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Author Topic: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics  (Read 4347 times)

July 29, 2013, 04:27:02 PM
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kchaudha

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Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« on: July 29, 2013, 04:27:02 PM »
Been thinking about making some bow cushions for awhile and now that I am using the boat to go cruising and tubing with the kids, it seems like they would be very useful for the kids to sit on.
After reading others suggestions and getting helpful advice here from Aquarich (thanks!), I finally got around to starting the project.
I decided to make two sections with one section just covering the fishbox hatch with the rationale that it should make it easier to access the hatch even when the cushion is installed.  While I don't plan to have the cushions in the boat while fishing, the fishbox is useful storage space on this small boat.
Materials:
1. marine vinyl from Joanne Fabric.  Aqua color was available in store but I didn't see it online.  Not a perfect match for the boat colors but it's pretty close and I am happy with it.
2. 3" foam from Joanne.
3. 1/2" exterior plywood from Lowes
4. Water-resistant outdoor poly spray (from Lowes)
5. Waterproof spray adhesive (actually from Blick - I couldn't find it at Lowes)
6. Stainless steel or monel staples.  I used 3/8" T50 and my hand stapler which worked fine.

Steps:
1. Measure and cut the plywood to the size of the bow.  I left about 1/2" on each side to allow for foam/vinyl on end product.
2. Sand edges of the plywood cutouts so they are not sharp corners.  I used my small electric sander for this but you could probably to it by hand.
3. Three coats of spray polyurethane on both sides and all edges of plywood.  Let dry fully  
4. Place plywood on top of foam and trace outline.
5. Cut foam, allowing 1/2" beyond the outline.  ie: the foam is slightly larger than the plywood cutout.  I used a bread knife to cut the foam and it worked very well and was very quick.  If you have an electric carving knife that would work well too (thats what they used at Joann when I bought it).
6.  Spray plywood on one side with adhesive.  Place the adhesive side of plywood on top of the foam, taking care to have an even amount of foam on all sides (remember, foam bigger than plywood so 1/2" showing on all sides).  Push it down and let dry 10 minutes.
7.  Cut a piece of vinyl that is the exact size of the plywood and staple to the plywood.
8.  Now cut a piece of vinyl that is big enough to wrap around the cushion to the back so there is about 2" available for stapling along the entire back of the cushion.  Note that the vinyl comes in 54" width and in this case I was able to get both pieces for step 7 and 8 from the same length of vinyl.
9.  Staple the vinyl cover to the seat. take care to stretch slightly as needed to maintain un-bunched, smooth layout especially on the final edge that you staple.  Folding the vinyl at the corners is a bit of an art - I got the wife to help with that part.
10.  Trim excess vinyl.  Voila!
Now make the second cushion in the same way.  Fits nicely in the bow of the boat.
Pics below.
Again, thanks to Aquarich for the detailed advice and relaying his experience with the same project.










KC
Concord, MA
1998 175 w/ 115 Evinrude

July 29, 2013, 04:40:59 PM
Reply #1

Capt. Bob

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2013, 04:40:59 PM »
Well that turned out rather well. :thumright:
]
Capt. Bob
1991 210 Walkaround
2018 Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
"Reef or Madness IV"

July 29, 2013, 04:41:53 PM
Reply #2

redemn93

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2013, 04:41:53 PM »
what did the project cost start to finish?
Jason.  1987 200 Osprey - almost done...for now

July 30, 2013, 01:52:48 PM
Reply #3

kchaudha

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2013, 01:52:48 PM »
Less than $150 for everything... not bad
KC
Concord, MA
1998 175 w/ 115 Evinrude

August 06, 2013, 10:24:42 AM
Reply #4

CTsalt12

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2013, 10:24:42 AM »
Nice work and thanks for sharing.  I've been thinking about trying to find cushions for some time now, but now I think I might follow your lead.
Jimbo
1989 175 Osprey

August 07, 2013, 11:09:31 AM
Reply #5

kchaudha

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2013, 11:09:31 AM »
Make sure you get coupons for Joann's Fabric.  They have them on their website and it seems like there is always a coupon running.  Typically 40% off and sometimes 50% off.
When I went to the store, they already had the foam on sale for 50% off.  I used a 40% off coupon for the vinyl.
Don't pay full price, there is usually a sale or a coupon.  If there isn't, just wait a week.

Also- I bought the stainless staples from amazon - couldn't find them locally.

Also FYI, I now added snaps to the bottom of the cushions and to the deck to make sure they stay put.
KC
Concord, MA
1998 175 w/ 115 Evinrude

August 07, 2013, 01:45:24 PM
Reply #6

GoneFission

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2013, 01:45:24 PM »
:thumleft:  :thumleft:  :salut:  :salut:
Cap'n John
1980 22-2 CCP
Mercury 200 Optimax 
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"Gone Fission"
ClassicAquasport Member #209


August 14, 2013, 08:13:11 PM
Reply #7

louiefl

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2013, 08:13:11 PM »
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9248

I went a different route since I could find some other cushions to mod.  The problem with mine is that the split is fore and aft, not at the fishbox hinge, so it is a little hard to open unless i undo the rear snaps.

On a different boat, I did the plywood / marine vinyl / foam route and it held up well. I had a few holes in the plywood so it would drain, and I used welting around the bottom to hide the staples.  

Looks great!
1996 Osprey 175 Johnson 88 SPL

August 23, 2013, 11:23:49 AM
Reply #8

Aquarich

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2013, 11:23:49 AM »
Hey kchaudha...

I am very happy it worked and that the process went smoothly for you :cheers: .  

I had mine out on the boat for our 10 day camping trip on Lake George and other trips...  They sat out in the rain several times and had no (apparent) water penetration.  

My wife and daughter love them, as do I.  I found myself lounging (drinking :drunken: ) on them at the dock quite a bit.  It's almost like I installed a loveseat on the 170.  All I need now is an LCD TV in front of my windscreen.

Cheers,

AquaRich
AquaRich

'71 Aquasport Custom 170 w/'95 Johnson 115

August 27, 2013, 10:39:27 AM
Reply #9

kchaudha

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2013, 10:39:27 AM »
Aquarich - where do you live?
I actually made good use of my new bow cushions while we were on Lake Pleasant a couple weeks ago :)
While it is not strictly close by to Lake George, it is in the same broad vicinity.
Beautiful up there in the Adironaks...
KC
Concord, MA
1998 175 w/ 115 Evinrude

September 02, 2013, 10:16:54 AM
Reply #10

Aquarich

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Re: Building bow cushions for my 175 - pics
« Reply #10 on: September 02, 2013, 10:16:54 AM »
kchaudha...

We keep the boat in Saratoga Springs, NY...  About 40 mins. from Bolton Landing (where we launch) in LG.  We camp there every summer.  I was just on Saratoga Lake yesterday and the old 170 ran like a champ.

Where do you live?

AquaRich
AquaRich

'71 Aquasport Custom 170 w/'95 Johnson 115

 


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