Below decks on a sailing yacht is a gentler environment than an open cockpit, but it has problems all of its own: condensation against a cold hull, cushions cut to shapes no domestic upholsterer has ever seen, and foam that was adequate when the boat left the yard and has been slowly collapsing ever since. New saloon and berth cushions transform how a yacht feels to live aboard, and because the cushions simply lift out, it's work that travels to us easily. Our workshop is on the Wirral, handy for the Mersey marinas, but cushions arrive from all over the country. The broader service is covered on our marine upholstery hub; this page is about cabins.
What we make
- Saloon cushions: settee bases and backrests, including the angled and tapered pieces that follow the hull sides
- Berth cushions: V-berths, quarter berths and pilot berths, made as single pieces or split with zips where a one-piece cushion won't go through the companionway
- Backrest and bolster panels: including hull-side panels and lee cloth-adjacent pieces
- Chart table and cockpit locker cushions: the odd shapes that finish a boat off
Foam is chosen for the job: firmer grades for saloon seating that doubles as a sea berth, softer builds where sleeping comfort matters most, and new foam throughout rather than new covers over tired cores. A fresh cover on collapsed foam is money half spent.
Fighting condensation
The quiet enemy of yacht interiors is moisture from underneath. Warm bodies, cold hull, impermeable cushion backing: the result is the familiar damp, musty underside. Where it suits the boat, we make cushions with breathable backings so air can move beneath them rather than moisture being trapped against the berth base. Ask us about ventilation options for your boat when you enquire: the right answer depends on how she's used and heated.
How to measure for a quote
For most cabin work we can quote from measurements and photos, so the boat never needs to leave her mooring:
- Measure every cushion: length, width and thickness, in centimetres, taken at the widest points.
- Note the shapes: mark which edges are straight, angled or curved, and which corners are cut off. A rough sketch with the numbers on it beats a page of prose.
- Photograph the set: each cushion in place, plus a wide shot of the saloon or berth from above, so we can see how the pieces meet.
- Flag the details: zips, ties, press-stud fixings, piping, and anything that has never fitted well.
Send that to [email protected] and we'll come back with material options and a quote. For final patterning we work from your old cushions where possible (the most accurate route for shaped pieces) or template on board via our nationwide onsite service if needed. You're also welcome to visit the workshop at Unit 6 Carrock Road, Wirral, CH62 3RA and talk fabrics through with Craig, our lead trimmer, who has 15 years' experience.
Sailing yacht upholstery FAQs
Yes: for most saloon and berth cushions, good measurements plus photos of each cushion in place are all we need for a quote. Measure length, width and thickness of every cushion, note which edges are angled or curved, and photograph the set from above so we can see how the pieces relate. We'll confirm anything unclear before cutting.
Can you quote from measurements and photos alone?
Often, yes. Condensation forms where warm cushions meet a cold hull or berth base, and cushions with impermeable backings trap it. We can make new cushions with breathable backings that let air circulate underneath, which helps enormously. Ask us about ventilation options for your boat when you enquire.
My berth cushions are always damp underneath, can you fix that?
No: cabin cushions lift out, so almost all sailing yacht work travels to us while the boat stays on her mooring. Bring or send the cushions, or just send measurements and photos for a quote first. If a job genuinely needs us at the boat, we offer nationwide onsite fitting.
Do I need to bring the yacht to the Wirral?
Yes: if you send us the old cushions we pattern directly from them, which is the most accurate route and ideal where cushions have shaped edges or the boat's mouldings are irregular. We can reproduce the existing style or change fabric, foam firmness and detailing while keeping the fit.
Can you copy my existing cushions exactly?
Get a quote for your yacht's cabin cushions
Send us your measurements and a few photos of the saloon or berths, and we'll reply with fabric options and a written quote.
Request a quote