Attaching cushions to fibreglass seat

[nigel52]

At the moment my vinyl covered cushions are attached to each of the seats with poppers which keep seizing or coming off. I would like to look at alternative ways of attaching the vinyl cushions. One way might be heavy duty hook & loop Velcro. If I do go down this route what is the best way to attach each side of the Velcro ie one side to the vinyl cushion and one side to the fibreglass seat top.

Any other suggestions welcome.

[Ovey]

I'm not sure velcro is the best way to attach seats in a RIB, but if I were to do it I'd use impact adhesive.

1. Cut the velcro to length (both halves together) then peel it apart.
2. Impact adhesive the seat cover where the velcro will go, and the back of the velcro strip and wait til it goes tacky/touch dry.
3. Press the two together without creasing it and wait til it dries.
4. Stick the other half of velcro back onto the first half (hook & eyes together) and place impact adhesive on the back of the velcro and on the fibreglass where you want the cushion to be stuck.
5. Wait til it goes tacky/touch dry.
6. Press the two together - et voila.

No intention to teach you to suck eggs, but not everyone knows how to use impact adhesive to it's best potential!

Good luck.

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by Ovey

No intention to teach you to suck eggs, but not everyone knows how to use impact adhesive to it's best potential!

Good luck.

We do now

I use velcro with a self adhesive backing, much easier, but you really need to sew it to the vinyl as well

[Starovich]

i use heavy duty self adhesive Velcro. its never come loose and in fact the vinyl pulled away from the base and the velcro was still solid.

As always, prep is key, dry, salt/dirt free first.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Starovich

i use heavy duty self adhesive Velcro. its never come loose and in fact the vinyl pulled away from the base and the velcro was still solid.

As always, prep is key, dry, salt/dirt free first.

I've used this in the past with good results....the Heavy duty marine rated stuff in white is the way to go.

[nigel52]

Originally Posted by Ovey

I'm not sure velcro is the best way to attach seats in a RIB, but if I were to do it I'd use impact adhesive.

1. Cut the velcro to length (both halves together) then peel it apart.
2. Impact adhesive the seat cover where the velcro will go, and the back of the velcro strip and wait til it goes tacky/touch dry.
3. Press the two together without creasing it and wait til it dries.
4. Stick the other half of velcro back onto the first half (hook & eyes together) and place impact adhesive on the back of the velcro and on the fibreglass where you want the cushion to be stuck.
5. Wait til it goes tacky/touch dry.
6. Press the two together - et voila.

No intention to teach you to suck eggs, but not everyone knows how to use impact adhesive to it's best potential!

Good luck.

Thanks I would have done this but good to check; also any particular glue would anyone recommend please.

[Ovey]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

We do now

Fair one - you got me!

Mind your fingers on your needle when you sew your velcro!

[gary222]

If you have poppers they are probably on a flap of material?
You could remove the poppers and use 'lift the dot' fasteners in their place. These are very secure and easy to fit. Or there are turnbuckle types but they sit proud of the surface and may get in the way.
You could put self adhesive Velcro and take it to your local upholsterer to machine sew in place!

[Mollers]

Osprey pod bases are awkward to hinge and can look cack if attempted. Consequently, all of my pod top seats are attached with black ind Velcro. A more practical set-up than hinges IMV and they take a damn good tug to get 'em off, they'd never work loose.

A tip, put the soft side (loops) on the pod base, and the rough (hooks) under the seat. Other way around and the hooks clogg up with fluff pulled of off of clothing being taken in and out of the pod bases.

[Maximus]

You reckon Velcro beats Hinges and catches?!.. For holding seats tops in place?? Yeah right!
Maybe they're just badly designed?..the thought of relying on Velcro to keep you,and yours secure on long rough passage,with all the forces involved..Nah!
...Put quality locking catches on and they won't go anywhere....and another pluss!.. neither will your Kit

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by Maximus

You reckon Velcro beats Hinges and catches?!.. For holding seats tops in place?? Yeah right!
Maybe they're just badly designed?..the thought of relying on Velcro to keep you,and yours secure on long rough passage,with all the forces involved..Nah!
...Put quality locking catches on and they won't go anywhere....and another pluss!.. neither will your Kit

tbh if its that rough, i'm standing not sitting so makes no odds. and yes the seats stay put with velcro.
As to security, if you don't want to loose it, don't leave it in a boat, locked or not, give me a set of bolt croppers or battery angle grinder and i'm in no matter how quality your locks or catches are.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Starovich

tbh if its that rough, i'm standing not sitting so makes no odds. and yes the seats stay put with velcro.
As to security, if you don't want to loose it, don't leave it in a boat, locked or not, give me a set of bolt croppers or battery angle grinder and i'm in no matter how quality your locks or catches are.

You'll find most thefts from boats are of the opportunist impulse variety...the same for most types of theft..my philosophy being don't give Fkers the chance in the first place!
Of course anyone one can get into ANYWHERE Boat..House..or Bank!..with enough kit an the time!..BUt I most certainly DON'T see many people securing their properties or valuables against burglars,and Bad guys with VELCRO!! or maybe you do?

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by Maximus

You'll find most thefts from boats are of the opportunist impulse variety...the same for most types of theft..my philosophy being don't give Fkers the chance in the first place!
Of course anyone one can get into ANYWHERE Boat..House..or Bank!..with enough kit an the time!..BUt I most certainly DON'T see many people securing their properties or valuables against burglars,and Bad guys with VELCRO!! or maybe you do?

As i said i don't leave valuables int he boat period, Velcro or not makes no difference as the valuables are not there.

the OP was talking about "covered cushions " not the crown jewels, or even seats, but cushions, pls to show me how to screw hinges to cushions, never seen a seat cushion with a padlock and chain.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Maximus

You reckon Velcro beats Hinges and catches?!.. For holding seats tops in place?? Yeah right!

Yeah right. The effort it required to pull my Velcro'd bases off after someone has sat on them for ten mins would pull the screws/bolts clean out of your hinges. No sea condition would shift them a mil. Whether you believe me or not is by the by.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Maximus

I most certainly DON'T see many people securing their properties or valuables against burglars,and Bad guys with VELCRO!! or maybe you do?

Silly comment.

If a thieving git wants access to your pod, your catches,latches and hinges won't even slow him down. The difference being, you've lost your kit and have a lot of damage to put right, I've just lost my kit.

[nugent]

I have used std Velcro but bonded with Bostik 2402 to both never failed to date

There is a product we use in the sign game called dualoc . Now that's mega gear in the Velcro world , welcome to have some if there's any here



http://www.vikingtapes.co.uk/c-11-3m...x#.VC97Z2K9KSM

[ShinyShoe]

Provided someone isn't watching you chuck your mobile phone, vhf, wallet, car keys in the console - your opportunist blagger arrives to see two boats on a pontoon. One has a lock on its catches the other seems to have nothing... Which boat will he assume has something worth blagging?

[Nick Hearne]

Have to agree with this thought, I used to lock lockers but do not bother any more as I recon if you see its locked there is a better bet there is something worth nicking! + the damage in getting in to the locker will be more expensive than what was nicked!

[ShinyShoe]

My preferred option would be to lock but for the lock to not be visible... So you don't have a big flag saying rob me but also means someone just passing can open it...

[nugent]

Or over board with these Likkle beauty's but do look unsightly me finks