It was a dark and stormy night... Well kinda.
We spent our first night on the boat this weekend! It started raining as soon as we got out of the car and continued all night! But it was WONDERFUL! We quickly got all our blankets and food loaded into the boat and got Natalie and Jase all cozy! Jeff tied off the plastic tarp to the scissor lift as we still have countless holes in the boat, we stayed dry all night! This was also the first time we had our dog Kiela on board. Normally she just runs around the boatyard and finds people to throw balls and sticks for her, or she finds some nice spot to curl up and nap in the sun. Kiela is not a stranger to boating but we have never had her on a sail boat! The steep stairs were a bit of a problem but once down inside she curled up and was out!
We spent our first night on the boat this weekend! It started raining as soon as we got out of the car and continued all night! But it was WONDERFUL! We quickly got all our blankets and food loaded into the boat and got Natalie and Jase all cozy! Jeff tied off the plastic tarp to the scissor lift as we still have countless holes in the boat, we stayed dry all night! This was also the first time we had our dog Kiela on board. Normally she just runs around the boatyard and finds people to throw balls and sticks for her, or she finds some nice spot to curl up and nap in the sun. Kiela is not a stranger to boating but we have never had her on a sail boat! The steep stairs were a bit of a problem but once down inside she curled up and was out!
While the sound of the rain was soothing, and the feeling of spending our first night on the boat was elating, our bed was well HARD. I had laid a heavy blanket down, but that was no match for the solid wood beneath us! Time for mattresses and cushions!
For most this means it is time to spend major $$ at JoAnn's or spending even more and hire an upholstery company to make custom cushions. Not for me! Get ready this is going to rock your upholstery world...
You needn't look any further than Fred Myers! Yup! Freddy's sells camping mats, other wise know as high density foam for only $20!
You needn't look any further than Fred Myers! Yup! Freddy's sells camping mats, other wise know as high density foam for only $20!
I went to Freddy's and grabbed 3 pads that were very close to the same density (this is where is comes in very handy to have lots of kiddos! They teamed up and carried the foam out for me while I pushed the cart!)
Next comes how to cut the foam into the very custom shapes the boat berths come in!
For this you will need that Costco roll of wrapping paper you bought like 5 years ago and still have tons left!
Next comes how to cut the foam into the very custom shapes the boat berths come in!
For this you will need that Costco roll of wrapping paper you bought like 5 years ago and still have tons left!
Lay out the wrapping paper, thinking about the fact that the foam is a rectangle and you want to use that to your advantage. Use some tape to keep your pattern in shape, then take a pen and mark out the edges, then cut out your pattern.
I then labeled my patterns and marked with an arrow which direction the stern is located, rolled up the patterns, and with some scrap paper made a labeled sleeve for each berth/cushion.
I then took my foam and my patterns over to my in-laws house, and pinned my pattern to the foam and traced it out with a marker. (I will post more pictures soon) I re-rolled my patterns and have them now in my sewing room in case we need them later.
After the foam is all marked I took my mother in-laws electric turkey knife (thus the reason we went to their house, and yes we asked first) and cut out my cushions. The electric knife cuts through the foam like butter and you get a smooth line, unlike using a utility knife or scissors where you will get all sorts of jagged edges.
As luck would have it all the cushions were just a few inches longer than the foam mats. This is no big deal, we just took some awesome spray adhesive and sprayed both pieces, let them sit for a min then joined them together. They hold great!
Next I will be wrapping the foam with some batting and creating covers for the berths and upholstering the cushions. I will update the post with more pictures when I do that!!
I then took my foam and my patterns over to my in-laws house, and pinned my pattern to the foam and traced it out with a marker. (I will post more pictures soon) I re-rolled my patterns and have them now in my sewing room in case we need them later.
After the foam is all marked I took my mother in-laws electric turkey knife (thus the reason we went to their house, and yes we asked first) and cut out my cushions. The electric knife cuts through the foam like butter and you get a smooth line, unlike using a utility knife or scissors where you will get all sorts of jagged edges.
As luck would have it all the cushions were just a few inches longer than the foam mats. This is no big deal, we just took some awesome spray adhesive and sprayed both pieces, let them sit for a min then joined them together. They hold great!
Next I will be wrapping the foam with some batting and creating covers for the berths and upholstering the cushions. I will update the post with more pictures when I do that!!