Re: Bow seats...
Hey Tas, had to laugh at your comment.....how true, how true.
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I'm thinking my way through this as I type so I may correct myself, but you can see what my thought process was.
Loose cushions will bounce out so you need to secure them. Other thing is, usually the bow area is curved as will the cushions be so, you need to consider that when considering how to secure. Since the rear is square (flat) rather than curved it is easier to hinge there and just as convenient for access below as one hinged on the outerside.
You are going to want to raise the cushion to access the stowage area which is usually beneath, or remove for washing the boat down.....so you have to have a way to do that. Consider the height of the finished cushion (2 1/2 to 3 1/2" depending on foam and plywood thicknesses) and allow that much free space between the cushion form and the rear (dashboard if you will) of the boat where the cushion will pivot. That way you will have room for the cushion to move when you lift it up to the vertical position.
Get a piece of heavy paper and make a form in the shape you want remembering to allow room aft for the cushion to be raised from the front to vertical, hinging from the plywood bottom at the rear.
Several ways to secure: piano hinge, velcro, marine snaps with a flap.
Having had them, I like the idea of snaps with a flap.
Get some 3/8 marine plywood and cut to fit the pattern. Drill several holes in the wood in various places as Tas said.....1-2" would be a good size and 4-6 holes Sand the edges for smoothness and coat with waterproofing.....linseed oil. Let dry.
The SS marine snaps, are like you would use on a top to secure it to a windshield, or gunwale on the aft end, or mooring boat cover. A marine and industrial supply store will have them or get them on here.....get the screw type so you can drill your fiberglass and screw them in.... will need to drill the glass to keep the gellcoat from cracking when you screw them in and an overlay of tape while drilling will help too.
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Go to an automobile upholstery shop and tell them what colors you want and what kind of material you'd prefer. Take the plywood and snaps with you.
Have the shop add a double layered vinyl flap (full cusion width.....less 1" inside edge so it won't be visable when secured) sticking out 2" from the rear (edge) underside of the cushion and have them place a snap (2 or 3 per cushion) near the outer corners and edge of the flap.
Explain to them that you will install the seat vertically, snap the snaps to mates secured in the boat and let it down to horizontal.
Then have one additional flap (say 2" wide and as long as is necessary) as far forward as is convenient with one snap which will secure the front of the cushion. This will snap to a mate you install on the vertical part of the shelf that the cushion rests on if that is the best answer, or whatever works, up front. JUST REMEMBER, WHEN YOU DRILL HOLES. KNOW WHAT'S UNDER THE HATCH YOU ARE DRILLING.....HOLES IN THE HULL AREN'T ALLOWED. Grin
If the cushion moves about too much when finished, you can install some velcro strips to stop it. I don't think I'd trust velcro to be the only method of securing and I think this method is better than a piano hinge due to the length of the cushion you could put too much lateral stress on the rigidly fixed hinge.
I think that'll work. I spent about 30 minutes thinking through this and editing as necessary. If I were to do it this is how I'd do it and I know it'll work.
Good Luck,
Mark
