Cockpit Seat Covering

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yachtorion

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The gelcoat on the cokcpit seats of my liberty is well worn and I'm going to need to patch some holes in it (including one ~12" diameter gas locker hole) which will be a pain with the non-skid.

So I'm thinking about covering the seats with something. They're surprisingly flat. Anyone got ideas for a cheap, simple and easy cockpit seat cover?

I've considered artifical teak.... though it looks amazing on Dylan's similar boat... it's rather pricey. Also pondering plywood with grooves cut in it to look like decking (I have a router)... treadmaster is doable... but is it a little ugly? It isn't terribly cheap either.
 
Any form of covering is "expensive". However if going this route the best value (IMHO) is solid teak. You can get ready made panels from www.kjhowells.com or the material to construct your own, which is cheaper. Grooved ply will not work as water will get into the internal core.
 
You also need to consider the covering's non-slip roperties. A friend bought a boat with varnished teak seats, which were lethal. Teak would be best. Another possibility might be to leave the gelcoat and have vinyl cushions to fit. This works well on boats like a friend's Island Packet but might not on a small one.
 
yachtorion said:
The gelcoat on the cokcpit seats of my liberty is well worn and I'm going to need to patch some holes in it (including one ~12" diameter gas locker hole) which will be a pain with the non-skid.

So I'm thinking about covering the seats with something. They're surprisingly flat. Anyone got ideas for a cheap, simple and easy cockpit seat cover?

I've considered artifical teak.... though it looks amazing on Dylan's similar boat... it's rather pricey. Also pondering plywood with grooves cut in it to look like decking (I have a router)... treadmaster is doable... but is it a little ugly? It isn't terribly cheap either.
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Better not use Treadmaster or anything anti-slip on cockpit seating. I have been, for a few seasons, a volunteer instructor in a sailing school that uses anti slip on the seating of its dayboats. The professional instructors (when we could afford them) generally had literally no seat in their salopettes... worn right through to the lining!
 
I wonder whether cork bathroom tiles could be used - in a pattern like Treadmaster, designed to cover the repairs. I guess the problem areas would be selecting a suitable glue that wouldn't let the edges get lifted and broken away and the issue of whether to seal them against water ingress. Used in the bathroom, they are usually sealed, but offer a smooth comfortable surface even to bare feet, yet give good grip to wet feet when getting out of the bath.

Rob.
 
rob2 said:
I wonder whether cork bathroom tiles could be used - in a pattern like Treadmaster, designed to cover the repairs. I guess the problem areas would be selecting a suitable glue that wouldn't let the edges get lifted and broken away and the issue of whether to seal them against water ingress. Used in the bathroom, they are usually sealed, but offer a smooth comfortable surface even to bare feet, yet give good grip to wet feet when getting out of the bath.

Rob.
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The companionway steps and the boarding step on the sugar scoop of my boat are faced with cork about 3 mm thick. This gives a v. good non-slip surface. It's been on the boat from new - 12 years ago. It was getting a bit grubby with ingrained dirt a couple of years ago so I lightly sanded it to clean it and then sealed it with a coat of Johnstones floor varnish. I thought this might reduce the non-slip qualities but not so. It looks and lasts well. Note that it has to be the oil-based varnish not the water-based. You'll probably need to go to a Johnstones trade outlet for it.

I would seriously consider this for the seats of the Liberty. You can buy sheet cork e.g. here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/cork-sheet
 
I won't be replacing my cork cover until next year. I am told that you can simply buy rolls of it and use an appropriate glue. Apparently quite a cheap option.

Whatever you do don't use the diamond pattern Treadmaster. I am replacing my old decking with new Treadmaster. When new it is hard and you could cut glass with the diamond points - I have the scars on my feet to prove it. Would hate to place my nether regions on it without armour protection!
 
I faced a similar dilemma several years back. Originally cork covering but I couldn't find a suitable supply (it was only about 1.5mm thick. I eventually decided on treadmaster but with the 'smooth' finish. Expensive, when you factor in the proper 'glue', but it was relatively easy to do, looks good, has good non-slip properties and is lasting very well. I would never use the diamond pattern treadmaster on a seat.
 
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