Bean bags

Hi All,

I wanted to ask peoples opinion/experience with bean bags in the boat. My dad and I recently went on a charter where the centre console boats would regularly travel 60kph in 3 metre swell/19 knot winds. As such, they had bean bags where you could sort of rest in the floor to avoid crushing your vertebrae. My dad loved them, and is seriously considering getting one (not for me, the gunnels on my boat are a little taller, and I go a little green if I go below them). I figured it might be a good fathers day present or something.

My question is about whether anyone here has used non-marine versions of them for the boat. I've seen all the marine ones online which certianly look the goods, but, they're about $100 USD, then postage. I'm wondering whether I can't just get a cheapy fabric one from K-Mart and use that. I suppose my concern is mostly the salt water. Obviously I would hose it down after a trip, but, I'm not sure how long it would take to dry out, and whether it would then develop mildew/mould. Also, I wondered if it was just regular fabric whether it would go fairly brittle fairly quick - last thing I want is 10,000 little polystyrene balls getting loose on the boat, particularly when we're out on the water.

I look forward to hearing anyone's thoughts they may have.


Jackfrost80's picture

Posts: 8140

Date Joined: 07/05/12

I'd be too afraid of the

Tue, 2016-05-03 14:01

I'd be too afraid of the cheaper one breaking open, would be a nighmare to clean up.

In regard to maintenance I can tell you that when my dog was a puppy he pissed in my housemates beanbag while he was on holidays and there was absolutely nothing I could do to get rid of the smell out of the fabric short of emptying it and throwing it in the washing machine...  

I reckon a Kmart one would turn into a soggy smelly mess after 2 trips.

____________________________________________________________________________

Officially off the Pies bandwagon

Posts: 109

Date Joined: 17/07/14

Yeah, I sort of figured as

Tue, 2016-05-03 14:39

Yeah, I sort of figured as much, hence asking the question. I was just clutching at straws, I suppose.

Thanks for the input.

Jackfrost80's picture

Posts: 8140

Date Joined: 07/05/12

For the record I ended up

Tue, 2016-05-03 15:10

For the record I ended up leaving the beanbag as is and it took my mate about 20 minutes on a 40 degree day to work out that it fn stunk! There were laughs to be had all round (not from him)

____________________________________________________________________________

Officially off the Pies bandwagon

Posts: 15

Date Joined: 29/03/16

 We have trialled out some

Tue, 2016-05-03 15:35

 We have trialled out some bags made by a marine trimmer we know since last year including using them up north in the extreme heat. They are made from marine grade materials, cotton stitching and zips etc. they have lasted the test of time so far so good.  They are also washing machine washable. Can be made in different colours, sizes etc and super comfy.  The only thing is to keep the polystyrene balls out of direct sunshine for long periods on really hot days as the balls deteriorate but the material lasts. Cost is $170 including balls for the larger size we used and was thinking about stocking some at our shop if the demand was there. Not that cheap but made locally and made to last the harsh environments which counters the cheaper ones in the market.  Can also be used in the pool at home!

____________________________________________________________________________

Cnr Mews Rd & Capo D’Orlando Drive Fremantle

JoRn's picture

Posts: 368

Date Joined: 20/11/07

hey mate, i brought a pool

Tue, 2016-05-03 16:03

hey mate, i brought a pool bean bag on scoop on, missus loves them and so do my mates.

Posts: 812

Date Joined: 09/10/06

 Had some bags my wife got

Tue, 2016-05-03 18:42

 Had some bags my wife got for the pool. Not sure where she got them. Lasted a summer. Left them in the sun to much and one day pulled it out of the pool and being waterlogged and heavy the bag just split. End result balls every where. 

Never again. 

Vinesh87's picture

Posts: 2751

Date Joined: 02/04/11

My missus loves the $3 bali

Tue, 2016-05-03 19:52

My missus loves the $3 bali one, slept on the front doing 35knots haha Spend 8 days on it actually!

Posts: 76

Date Joined: 29/04/14

I have two of the E - sea

Wed, 2016-05-04 09:59

I have two of the E - sea Rider ones from the U.S they are brilliant tough as old boots easy to clean just hose them off and made in all shapes and sizes. My crew were a bit skeptical at first but now its a fight to see who gets their ass in them first. Better than any suspension seat known to man absolutly no shock regardless of conditions. Not the cheapest around but the best in my opinion.

 

Cheers

Stevo81's picture

Posts: 1278

Date Joined: 16/04/12

 Agree, Cant beat the proper

Wed, 2016-05-04 18:55

 Agree, Cant beat the proper marine ones. 

Ocean Tamer or E-Sea-Rider are the best

____________________________________________________________________________

                                   ••••••••  Electrical Contractor NOR  ••••••••

Posts: 109

Date Joined: 17/07/14

Yeah, I'd seen the

Thu, 2016-05-05 09:55

Yeah, I'd seen the E-Sea-Rider, and just looked up the Ocean Tamer. They look great, I was just seeing if there was a cheaper option.

I've spoken to my mother, who's a fantastic seamstress and has the gear to do upholstery stuff, so, she and I might be able to go in on it together, I buy the fabric (I'm thinking vinyl like what's on boat seats?) and beads and she sews it up.