Bow cushion for back rest?

[biscayne]

I have a 99' Proline 17 foot center console. My small son and wife sit up front while we are cruising and occaisonally my son will bump his head on the side of the boat. I see alot of bowriders with a small (8-10") band of padding to rest people's back against while riding. Does anyone know of an aftermarket product that might work (or even some "back-woods engineered" idea)? I feel so bad when he plants his hand and slips nailing his head on the bow portion of the gunwhale. I am open to anything.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

Find a good upholstery shop, I sure they could fix you up with something.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

Get some carboard and make templates of exactly what you want, transfer the patterns to some 1/2" exterior plywood, use some 1/4 20 blind nuts and studs, apply your padding and cover with naulgahide (spell) of matching color, attach with some corrosion resistant staples, it's not all that hard to do and the I made it myself factor is priceless.
Or have your son wear a bicycle helmet.

 

[biscayne]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

the bicycle helmet comment made me laugh. If I do make my own....is there a way to attach without actually drilling into the walls? I know....I want my cake and I want to eat it too. I just don't want to put holes in the fiberglass if I do not have to. If I did make a padding anyone got any ideas on semi-permanent mounting?

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

double sided tape or velcro

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

A backrest pad on a boat held on with double sided tape or velcro, seriously? If you want to mount a pad, you need to do it right and drill the appropriate holes and use the appropriate hardware.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

High density foam, 3" or 4" and marine vinyl are both available from Jo-Anns fabric(chain store). Either resin coat or use marine varnish on the plywood strips. Cut the foam to match and find a seamstress with a commercial machine who will make up the piping and sew the vinyl. You then use the stainless or corrosion resistant staples to attach the vinyl to the wood. And again you need the proper mounting hardware as previously described. Good luck, or that boy may be riding the short bus.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

Not wanting to drill any holes? I can respect that. You mighnt be able to come up with something like a couple of them pool-noodles cut to size, thread a rope through them and hang them, tie one rope to front cleat and attach the other end to something on the gunwhale, kinda like hanging fender protectors inside your boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

this is the proper way to install them. you make your base and cover it. then use these special screws with the upholstery caps. you mount with the screws, then put the snap caps on the screw. just like the factory did it. the childs, head is more important than a few screws.

http://www.pro-dec.com/decorative-screw-caps-screw-covers/Kappets

 

[Splat]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

Can you run a bracket up from the existing seat mounting holes to secure your backrest?

Bill

 

[biscayne]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

Holy crap! Short bus, I am really chuckling outloud now (and I rarely do that). I think I may actually drill holes but...only because I now know the real name of the pads/ cushions. Coaming pads. I have no idea where the name comes from but the $26 online pads (with mounting screws and brackets) makes me think it may actually look professional after I am through. I don't know. If I do it, I will post pics.

 

[alamosaddles]

Re: Bow cushion for back rest?

A backrest pad on a boat held on with double sided tape or velcro, seriously? If you want to mount a pad, you need to do it right and drill the appropriate holes and use the appropriate hardware.

I needed a backrest cushion on the front of my center console, so that the person sitting on the cooler could rest their back against it. I did not want to drill holes there, and found that industrial outdoor velcro was the answer. It attached to the console side with the adhesive, and I sewed the other half of the velcro to the backside of the cushion. It has withstood repeated removal and reinstallation since 2005.

Yea, sometimes velcro, installed correctly can work.