UnorthodoxCreations
Jet Boat Addict
- Messages
- 188
- Reaction score
- 185
- Points
- 112
- Location
- Hanover, PA
- Boat Make
- Yamaha
- Year
- 2005
- Boat Model
- AR
- Boat Length
- 23
Next up was the bow cushion. I always take good before pictures of both sides and any details in case I have any questions. I also try not to destroy the original cover. This one was pretty tough and it's still not perfect. The seat is made of 2 pieces so their is a "fabric pull" sewn into the backside of the seat skin. The OEM seat pull is plastic.
On the seat skins it is the brown fabric you see. I recommend measuring the height of the OEM pull and marking that on the new one. That gives you and idea how much tension you should use in that area. I probably stapled this one loosely and pulled it back up at least 5 times. This is one of my earlier attempts.
A putty knife can help remove the small section of foam so you can remove the old fabric pull and install the new.
After removing the original cover I put new plastic over the big section. Then I temporarily set the small foam back in place and slid the new skin over everything. Center the skin and then put about 3 staples in the front edge of the cushion. When first getting the skins in place, staple close to the edge of the fabric. You can always move in towards the edge of the board later. If setting temporary staples, you can hold the gun at an angle so the staple doesn't go in all the way and is easier to remove. Once you have the top edge of the fabric set, you can work on the fabric pull. I started in the center. Then moved out a couple inches each way, watching how the fabric laid and stretched on top and adjusting how much tension I put on the pull. You can see my marker line that was the basis for where I was to staple.
Once happy with that I, I fully stapled the pull to the board. Then the small foam got wrapped in plastic and I sprayed the back with adhesive. I'm using Loctite brand because it's what Lowes had in stock but 3M also makes a great version. For foam you want to just spray back and stick it to the board while wet.
From there it's a matter of stapling around the edges, trying to get the right tension. This cushion was pretty tough. In hindsight I would have waited till I had more experience with other pieces before doing this one again but I don't know what I would do differently. No matter what I couldn't get rid of all the wrinkles on the smaller section. I'm used to wrapping cars with vinyl and pulling the get wrinkles out but I just couldn't get this perfect. The wrinkles look worse in these pictures than it does in real life. I may be able to lessen the wrinkles with a heat gun or steamer but I'm going to let it sit for now. This piece get's Hidem on the bottom.
On the seat skins it is the brown fabric you see. I recommend measuring the height of the OEM pull and marking that on the new one. That gives you and idea how much tension you should use in that area. I probably stapled this one loosely and pulled it back up at least 5 times. This is one of my earlier attempts.
A putty knife can help remove the small section of foam so you can remove the old fabric pull and install the new.
After removing the original cover I put new plastic over the big section. Then I temporarily set the small foam back in place and slid the new skin over everything. Center the skin and then put about 3 staples in the front edge of the cushion. When first getting the skins in place, staple close to the edge of the fabric. You can always move in towards the edge of the board later. If setting temporary staples, you can hold the gun at an angle so the staple doesn't go in all the way and is easier to remove. Once you have the top edge of the fabric set, you can work on the fabric pull. I started in the center. Then moved out a couple inches each way, watching how the fabric laid and stretched on top and adjusting how much tension I put on the pull. You can see my marker line that was the basis for where I was to staple.
Once happy with that I, I fully stapled the pull to the board. Then the small foam got wrapped in plastic and I sprayed the back with adhesive. I'm using Loctite brand because it's what Lowes had in stock but 3M also makes a great version. For foam you want to just spray back and stick it to the board while wet.
From there it's a matter of stapling around the edges, trying to get the right tension. This cushion was pretty tough. In hindsight I would have waited till I had more experience with other pieces before doing this one again but I don't know what I would do differently. No matter what I couldn't get rid of all the wrinkles on the smaller section. I'm used to wrapping cars with vinyl and pulling the get wrinkles out but I just couldn't get this perfect. The wrinkles look worse in these pictures than it does in real life. I may be able to lessen the wrinkles with a heat gun or steamer but I'm going to let it sit for now. This piece get's Hidem on the bottom.
