolled, bullnose section of the cushion. The two-tone look adds visual interest and style to our boat seating. At Sailrite, we have a wide selection of upholstery vinyl from the best brands in the industry. Vinyl for your marine upholstery should be highly water resistant, abrasion resistant, UV resistant and easy to clean. Explore our selection of top-quality vinyl upholstery fabrics from brands including Naugahyde^®, EverSoft™, Morbern^® and Sunbrella® Horizon.

In this three-part video series, you'll learn how to pattern your new vinyl using the existing foam. If your cushion's foam is in good shape, you don't need to replace it. We'll show you how easy it is to measure and pattern from your current foam. If you do need new foam for your marine cushions, Sailrite stocks high-quality foam for all of your marine DIYs. Just type "foam" into the search box to view our selection. Need help deciding which foam you need for your project? Read our informative blog "Selecting the Right Marine Exterior Foam" (#300054XHT) to learn how to choose the right foam for your needs.

Watch the videos in the order below for the full cushion tutorial. After patterning your new vinyl fabric, you'll learn how to attach a fabric anchoring strip between the two sections of foam. You'll learn how to sew the fabric panels together using the semi flat felled seam and how to sew piping onto your cushion for a professional quality result. Finally, you'll staple your cushion cover to the backer board before installing the cushion on your boat.

For even more marine DIYs, check out Sailrite's inventory of how-to projects and sewing tutorials. We have project videos for every kind of cushion you can imagine. And if you want to revamp the canvaswork on your boat (new bimini, dodger, awning, etc.) we offer DIY kits with full video instructions and complete materials. Sailrite is your go-to source for everything you need to DIY for your boat!