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General Activities => Main Message Board => Topic started by: horsemel on April 06, 2012, 05:45:37 PM

Title: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: horsemel on April 06, 2012, 05:45:37 PM
Does anybody have a "reasonably" priced source for custom memory foam mattress toppers for the v-berth.  We've switched to camping in the v-berth and our WalMart queen size that works great in the aft doesn't work well in the bow.  I've thought about getting another one from Walmart and then using the two and splitting them, but then you got the seam in the middle.
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Ron Hill on April 06, 2012, 06:24:15 PM
Mark : FYI, the V-berth is a king size (at the head). 
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Indian Falls on April 06, 2012, 06:44:26 PM
We've been researching this for months.  There is no ''reasonably'' in custom boat mattresses.
Otis mattress from Buffalo NY offers a multi-density, layered foam mattress for just over 800$ and the place in North Carolina that makes Bennetau mattresses was over 1000$.  All are two piece and require that you fix that small section above the v-berth storage access permanently in place or at least so it can't fall out.
We tried the Froli sleep system last season with the old cushions in the v berth.  Much improved but not good enough for my wife...(princess and the Pea)  By the way the Froli is available in the ''want ad" section of the forum.   One fella can be found on you-tube cutting twin mattresses with bolt cutters and resewing the edging with a hand held sewing machine  etc..etc, looks easy but ...

If you find something you're happy with please post the outcome!

Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Roland Gendreau on April 07, 2012, 12:09:39 PM
We had a custom mattress made for our V Berth by a small,  local mattress company. They used the cushions as a template and made a 2 piece mattress set, split down the middle.  The price was quite reasonable (around $500 about 4 years ago)and the comfort is so much better than a topper over the cushion.   For those in MA and RI, here is the company we used:  

http://www.ecinindustries.com/index.htm  (http://www.ecinindustries.com/index.htm)

Roland Gendreau
Gratitude #1183
Bristol, RI
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Mike and Joanne Stimmler on April 07, 2012, 12:18:35 PM
We purchased a king sized memory foam topper at Costco, laid it out on the dock, then laid the v-birth mattress on top and cut it to size with a electric carving knife. Worked well and was very comfortable. We used it on top of the original v-birth mattress.
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Stu Jackson on April 07, 2012, 12:25:05 PM
Quote from: horsemel on April 06, 2012, 05:45:37 PMbut then you got the seam in the middle.

Just curious...what is the concern about the split in the middle?  We find the V berth so spacious that each of us has our "own sides" of the V berth and haven't come near the middle in ages! :D

Have you considered taking your existing piece and simply cutting it down the middle and sliding each to the outboard side?
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Ron Hill on April 07, 2012, 04:50:31 PM
Guys : I go along with Roland.  There is NO substitute for a custom made mattress! 

Treat yourself !!   
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: BillG on April 08, 2012, 05:44:41 AM
try overstock.com for a king size foam and cut to fit
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Indian Falls on April 08, 2012, 08:30:49 AM
The C36 assoc website has a project posted where Bill Matley modified two off the shelf Twin mattresses from sams club.   Looks easy enough.  I may try this if I can't find a mattress under 900.00.

http://www.c36ia.com/old_site/articles/upgrades/Mattress.htm

If I do this we'll be sleeping on them at home on the floor to make sure the comfort we expect is there.
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: scotty on April 08, 2012, 08:28:05 PM
The PO of our boat bought a custom mattress from Handcraft Mattress Company.  I would have considered this really excessive - however, it is the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in.  And the Admiral loves it.
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Kevin Henderson on April 08, 2012, 08:46:41 PM
Mike,

I love the idea of the cutting the memory foam mattress you buy from Costco and using the existing mattress as a template. 

Now if we could just find some sheets that fit  :abd:
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: TonyP on April 09, 2012, 02:36:02 AM
Kevin

I went to our local material store (Spotlight) and found some $9/mtr sheet fabric and as there was a mark on it I got it for 50% off and had a machinist sew it up to my measurements (fitted sheet) ... ended up sooo inexpensive.
Just a thought
cheers
Tony

Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Mike and Joanne Stimmler on April 09, 2012, 07:34:54 AM
Kevin,
Again, we just used king sized fitted sheets. The wide part at the back fits pretty close, then we just tucked the excess in all around. It worked for us.
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Mick Laver on April 09, 2012, 08:31:20 AM
We did the same trick with the Costco memory foam on our 30, and it worked great. The princess stopped feeling the peas. So far the 34's cushions have been comfortable enough (with a couple of polartec blankets for extra padding) that we haven't needed the memory foam, but we wouldn't hesitate to go that route again.
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Clay Greene on April 09, 2012, 11:07:57 AM
We have Tufted Topper foam mattress covers for both the V-berth and the aft cabin and really love them.  They are at all the sailboat shows and offer discounts.  It is more than a store memory foam product but well worth the extra money.  They send you a template and then make the cover to match your cushions. 
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: horsemel on May 16, 2012, 10:29:14 AM
After I got four quotes for a custom mattress in the v-berth, the lowest was $499, we went to Wal-Mart and purchased a king sized 4" memory foam mattress topper.  It is the same thing we were using in the aft berth.  I was $139, easy to cut to size and works great.  I'm sorry for the delay in responding back, but I tore a disk in my lower back and have been out of commission for about three weeks.  Looks like my sailing may be limited for a while.  Thanks for the feed back on this subject.
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: horsemel on May 16, 2012, 10:31:08 AM
The Admiral has asked me to let everybody know that I did not tear the disk in my back while testing the new mattress!! (Dammit)
Title: Re: Mattress for V-berth
Post by: Kent & Jane Overbeck on May 20, 2012, 05:30:08 AM
We replaced our memory foam with the "Tufted Topper".  We find it more comfortable (for us) and cooler.  It's around $325 for a custom fit.  Check it out at tuftedtopper.com.

Kent