Cockpit cushions

[mikehibb]

I will need to have some new cockpit cushions made this year.
I have already found a great little place that will make them at what appears to be a good price (in Turkey where the boat is)

My question is do people just have them loose fitted or do you fix them to the cockpit, if so how?

I could drill or self tap some velcro type fixings, but do not too keen on drilling the GRP, just makes more holes for potential leeks.

Alternative is either self adhesive velcro or use marine glue to fix some velcro. want it too look neat not like a bodge job.

Might be just easier to have them loose fitted.

I will be over in Turkey in three weeks time and will get the cushions made, so need to plan ahead.

Just had another idea, I could have small tabs machined in to the cushions and use the stainless steel poppers that you see on old rag top sports cars, but again this would require either self tapping or maybe epoxy adhesive to fix the bottom bit of the popper studs.

Oh, and thanks in advance.

 

[Ruffles]

Most peeps have them loose. But I suspect they go down below (the cushions that is) when the boats on its ear. That said I have seen poppers used with tabs on the cushions.

Again, most cockpit cushions are PVC filled with thick open cell foam which is fairly spray and rain proof - just as well because they take up a lot of room if you have to bring them down below at night.

Personally I don't like PVC. I made ours out of acrylic canvas and filled them with 25mm closed cell foam so they take up a minimum amount of room. The cockpit seats on a Moody 31 are a continuous loop so by making them a tight fit they stay in place.

 

[Searush]

Ours have lanyards attached so they can be tied on for inclement weather. Very much more comfortable than teakslats. When taken below they can be used as extra backrests or under berth cushions as they are relatively thin.

 

[William_H]

Attachment of cockpit cushions is very much dependent on the chances of the cushions being blown off and lost or of them annoying you by being displaced. ie slipping off the seat.
If the cockpit is deep and protected perhaps they don't need to be fixed. Or you may just have a loop sewn onto the cushion for one or more safety strings to any existing fitting.
Velcroe glued to the f/glass may be Ok but doesn't tend to last very long in the sun and especially in the dirt that can accumulate.

good luck olewill

 

[Anonymous]

My wife made ours. She had the foam cut to size by a specialist shop in Almeria and then made up the covers from marine grade canvas. Lots of sewing and cutting but not as difficult as you might imagine though we have an old Singer with the metal gears, not one of the modern nylon-geared jobbies.

Cushions must be attached or they will go overboard...we have cotton tape sewn onto the cushions that we just tie on though it all depends on your cockpit. We have quite a lot of stainless hand-grabs and suitable attachment points to make tape worthwhile. Velcro is a pain, generally, so I would suggest that you try tape first.