How to Make V-Berth Cushions

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Does your boat's v-berth have cushions that are old, uncomfortable or unsightly? The v-berth cushions on our Islander 37 project boat were all three! So we set to work making new cushions that would be comfortable and stylish with a snug fit. In today's how-to video, we're going to break down all the steps for making brand-new, irregularly shaped cushions for your v-berth.

Video Chapters:

Patterning – 0:27 min.
Cutting Foam – 8:06 min.
Cutting Top Plate & Boxing – 18:50 min.
Creating Zipper Plaque – 26:01 min.
Cutting Bottom Plate – 33:12 min.
Joining Boxing Together – 34:00 min.
Sewing Boxing to Top Plate – 37:34 min.
Sewing Bottom Plate – 42:39 min.
Inserting Foam – 46:04 min.
Materials List – 47:51 min.

Materials List:

Dura-Skrim^® Patterning Material – #103134
CushionRite^® Dry Fast Antimicrobial Foam (Medium) – #124203
Marine Upholstery Fabric
Cushion Underlining Fabric – we used Beige, #103934
YKK^® #5 White Continuous Coil Zipper Chain – #104387
YKK^® #5 White Style C Single Non-Locking Metal Zipper Pull (Coil Chain) – #104333
PremoBond^® Tex 70 (V-69) White UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. – #124738
3M™ Super Trim Spray Adhesive – #108090
Painter's Tape

Tools List:

Sailrite^® Blade Foam Saw V2 with Carrying Case – #121244
Sailrite^® Edge Hotknife Package – #103800
Deluxe 5-1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide – #103597
Seam Ripper Deluxe – #18104
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LS Walking Foot Sewing Machine – #311502
Scissors, Marker, Pencil, Square, Yardstick, Ruler

V-berth cushions, with all their angles, can be an intimidating project to undertake. But once you start sewing, you’ll see that they assemble just like any other box cushion. The trick to getting irregular cushions just right is careful patterning and attention to detail. In the video, we break down the patterning steps slowly with calculations, so you’ll know just what to do for great-fitting cushions.

We chose to make our v-berth cushions with a breathable Sunbrella® Upholstery Fabric, which is a great choice for boat interiors because it is water and mildew resistant. Since the cushions are not reversible, we used a cushion underlining fabric for the bottom sides of the cushions. This helps with breathability for a comfortable night’s sleep and is budget friendly.

In this video you will learn in detail how to pattern both the foam and the fabric for v-berth cushions and how to sew the cushions together. There’s also a bonus discussion on foam and which types are best suited for sleeping berth cushions.

Our new cushions make a huge difference, don’t you think? Have you ever considered making new v-berth cushions? Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments!