Securing Cockpit Cushions

[sailorboy1]

My cockpit cushions have what I assume are the standard snaps to secure them to the cockpit seats. These of course rip out and now the cushions are sliding all over.

So who has a better method of securing the cushions?

[JPA Cate]

Sew a bolt rope onto the outboard edge: install bolt rope track, and slide the cushion in.
Spreads the load, secure. Expensive. Sorry about that.

Or, attach a fiddle(s), to hold the cushion(s) in place.

Ann

[StuM]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Sew a bolt rope onto the outboard edge: install bolt rope track, and slide the cushion in.
Spreads the load, secure. Expensive. Sorry about that.

Ann

Ours have that. Not a full bolt rope track, just a couple of short lengths.per cushion.

[kayakerChuck]

Canvas pro here.

Ann & StuM have it. Track (trade names are Keder or trailer rail), either full length or partial. A flap with snaps down to the vertical part.

Easy to do when the cushion is made. Stunningly expensive to retrofit. (fairly easy, but very time consuming for DIY)

[sailorboy1]

Well i will look into. Thanks

[sailorboy1]

Just an illegal thread bump to try to collect more views and ideas.

[peghall]

Velcro??


--Peggie

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by peghall

Velcro??


--Peggie

I havent tried that and feel it is a 99% chance of a short term answer before failing. Even my bimini window covers that use velcro don't last long. But thanks.

[SeaStory]

I repurposed the cushion material to make winch covers, threw out the moldy cushions, covered the seats with Sea Dek and pull out throw pillows when on a particularly long passage.

[sailorboy1]

Hey how about a strap sewn to bottom of cushion with a buckle on the outer edge? Seems same function as a bolt rope but easier to retrofit to cushions?

[Corvidae]

Carpet non-skid. Put them under all my settee cushions and it's worked like magic.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Hey how about a strap sewn to bottom of cushion with a buckle on the outer edge? Seems same function as a bolt rope but easier to retrofit to cushions?

The more you spread the loads out, the better off you'll be. If the boat's heeled and you step down onto the cushion, it pulls against the attachment with all the force of one's weight. You want a very reliable attachment. Or fold up the cushions out of the way, if the boat's heeled.

We couldn't get velcro to stay attached to fiberglass when we tried.

Ann