Reattaching upholstered side panels

[MI_Boat]

Hi all- I'm rebuilding two of the upholstered side panels in the bow seating area of the boat I just picked up last week. Unfortunately the wood backing was completely rotted out- almost nothing holding them on. The vinyl is in good shape so I'm able to reuse.

My question is, once I finish the reconstructing the panels, what's the best way to re-attach them to the boat? The original method seems to be a couple large head screws.

 

[6meter]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

Same way that they came off.

 

[badMonkey]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

I was faced with the same problem. I filled the original holes in the fiberglass with west marine epoxy (with some extra filler material) and then redrilled the holes.

I thought about and even purchased some dual ended christmas tree fasteners but I was afraid they won't hold up against the type of jostling cushions take in a smaller skiing boat.

I am very happy with how strongly these cushions are reattached. I was careful to make sure all of the wood was sealed so I wouldn't have to replace this cushion in my lifetime.

 

[MI_Boat]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

I was faced with the same problem. I filled the original holes in the fiberglass with west marine epoxy (with some extra filler material) and then redrilled the holes.

I thought about and even purchased some dual ended christmas tree fasteners but I was afraid they won't hold up against the type of jostling cushions take in a smaller skiing boat.

I am very happy with how strongly these cushions are reattached. I was careful to make sure all of the wood was sealed so I wouldn't have to replace this cushion in my lifetime.

Thanks. I need to add new screws as well. So how did you attach the wood backing to the new screws (once it's covered with the padding and vinyl? One option I guess is to make the holes in the wood exactly the same size as the screw heads- such that the panels push through and drop down slightly on the screw heads (kind of like a picture on a wall).

Unfortunately was unable to tell exactly how they were attached because the wood was so bad- they pretty much just fell off.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

Lots of times the screws are hidden behind a button or in the side of a pleat. They put a tiny hole in the vinyl and drive the screw thru it. The vinyl pops back up and you can't tell where the screws are.

 

[Pokertrampp]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

http://www.pro-dec.com/

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

I ran into the same issue and didn't want screws going through the vinyl at all. I made the boards, then drilled the holes into the wood and put a BOLT through with a "speed nut" on the back side to hold the bolt in. Then once I recovered them with foam/vinyl, I mounted them and put the regular nuts on.


http://www.rubbertherightway.com/new web pics/Flat Speed Nut.png

That is a picture of the type of nut I used. This is in my opinion the best method if you can get to the back of the bolts once the panels are on the boat.

 

[badMonkey]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

My screws were actually poked through the vinyl from the face. This would only work if you have inset panels. The small hole that is created by poking through is covered by the panel inset. I didn't like the idea of poking the hole, but I could see the value of this very strong attachment.

I used 1-1/2" stainless screws and pre-drilled both the wood and the fiberglass.

Here is a picture that shows where my screws ended up going.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

You might try these. Counter sink them in your base wood before you upholster them. Drill you holes and pop em in. They hold really well but... Allow you to remove them if and when you need to recover the seats or backs. Werks fer Me!!!!

 

[MI_Boat]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

My screws were actually poked through the vinyl from the face. This would only work if you have inset panels. The small hole that is created by poking through is covered by the panel inset. I didn't like the idea of poking the hole, but I could see the value of this very strong attachment.

I used 1-1/2" stainless screws and pre-drilled both the wood and the fiberglass.

Here is a picture that shows where my screws ended up going.

Unfortunatly I don't have a joint like you do to hide the screw. My panels have one solid covering and I'l afaid that poking a hole, no matter how small, would be noticible and eventually rip etc.

You might try these. Counter sink them in your base wood before you upholster them. Drill you holes and pop em in. They hold really well but... Allow you to remove them if and when you need to recover the seats or backs. Werks fer Me!!!!

This looks like a good solution. I might look into this. Thanks for the idea.

 

[badMonkey]

Re: Reattaching upholstered side panels

Someone suggested these for me. I ended up ordering some but not using them because of my circumstances.

Seems like it would work very well for your situation.

http://www.itw-fastex.com/catalog/index.php/dw/op/a/7/c/17/p/15?m=no

 

[dlogvine]

I had a similar problem, had all the side panels on the bow taken of and replaced upholstery. The christmas tree fasteners worked well on the straight panels but for the bent bow panels i had to drill the holes in the plywood before glueing the foam, threaded the bolts through the holes, tighten them up with the nuts over wide washers and then did the upholstery work. After the panels were done i marked the spots on the boat fiberglass approximately at the places where the bolts were supposed to go through, drilled the holes in the fiberglass, i had to redrill a coulpe times, since my original points were off the mark and then fastened the bolts with the nuts over the wide washers on the opposite side of the fiberglass. Worked ok.

 

[jbcurt00]

Dlogvine,
Its been 5yrs if the panels arent re installed, they arent likely to be.

Try to avoid posting in inactive topics.

Thank you

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