We love our cockpit cushions. They are made of foam that doesn't absorb water (closed cell I think) and covered with a Phifertex mesh. We've had the boat 18 years and the cushions were not new when we got the boat. The Phifertex is still in great shape. The vinyl (I think) piping around the edges has started to wear but they are still quite usable. They don't hold water, are easy to clean, don't stay wet and are more comfortable than vinyl on a hot or cold day. They are heavy and we do store them below when we leave the boat at the slip.