What options are there for attaching cockpit cushions? I am buying a new 356 but would prefer not to attach snaps to the fiberglas seats in the cockpit. Has anyone used velcor or other means to keep the cushions in place?
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Al
It just my opinion but...
when we had a 326 we had cockpit cushions, and we hated them. To keep the cusions clean we were always disconnecting them and storing them below when not on the water and it was a pain. When the cushions were below, the snaps were a pain - literally. For that reason when we moved up to the 356 we chose to NOT get the cockpit cushions and got two sport-a-seats instead. The cockpit looks so much cleaner and neater without the snaps, and we have never regretted the decision. We spent the $500+ somewhere else. Have you tried the sport-a-seats?
when we had a 326 we had cockpit cushions, and we hated them. To keep the cusions clean we were always disconnecting them and storing them below when not on the water and it was a pain. When the cushions were below, the snaps were a pain - literally. For that reason when we moved up to the 356 we chose to NOT get the cockpit cushions and got two sport-a-seats instead. The cockpit looks so much cleaner and neater without the snaps, and we have never regretted the decision. We spent the $500+ somewhere else. Have you tried the sport-a-seats?
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Paul
2 snaps
We've really enjoyed our cushions. They stow easily in the big cockpit locker, and using them makes the cockpit much more comfortable. At the excellent advice of our sales rep, we installed just 2 snaps for each cushion, at the rear. That way the snaps aren't in the way if you sit on the bare seats. Two snaps is enough to hold them in position. You could use velcro, I'm sure, but I don't know that velcro would look any better than a couple of snaps back near the coaming.
We've really enjoyed our cushions. They stow easily in the big cockpit locker, and using them makes the cockpit much more comfortable. At the excellent advice of our sales rep, we installed just 2 snaps for each cushion, at the rear. That way the snaps aren't in the way if you sit on the bare seats. Two snaps is enough to hold them in position. You could use velcro, I'm sure, but I don't know that velcro would look any better than a couple of snaps back near the coaming.
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Bruce Grant
Only on the Rail seat
I have a 320 and bottom sider cockpit cushions. The only snaps I have is for the rail seats so that they don't blow off. The cockpit cushions stay in place, they are heavy enough not to be blown around by the wind. If we are sailing in heavy weather, we don't use the cockpit cushions. We have sailed with the boat on it's ear and the cockpit cushions stay in place, they don't seem to slide. We store ours in the V-berth and it is not a problem for us to pull them out or put them back at the end of sailing. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
I have a 320 and bottom sider cockpit cushions. The only snaps I have is for the rail seats so that they don't blow off. The cockpit cushions stay in place, they are heavy enough not to be blown around by the wind. If we are sailing in heavy weather, we don't use the cockpit cushions. We have sailed with the boat on it's ear and the cockpit cushions stay in place, they don't seem to slide. We store ours in the V-berth and it is not a problem for us to pull them out or put them back at the end of sailing. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
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Doug
Non-Skid Shelf Liner
I cut the snap attachments off our cockpit cushions. We use the non-skid liner you can get at boat supply stores or much cheaper at WalMart. This keeps them in place when "on your ear". I store the cushions by standing them on their sides around the console in the cockpit. This keeps water and dirt from accumulating on them and the seats.
I cut the snap attachments off our cockpit cushions. We use the non-skid liner you can get at boat supply stores or much cheaper at WalMart. This keeps them in place when "on your ear". I store the cushions by standing them on their sides around the console in the cockpit. This keeps water and dirt from accumulating on them and the seats.
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Tom Chastain
Thanks
Thanks guys, good advise all around. I think I will try it with no snaps and progress from there. This is the most usefull internet site I visit.
Thanks guys, good advise all around. I think I will try it with no snaps and progress from there. This is the most usefull internet site I visit.
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Terry
Hi Tom, just an added note to your post...
we have cockpit cushions without any kind of snap or attachment on our P42 and they seem to stay. Easy to store in the forward cabin during the season or at home in the winter. I prefer the cleaner look rather than all those snaps. Terry
we have cockpit cushions without any kind of snap or attachment on our P42 and they seem to stay. Easy to store in the forward cabin during the season or at home in the winter. I prefer the cleaner look rather than all those snaps. Terry
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John Burns
snaps
Put the outboard snaps on. When you are sailing and someone is napping on the seats, a sudden heal puts them on the sole of the cockpit with a very loud "thud." I learned that the "hard way"(excuse the pun) Having just two snaps per cushion does not look that bad when the cushions are off.
