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Canal Boat Furnishings and Upholstery
Canal Boat Furnishings and Upholstery
2 min read · Updated 2025-12-10
Canal Boat Furnishings and Upholstery
What this covers
Made-to-measure upholstery and soft furnishings for boat interiors: dinette and sofa cushions, mattresses cut to bunk shapes, headboards and bolsters, curtains and blinds, carpets and runners, throws and covers, and complete re-trims of older boats. Many makers also do exterior cushions for cratch wells and pram hoods, and dog beds shaped for the available floor area.
What to look for
- Foam to a fire-retardant specification appropriate for furniture — Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations apply to upholstery sold for use in dwellings, and although boats sit at the edge of that regime, fire-retardant fillings are the sensible choice.
- Marine-grade foam (typically a higher-density reflex foam with breathable structure) that resists compression set in a damp environment.
- Templating done on the boat — narrowboat dinettes and bed bases are rarely square or symmetrical.
- Removable, washable covers with marine-grade zips. Bonded cushions look neat in a brochure but can't be deep-cleaned.
- Fabrics with a stated rub-test score (Martindale 30,000+ for daily use seating, 15,000+ for bedrooms).
- Realistic delivery times — bespoke jobs run 4–10 weeks at busy makers.
- Red flags: domestic foam without fire-retardant treatment offered for boat use, no breathable underlay specified for mattresses (causes mildew on the underside), no template visit before quoting.
Common questions
Replace foam or just covers? If foam is over 10 years old, replace it at the same time. New covers over tired foam disappoint quickly.
Why do mattresses get damp underneath? Cool steel hull plus warm bedding equals condensation. A breathable matting underlay (Hypervent or similar) under the mattress fixes most cases.
Curtains, blinds or both? Blinds for daytime privacy without losing all the light; curtains for warmth and full blackout at night. Many liveaboards fit both.
Carpet or hard floor? Hard floor (engineered wood, vinyl plank) is easier to clean and more tolerant of mud and water. Loose runners give some warmth and noise damping without the cleaning headache of fitted carpet.
Will my upholsterer come to the boat? Almost all will template on site. Some also fit; others ship the finished items for you to install.
When you need this
New build or re-fit, refresh after 8–15 years of use, replacement after water damage, change of style after redecorating, or to add soft furnishings after a major change like adding a back-cabin or office space.