1981 H22 - New cushions - missing backrest brackets

[SeaTR]

I'm slowly restoring my salvage 1981 H22. The next job is cushion replacement. I have all but one of the original cushions and they are in TERRIBLE condition. A local upholsterer is doing the labor, I supplied all materials.The missing cushion is one of the two salon backrests, which was lost when the boat sank at the mooring under a PO's watch. I can not find the matching mounting hardware for the replacement backrest in any hardware store. Seems pretty unique.

This type of mounting also allows for removal of the backrest by sliding off of the cabin-mounted brackets. The cabin-mounted brackets for the missing backrest are still installed (See the bottom attached picture), but I can not find the hardware mates to install on my replacement board for the backrest.

Similar brackets are used for the companionway steps (see the top attached picture).

Does anyone have / know anyone that has a salvage boat with these OEM parts available ?
---OR---
Does anyone have suggestions for different method of mounting the backrest so that it is removable ?

Vielen dank,
SeaTR

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Velcro? It's available in several strengths...heavy duty should keep it in place.

 

[SeaTR]

Thanks bunches Peggie for your prompt reply !
But....the bracket in the pix may be a little misleading as it is only ~ 1" tall by ~1" wide.

Not much of a surface area on which to apply velcro, BUT you may be suggesting... drilling holes in the angled piece, adding some sort of extension bracket (not too big, not too small), then applying velcro...

I like it.

 

[caverun]

Those look a bit like small French cleats- try googling that and see if you can find something to match, even if not exactly the same. Might have to replace both sides.

 

[SeaTR]

Thanks caverun. The French cleat idea is pretty close to what I'm looking for; I just didn't know with what title to start my search.

 

[SeaTR]

Upon my initial search on the Web, I'm leaning towards using the French cleat idea. I do some woodworking and will be making a prototype of angled French cleats for first idea "dry fit".
The basic idea is (with a 90 degree angled piece glued & screwed to the facing edge of the cleat and the backrest board):

 

[caverun]

Looks good- the 2 pieces at 90 degrees complicates things- the French cleats I've seen are on one plane. Please post a photo of the completed bracket.

 

[SeaTR]

I will post if I decide to go with that idea.

I'm also thinking along the lines of an angled bed frame corner bracket (see below). It's removable, requires much less shop work by me, and would be painted to protect from salty air/corrosion....

ANYBODY have other ideas out there ??
It would be much appreciated.

 

[isaksp00]

Hard to tell from your pics if this would work, but the H23 has stainless straps bent into a curve, sort of like an arc that is a semicircle plus an extended straight leg part. These are attached to the back of the upright cushion backrest board and hook over the "fiddle" (or whatever it is called) that forms the railing on the shelf above the settees. The backrest itself is held off the hull by pieces of wood screwed to the back that extend out (edge to the board) and are cut to hold it out the right distance.

If what is missing is the piece (pair of them I assume) that shows in top pic that has a curved edge: that looks more or less like a flat piece of stainless that is either machined to have a narrower section or has a spacer to hold it out from the wood so the piece that is on the bulkhead can slide under it. Why not just cut some stainless (or have a metal fab shop do it) to be about that size and screw to the backrest with something like stainless washers to stand it off the wood the right distance? A rotary tool like a Dremel or one from a discount place, plus a cutting disk or two, would allow you to cut the pieces yourself.

 

[SeaTR]

isaksp00,
Thanks for another idea, but I don't have shelving to hook to.
The older H22s (80s) like mine have no storage above the cabin seats, only the bulkhead to the v-berth (see TOP pix attached) and another mini bulkhead aft next to my VHF (see BOTTOM pix attached)

 

[isaksp00]

OK - making some small plates to "simulate" the actual hardware seems like the easiest approach.