How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

[krakatoa]

Hello Guys!
I recently bought a 1993 SSV190 Glastron boat. Its a nice vessel but it comes without the Bow Bolster as shown in the picture. I contact Glastron.com asking for this part as I would like to maintain it "original" style, they told me that the only "backup upholstery" they save at the warehouse is only up to 5 years after the new boat released. Since you guys are the gurus out there I want to ask you about ideas how to make this molds or If any have this one to sold please let me knoiw.

THANKS

Krakatoa

Is suppose to go like this

PD: backing up @ the ramp was succesful.....

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

Just find a local upholstery shop, should not be that much money.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

yeah, I know, but the problem is that there is no mold for upholstery, anayway I will come woith something up regarding this.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

yeah, I know, but the problem is that there is no mold for upholstery, anyway I will come with something regarding this. Dont like the way my bow looks like without the bolsters.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

They don't need a "mold". Marine canvas shops specialize in just this very type of thing.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

They don't need a "mold". Marine canvas shops specialize in just this very type of thing.

Absolutely, why do you think you need a "mold?"

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

Yea, what they said.........

Just take it down to an upholsterer/canvas shop.
They'll make you up a nice one that's custom just for your boat.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

Absolutely, why do you think you need a "mold?"

Well, I need something to "wrap" around the vinyl, right?

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

Right, but as someone else said, that is what upholstery shops do. Look in the yellow pages, there are some amazing people out there who can create some real works of art if you want them to!!!!!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

I've cut apart dozens of boats with that type of upholstery, its usually just formed plywood with foam and vinyl wrap.


I normally toss it and fill the holes on my boats, I prefer the easier clean up of bare, smooth fiberglass. Getting fish slime and bait out of upholstery is about impossible.

I have replaced some bolster trim with finished wood on a few boats, I've used teak and on a few fishing boats, just plain old pressure treated wood.

 

[oops!]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

agreed with all the above about upholster shops.......thats what they do.

most "backing" is either plywood or other material......some.....in the case of less expencive home arm chairs of sofas.......are cardboard ! ....yep....cardboard over a wooden frame.........they just need the shape to cover around....

those curved panels your looking for.....are possibly made of the plastic "cardboard"....with just a few cuts....it can be made to be very pliable.......

 

[krakatoa]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

Yeap, I will try some plastic called PVC, I can buy a 4'x8' panel for 18.95, for start the mold, I will keep you posted guys, THANKS FOR THE INFO!

 

[vandy21]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

Yeah, try the PVC, if that doesn't work you can just use plywood, but I see no reason for that not to work. Anyway, just cut the material to the shape of the cushion you want to make. if it would help make a cardboard or paper template first and then trace that onto your material. Then, buy some foam, if you're doing that bow area you may want to go with a thinner foam. like 1" or something. Then buy some marine vinyl, and wrap it around the back. Than with wood you staple it onto the back, but with PVC I'm not sure if that'll work.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

I already bought a PVC Panel over 1/8 width and its loos like it will accept staple, I will make a pattern first with cardboard, I wll try to take pics of the process to post them here.

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

Are you saying the panel is 1/8 inch thick? I can't believe that will hold any weight at all. I would think you are going to need 3/4 inch at least.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

Yup thats I mean 1/8 thick, hope it can handle

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

No way is that going to work, my seats are 3/4" and I have one that has a pretty good bow in it and needs to be replaced. I would not waste your time trying to make 1/8 inch work. If you can't get thicker PVC, get some 3/4 inch plywood and make it out of that, it will work better than the PVC. You will be sorry if you don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[vandy21]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

it could work. you definitely don't need 3/4" PVC. PVC is stronger than wood, plus what's being done is not going to be sat on it doesn't look like. It's just something to attach the foam and vinyl to.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

It is just the back rest sections right? If so I think the 1/8" will work you will never get 3/4" to bend the way you would need it to. As already mentioned an upolstry shop could do the whole job and it would look like it came from the factory that way. It would have the proper beading at the edges the corners would be nice and smooth, they do this sort of thing from scratch ALL the time. If you end up doing it your self you may find that the radius corners will be challangeing, however if you used a bit thicker foam you could probably run the section under the windows first then come into it with a seperate side piece if it were cut at the proper angle it would probably look fine. Also how are you going to attach it to the fiberglass? 1/8" wont hold a fastner too well. You mat be abel to stick a machine screw through the pvc with a small nut on the back side the hold it in place drill holes through the fiberglass reach up under there and put a nut on from behind. Or you could use those plastic fastners like on automotive door panels christmas tree fastners. Good luck with it nice boat too..

 

[krakatoa]

Re: How to make a Mold for my Boat Bow

You`re right is just the back rest section that Ineed to build up, I will try to do it by miself. Thats why I select 1/8 inch because of the bend area, If for some reason I give up to the challenge bending the PVC "maybe a heat gun could do the bending job" on that part will come up with 2 separates sections, maybe it could be more easy, by the way I dont hink that I need to use a sewing machine since the PVC accept staples and glue also.