In what ways are 2002 356 cushion backs attached to boat?

[JimHansen77]

Hi All

I'm cleaning the covers and and replacing the foam in the cushions of my 2002 356 (Foam Factory, Lux High Quality Foam works great). I have learned that the cushion backs are affixed to the boat in a couple of different ways. All have a plywood strip to connect to the boat, but some connect via snaps and some use screws.

Could I trouble someone to check their boat and see if they are all meant to be one way or the other, or if the mix is appropriate which backs are attached in which manner? I ask because a previous owner has worked on these cushion backs and has perhaps made modifications.

Some tips for anyone replacing plywood strips with that use snaps. The plywood strips in my boat needed replacing because they had broken at a couple snap locations, probably from efforts to pry the cushion off by lifting the edge of the plywood strip. The snap studs screwed into the settee were unevenly spaced and the settee back is curved, so to mark the location of the snap sockets on the plywood strip I lathered the studs in lipstick and pressed the plywood against them. To deal with the curve in the settee I went with thin plywood, but to make it resist the snapping at socket locations I glassed the back with 1.5oz glass mat. It is still plenty flexible but is much stronger.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[jssailem]

Jim. Some use the butts of the crew to hold the seats in place.

My sailing buddy uses Velcro strips on his Catalina 36.

 

[kappykaplan]

My sailing buddy uses Velcro strips on his Catalina 36.

That's what I have on my boat.

 

[shemandr]

My 356 had snaps.
Cushions might be a dealer installed item and maybe not the same across the market.

 

[JimHansen77]

My 356 had snaps.
Cushions might be a dealer installed item and maybe not the same across the market.

Excellent point. Have you had the issue where the plywood to which the sockets are attached broke at the socket locations?

 

[shemandr]

No. As I recall the male snap was screwed into the fiberglass seat or locker lid and the female were sewn with a strap into the bottom of the cushion. The cushions pretty much stayed put. But it could be a pain to snap the cushions down because you’re pushing on a cushion that deforms as you press it. And you can’t see the snaps.
I don’t remember how water migration into the fiberglass seat or lid was managed. Probably just sealant.

 

[danm1]

My forward and starboard table seat back cushions are screwed on. Aft cushion is velcroed. Parenthetically, we took out about half the fill on the forward and aft seat backs to fit our bellies past the table. Much more comfortable.

 

[JimHansen77]

No. As I recall the male snap was screwed into the fiberglass seat or locker lid and the female were sewn with a strap into the bottom of the cushion. The cushions pretty much stayed put. But it could be a pain to snap the cushions down because you’re pushing on a cushion that deforms as you press it. And you can’t see the snaps.
I don’t remember how water migration into the fiberglass seat or lid was managed. Probably just sealant.

Ah. Those are the exterior cushions. I'm interested in the interior.

 

[shemandr]

My wife says I don’t listen…

 

[chuckwayne]

We changed to industrial strength velco - much better for access behind the cushions