Put the outboard snaps on. When you are sailing and someone is napping on the seats, a sudden heal puts them on the sole of the cockpit with a very loud "thud." I learned that the "hard way"(excuse the pun) Having just two snaps per cushion does not look that bad when the cushions are off.
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Miguel
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John
We use Velcro
We use 1" Velcro tapes. Hook tapes self-adhered to the outboard edge of the cushions, Loop tapes at the outboard edges of the cockpit seats. Use as long a run of tape as possible. Short pieces tend to pull up from the seats and have to be replaced. We found that you don't need to run the tapes the full length of the cushions in order for them to hold. Also, the white seat Loop tapes get dirty fast, but I like their look better than I would using black tapes in their place. ------------------------------------------------------------- We store our 5 cockpit cushions on the wide shelf behind the berth in the aft cabin. ------------------------------------------------------------- BTW, we also use 1/2" Velcro tape strips to hold a vinyl cover to the top of the front hatch cover, in order to help keep our forward cabin dark early mornings (black vinyl faces below, light gray backing faces topside). This allows us to keep the hatch cracked open a bit for ventilation and stay asleep. As with duct tape, there is no end to the uses of Velcro around your boat.
We use 1" Velcro tapes. Hook tapes self-adhered to the outboard edge of the cushions, Loop tapes at the outboard edges of the cockpit seats. Use as long a run of tape as possible. Short pieces tend to pull up from the seats and have to be replaced. We found that you don't need to run the tapes the full length of the cushions in order for them to hold. Also, the white seat Loop tapes get dirty fast, but I like their look better than I would using black tapes in their place. ------------------------------------------------------------- We store our 5 cockpit cushions on the wide shelf behind the berth in the aft cabin. ------------------------------------------------------------- BTW, we also use 1/2" Velcro tape strips to hold a vinyl cover to the top of the front hatch cover, in order to help keep our forward cabin dark early mornings (black vinyl faces below, light gray backing faces topside). This allows us to keep the hatch cracked open a bit for ventilation and stay asleep. As with duct tape, there is no end to the uses of Velcro around your boat.
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Tony
non skid
I agee with Doug I bought rubber nonskid which is sold to put under throw rugs etc.( a little huskier than the drawer stuff ) it is thin and cheap and can be cut to the exact shape and size of each cushion on my 340. i found that stepping onto the cushion at an angle caused cushion to slide. with the nonskid they do not move. it is cheap it is easy it stores rolled up in no space at all . if it gets dirty or worn, throw it away tony
I agee with Doug I bought rubber nonskid which is sold to put under throw rugs etc.( a little huskier than the drawer stuff ) it is thin and cheap and can be cut to the exact shape and size of each cushion on my 340. i found that stepping onto the cushion at an angle caused cushion to slide. with the nonskid they do not move. it is cheap it is easy it stores rolled up in no space at all . if it gets dirty or worn, throw it away tony
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Charles Frick
Cockpit cushions are a pain-in-the-aft
I agree with Al from Orange Park, Fl. In addition to his objections, most cockpit cushions are not made with closed cell foam. When it rains and your cushions are in the cockpit, they soak up water like a sponge, literally. You have to remove the covers, expose everything to the sun, recover the foam with the covers and store below where they are forever IN THE WAY. Solution: A New Zeland manufacturer fabricates one inch thick slabs of closed cell foam designed for the purpose. They will not be a perfect fit and will not cover completely each seat (but how many times do you have so many aboard that it is cheek to cheek seating all around). Two, maybe three slabs will do, do not soak up water, and store much more compactly below. AND, while my boat was on-the-hard in the Bahamas for a year, I used one closed cell foam slab to cover one of the 55 Watt Siemans solar panels (perfect fit) so batteries would not over charge. After one year of UV the slab was still in perfect condition.
I agree with Al from Orange Park, Fl. In addition to his objections, most cockpit cushions are not made with closed cell foam. When it rains and your cushions are in the cockpit, they soak up water like a sponge, literally. You have to remove the covers, expose everything to the sun, recover the foam with the covers and store below where they are forever IN THE WAY. Solution: A New Zeland manufacturer fabricates one inch thick slabs of closed cell foam designed for the purpose. They will not be a perfect fit and will not cover completely each seat (but how many times do you have so many aboard that it is cheek to cheek seating all around). Two, maybe three slabs will do, do not soak up water, and store much more compactly below. AND, while my boat was on-the-hard in the Bahamas for a year, I used one closed cell foam slab to cover one of the 55 Watt Siemans solar panels (perfect fit) so batteries would not over charge. After one year of UV the slab was still in perfect condition.
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