On Wed, 5 Jan 2000 06:43:22 -0800 jim.hock@autodesk.com writes:

Jim, Mike, Russ,

In another life, I was in the furniture business for a number of years.
I owned a chain of furniture stores in California called "Nomadic
Furniture".  We specialized in furniture that folded, came apart,
transported easily, etc.  We were called an 'alternative furniture'
store.  We carried the item described above called a "Futon Couch".  In
fact I had one in my family room for a couple of years.  We sold a ton of
foam furniture of various types.  The companies who manufactured this
type of furniture were generally not mainstream furniture manufacturers
and tended to come and go.  The companies that I worked with are no
longer in business today.  I do not have any specific knowledge of anyone
who is making these today.

I would like to give you the pros and cons of this type of furniture.

Lightweight, relatively inexpensive initial cost,  the kids wouldn't get
hurt when they bounced off of it, and the covers had zippers and could be
removed for laundering (we ordered ours with canvas duck covers).

They are only appropriate for light duty use (really don't hold up well
in a heavy use area - the foam tended to lose shape).  When folded out,
the sleeping area is only 48" wide by 72" long.  This is a size that is
often referred to as a three quarter bed.  For comparison purposes a
regular double bed is 54 x 75 and a queen is 60 x 80.  The sofa is only
appropriate in a love seat size of 60 Inches (48" plus 6" for each arm).
This size will seat two people.  Anything longer than 60" for three
people will cause the unsupported foam back to sag.  However, if the sofa
were pushed up against a bulkhead - as in a boat - for support, then a
longer size would work.  The foam mattress, when folded, out is 6" thick
(when folded into the couch in three pieces will give a comfortable seat
height of 18").  Sleeping 6" off the floor is not considered comfortable
by some people.  But hey, who wants guests to stay too long on your boat
anyway? :-)  The length is more of a problem.  A comfortable seating
depth is considered a maximum 24".  If you have three sections, then the
folded out length is limited to 72".  You could probably get away with a
25" seating depth (if you are taller people with longer legs) for a 75"
overall length.

I would suggest that you try the IKEA chain of furniture stores.  I think
their website is ikea.com.  They are located in all the major cities in
the US and Canada.  BUT......the best thing to do is have a furniture
upholsterer make one up for you.  They are relatively easy to make.  That
way you can get the custom size just to fit your space.  I would have
them make it out of 4" high density, high quality foam with a 1" wrap of
softer foam and dacron batting around the exterior.  Have the sections
made up with zippers.  You will probably have to replace the foam on the
seat cushion/mattress every few years and zippers will make the process
easy.  (Hint) Spray the foam with Teflon spray when inserting them into
the covers!!!!!!  I would expect that the cost would be under $1000,
depending on the size.  Foam is a petroleum product, and have you checked
the price of gasoline lately?

This type of sofa could provide a viable alternative for seating in your
boat depending on your priorities.

I think another neat seating idea for a boat is folding butterfly chairs.
Your boat will have that neat retro-sixties look.  I find butterfly
chairs more comfortable than director chairs for lounging and they take
up less space when folded.  You can buy these at Pier 1 and Cost Plus,
but I don't like the quality.  Eileen just received a copy of the
Domestications catalog in the mail yesterday (www.domestications.com).
They have nice folding butterfly chairs listed for $49.95 with canvas
duck covers.

So there you go, more than you ever wanted to know about nomadic
furniture.

tempus fugit
Patrick

----- Original Message -----
From: pgslo@juno.com
To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: TWL: searching for a unique "Sofa-Couch"

Patrick sez .....

There are some interesting variations of these showing up at flea markets
and other unlikely places.  At the outdoor flea market of a recent hamfest,
we saw these standard styles with armrests and drink holders.  There was
even a "loveseat" model, with armrests and drink holders that would seat
two - even included an umbrella to screen the sun.

Yep, we bought that one - keep it in the pilothouse storage locker.  Get it
out to celebrate sunsets - along with a Beefeater's Martini for the port
holder and a Beefeater and Tonic for starboard.

Can hardly wait for summer and the next Delta cruise!

Mick & Laurelyn
The Salty Dog (Krogen Manatee)
Port of San Francisco

pgslo@juno.com writes:

Patrick, I am still wearing the "Tempus Fugit" T shirt whenever
appropriate. Your comments are right on and I wish someone here
(Toronto) would sell these things. When I got divorced about 20 years
ago I bought a complete set of freestanding corner chesterfield/chair
combination from a Montreal store called Pascal (no longer in
business). It was made of 6" high density foam and zippered covers
plus it had quilted fabric with Zeus fasteners to hold it together
(it was not cheap). As a newly divorced 40 year old this furniture
became very popular in my bachelor pad and took a lot of  use/abuse.
(Folded out it could sleep four adults side by side). Today, more
than 20 years later, I still have one section that I use as an
emergency bed. The foam shows no sign of sagging, but the cover is
totally shot. If anybody would sell that stuff, I'd buy a new set in
a New York Minute both for boat and house.

Ciao- George of Scaramouche