How to mount seat cushions in fwd section of bowrider

[ken_23434]

I have a 20+ year old boat with probably the original cushions up front. The top of the back cushions (ones your back rests against) are pretty dried out and starting to separate.

One of the seat backs had come off. It was held in place with plastic pieces that I have always heard referred to as "christmas trees". This type of connector is frequently used on cars for the door panels.

The wood backing for the seat that came off was all dry rotted and the plastic pieces all broke. I cannot tell what the plastic piece looked like originally. The ones I have used for door panels in cars, would not work with plywood for the seat backs.

I do not want to start pulling on the remaining 3 seat back cusions in the bow, because I know the wood will just crumble away, and I will not be able to reinstall them without a complete cushion rebuild.

Does anyone know where to get those plastic pieces, what they are actually called, have photos of what they look like new?

Or, do you have another suggestion on how to mount the cushions.

I assume if the plywood back for the cushions was in good condition, I could remove the cushions (for cleaning, storage etc) and put them back on easily. I am guessing that is why the boat was put together that way. I cannot reach the inside the "V" area to be able to put a screw or bolt in place to hold the cushions.

The boat is a 1988 Welcraft 180 Classic.

Thanks

 

[ken_23434]

Re: How to mount seat cushions in fwd section of bowrider

This picture is from Autozone showing the closest thing I can think the original fastener on my boat would have looked like. I am just not sure how it would be secured to the plywood backing of the seat.

 

[ken_23434]

Re: How to mount seat cushions in fwd section of bowrider

What I cannot figure out is how the plastic thing attaches to the seat cushion.

I was hoping someone had dealt with this.

The one you posted looks more promissing. It is longer than the ones I saw at the auto store, so I think it would have the correct length to work.

Would that piece get pushed through the plywood back of the seat (once a new plywood back is made) and then the head of that thing epoxied in place to hold it there before the foam and cover are installed on the plywood back?

When the one cushion came off of my boat, it litterally was just a pile of dryrot wood and then the foam and vinyl cover. I have no idea what the backing looked like when it was new.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: How to mount seat cushions in fwd section of bowrider

If it were me I would use Velcro. That way you could remove in the winter.