Removing bow cushions on 87 four winns horizon 190

[Passenger413]

I am in the process of rebuilding all my seats and replacing the vinyl. I have a majority of them done but im stuck on one of the front bow cushions. It has a bolt attached to the wood back of the cushion that is mounted to the front bow fiberglass, with a washer and nut on the other side. There is no way to get tools or my hands on the mounting nut. Any one figure out a way to remove the cushion with out destroying the mounting hardware so it can be reattached the same way? Other than using epoxy to reattach the cushion, i dont see any other way to do it so the mounting hardware is not visable when its completed.

 

[alldodge]

These dang boat manufactures just put them together as cheep and easy as possible, don't have to make it so it comes back apart. They had both halves apart when they put it together.

Only thing I can think of is use a hole saw and cut a larger hole where the Nav light is. Another way is rip it apart, then make a bar a bracket type system. This way you have clips on the back of the wood, and they clip into a bar that is fastened across. Could also use Velcro on the backing.

 

[gcheves]

If you can wait until this fall/winter, I might have an answer for ya. HOPEFULLY that's when I get a chance to work on my '86 Four Winns...ound:

 

[Patfromny]

I don't have an answer for the removal but my bow cushions were installed with clips made of stainless spring steel or something and they slid into a hole made by a hole saw. I just pushed the bottom of the cushions and they popped right out. Feel around and see if you can feel a clip or a large hole in the hull. If not, you could destroy to remove and use the above technique to reinstall? Just putting it out there. Thought it was a pretty ingenious way to install something where you can't get hands or tools to remove. Unfortunately my boat is several hours away so I can't go pop one off to show you but next time I'm up there I will if you still need.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Sometimes it's bolts, sometimes it's Christmas tree fasteners. I would just hank it hard, the fix what breaks

 

[Jerry200LX]

If you absolutely can't get to the mounting bolt, here is one way to fix it.

Plan on replacing the wood. If the wood has any rot or the hardware inside the cushion has rusted, you may be able to pull the cushion off by hand. If not don't try prying it off and causing other damage. Use a razor blade or knife and cut the vinyl around the edge of the cushion. Remove it and remove the foam. Now you can see how the bolt is held in the wood. It could have a bolt or it could be a stud screwed into a tee nut. There are several ways to remove the head of the bolt or tee nut. Drill out the bolt or use a cut off wheel on a Dremel tool. Once you remove what is holding the bolt to the wood, you can easily remove the piece of wood.

You will need 2 stainless screws about 1 1/4" long for mounting the cushion. Cut the new wood. Before covering, on each side of the wood find the middle of the sides. Drill a hole on each side about 1/4" from the edge. The hole size should match the size of the screws. Now you can cover the cushion. If you glue the foam to the wood, don't glue the side edges especially close to the holes. Once covered, you are going to cut a small slit in the vinyl with a razor blade. These cuts should be about 1/2" to 3/4" from the back of the cushion, in line with the holes in the wood. The cuts only need to be the width of the screw head, no larger. To mount the cushion, carefully insert the screws through the slits and into the holes in the wood. Run the screw in carefully so you don't mess up the slit in the vinyl. Tighten until the head of the screw disappears into the vinyl and tighten it down. The slits will not be noticeable since they are on the sides close to the rear of the cushion. If you're careful when installing the screws the slits will come together almost disappearing.

There are a lot of boats out there with the cushions mounted this way.

 

[Passenger413]

Thats a clever way to do it. Removing the cushion isnt really the issue, it is reinstalling the new one and having the screws or mounting hardware hidden. For the side panels i was able to run the screw in between the foam where the colors change and the foam hides the screw, but for that last one in the front center, it is 1 piece of foam with no creases or plaves to hide hardware. Thanks for the tips. Here is what everything looks like with out changing that one cushion so far

 

[alldodge]

Looks real nice

 

[Passenger413]

Update for anyone else who has this issue. After removing that front center cushion and replacing the vinyl and wood backing, i removed the front nav light and enlarged the hole as big as possible while still being able to conseal the hole when u remount the light. Then using a couple 1/4in drive extensions, a 1/4in drive universal swivel and the appropriate socket, i ran a screw into the back of that front cushion by going through that enlarged hole i made in the front under the nav light. Just make sure not to run the screw in too low or you will miss the cushion and have a hole under the cushion in the front bow of your boat. Reinstall the nav light, i used some rtv sealant when installing the light to keep water from entering the hole.

 

[starbowman]

A little late to the party here - but I'm in the exact same position that you are at. In fact, one step behind.I have removed all cushions and re-cushioning, re-upholstering all of them. I am stuck with the side panels in the main cabin, and the side cushions on the bow. I see that the screws are hidden behind the cushion and bolted from the back.

How did you remove the cabin side panels and these bow side panel. Please and thank you in advance!

 

[GA_Boater]

A little late to the party here - but I'm in the exact same position that you are at. In fact, one step behind.I have removed all cushions and re-cushioning, re-upholstering all of them. I am stuck with the side panels in the main cabin, and the side cushions on the bow. I see that the screws are hidden behind the cushion and bolted from the back.

How did you remove the cabin side panels and these bow side panel. Please and thank you in advance!

The OP has been gone for 2 years, he won't be answering. Start a new thread.

Closed.