Boat seat reupholstery and custom cushions
Cockpit cushions, deck benches and bowrider backrests, made to measure for your boat.
What gets made
- Cushions. Cockpit, deck bench, cabin, swim platform, helm seat, and the wooden base underneath.
- Boats. Bowrider, outboard, ski boat, runabout, pontoon, sailboat, cabin cruiser.
- Materials. Marine foam, marine vinyl, Sunbrella canvas, marine leather for the cabin.
How it goes
- First contact. A call or an email: your boat and the pieces to redo.
- Pattern. Taken on your bench or from an old cushion.
- Quote. In writing, sent by email.
- Build and fitting. New base, foam and cover, fitted on board or delivered to you.
Request a quote for your seats and cushions
Spring is the busiest season. A call in winter holds a spot before launch.
3 signs the base needs redoing
- The seat flexes under your weight.
- The screws spin when you tighten them.
- The wood sounds soft or smells damp.
The base is then rebuilt in marine plywood, with new foam and a new cover.
Common questions
- How long does a set of custom cushions take?
- It depends on the number of pieces, the material to order and the season. For a spring launch, a call in winter holds a spot.
- Is the wooden base under the seat rebuilt too?
- Yes, in marine plywood, to the dimensions of the original piece. Cut edges and screw holes are sealed before assembly.
- Why rebuild a soft base?
- A new cover fitted over waterlogged wood goes slack within a season or two.
- Which foam for an outdoor cushion?
- Closed-cell marine foam, which dries fast after rain. High density for the cockpit and helm seat, softer in the cabin.
- Marine vinyl, Sunbrella or leather: which for your cushions?
- Marine vinyl goes on the cockpit and deck bench, Sunbrella canvas gives a textile feel. Marine leather stays in the cabin: V-berth, salon, dinette.
- Which thread and fasteners?
- Marine polyester thread, double-stitched along edges and corners. Stainless or marine brass fasteners, and YKK marine zippers so the cover comes off for cleaning.
- Can you replace only the foam in my existing cushions?
- The cushion is made complete, new cover and foam fitted together. Your old cushions serve as the pattern template.
- Where is the atelier?
- By appointment on Montreal's North Shore, travelling to Laval, the Laurentides and Lanaudière. Further out, up to about 2.5 hours' drive, case by case.
- How much does a custom boat cushion cost?
- Every set is quoted per project. The price follows the number of pieces, the material, the cushion shape and the finish.
- Does the atelier work for marinas?
- Yes, as a subcontractor for marinas and marine shops: cockpit sets for launch season, cabins on boats being resold. Call or write to open a file.
Send a photo of your project. Annie calls you back.
From the workshop notes
- Remaking a boat cushion: the base under your seat
Remaking a boat cushion without checking the wooden base means tensioning a new cover over a soft panel. It goes slack within a season or two. Here is the test.
- Why marine vinyl cracks, and what it says about the foam
Marine vinyl that cracks dried out long before the first split. Once the split is open, the foam underneath decides what happens next.
- Remaking a boat cabin interior: where the work stops
Remaking a boat cabin interior is never one job. Here are the pieces that belong to an upholstery shop, the ones that go to a woodworker, and where to start.