Hi all. I have been thinking for awhile of covering my cockpit seating ( back rest and seat area) with 25mm EPE closed cell foam sheet. It is cheap at $45 for 1800 x 1000 x 25 mm . This would pretty much do my whole cockpit. We use it at AGWA (Art Gallery of WA ) where I work as an installer. It is light, white and the right density as far as I am concerned. It's also fairly durable UV resistant and doesn't absorb water. It may not be the bees as far as aesthetics go but would be readily replaceable. I was going to just have pieces that fit the spaces but being so light the problem is keeping it from blowing away. Now I am thinking maybe semi permanent but readily removeable.
Have any of you tried it or similar? My boat is aluminium and needs a paint anyway so not so worried about experimentation. Glues? Velcro? Contact? Ideas thoughts?
This is the stuff
www.foamsales.com.au/collections/closed-cell-foam/products/epe-foam?variant=3720118529
$39.98 Aldi
They do need maybe a camp mattress as an add on
The aldi store these came from had Red Red or Red
Select to expand quoteboty said..
is it uv stable or would you need to cover it
Went to the place that sells it and they say it does deteriorates in the direct sunlight so would need to be covered, which is a bummer because I really would rather not add to the complexity of the procedure not to mention the added cost. The eva that Jolene is looking at is the same stuff but different form as the uncovered cushions at Whitworths and does have the UV stability and is also what is used for the jigsaw matting.
The trouble is getting the right thickness and density and in economical sheet sizes. The traditional material covered, thin matress foam cushions just aren't comfortable to sit on in my opinion and they soak up water eventually. They also end up over the side due to lack of securing.
I have the 20mm stuff with the holes in it as flooring in my cockpit and I think its great. Makes such a difference to walk on in bare feet. It is the holes that reduces the density overall too and makes it softer ( less of the foam per square foot). It's also very tough. I had my heart a bit set on being able to mould a sheet of the white EPE and glue in strategic places for surfboard soft top effect that I just replaced every now and then. It really is comfortable to sit on. Fibreglass boats are much more comfortable at the change of planes than my aluminium boat due to the rounded moulded construction.
We bought a couple of these for cockpit seats and they work well
www.comfortseat.com.au/main/page_products_regular_classic_regular.html
Regards Don
I have some sunbrella material that I got with the boat and have no idea what it was for. Thought I might make it into two simple lay over sheets (one for each side of the cockpit) that have the white EPE foam attached to the underside in strips corresponding to the seat, back and top combing. Foam could be attached by buttons a bit like a chesterfield or maybe another cheaper material for the underside and enclosed. Then possibly 3 loops ( one each end and one in the middle 3mm cord) attached to the boat at seat and back junction point that a 6mm diameter aluminium tube threads through to hold the cushioning down at this point. Hate velcro for this sort of thing but maybe it could be used to secure the top where it goes over the combing. Would have to be a cut-out for the winches.
I would really really like to use the EPE (at 20-25mm) foam due to its having just the right squishiness compared to anything else I have come across. It's also very cheap so replaceable. Once it's covered I think it's perfect.
Select to expand quoteDonk107 said..
We bought a couple of these for cockpit seats and they work well
www.comfortseat.com.au/main/page_products_regular_classic_regular.html
Regards Don
Looks good. Pretty pricey though for me. Also only for one.
Attaching them to the cockpit seat is the hard bit. Some time ago I saw a yachtie had used the blue cockpit cushions, the
closed cell type. He had'nt covered them but had run a strap around about 6 inches in from each end, a tag at each end of the strap
had a simple s/s press stud. The front one went over the front of the seat and attached to the vertical bit and the rear did
the same at the back. When stowed away the press stud bits left behind did not get in the way of sitting without
the cushions. Hope this makes sense !!.
Select to expand quoteHG02 said..
$39.98 Aldi
They do need maybe a camp mattress as an add on
The aldi store these came from had Red Red or Red
Hi HG, I have something like this already and find the cushioning to be insufficient and also easy to lose over the side. I will have a look at them at Aldi though, thanks for the tip.
Select to expand quotesamsturdy said..
Attaching them to the cockpit seat is the hard bit. Some time ago I saw a yachtie had used the blue cockpit cushions, the
closed cell type. He had'nt covered them but had run a strap around about 6 inches in from each end, a tag at each end of the strap
had a simple s/s press stud. The front one went over the front of the seat and attached to the vertical bit and the rear did
the same at the back. When stowed away the press stud bits left behind did not get in the way of sitting without
the cushions. Hope this makes sense !!.
Yes the attaching is definitely the hard bit!!! The last thing one wants is to drill more holes in the boat.
Also the describing of the idea comes a close second 
.... I think I've got what you mean.
Much better than my garbled description.
Press studs are glued on with epoxy I guess?
stick some Velcro to the foam and the surface you want it to be placed would be my idea, cheap and easy.
