280 cushions

hookup1

My newly acquired Rinker 280 Express came without the aft dinette cushions. The cushions that cover the storage compartments.

I going to make them but I want to see what Rinker did to the undersides. They must have some kind of shape underneath to keep them in place over the openings. Also if you can tell if the backing boards are plywood or plastic. A photo or two would be great!

Thanks - Frank K.

aero3113

They used plastic pins spaced out to the shape of the storage area. I can’t remember if the underside is plastic or plywood, I do know it was wrapped with something.

YYZRC

Mine are plywood wrapped in perforated black cloth. 

GMSLITHO

I would use starboard 

rasbury

I think they use wood as you can staple to it- starboard would be ldeal bot not sure that the staples  would hold. I would clear the would or paint it to seal it.

aero3113

For some reason I can’t find the share to this eBay link,but here you can see what they used. This seller 3D printed them with a threaded insert in them. If you search others will come up as well. Never mind, found it! Saw the icon on my screen shot😂.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305088937312?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3XKEytxGRKO&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=jb9VSTJCQVS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

hookup1

aero3113 said:

For some reason I can’t find the share to this eBay link,but here you can see what they used. This seller 3D printed them with a threaded insert in them. If you search others will come up as well. Never mind, found it! Saw the icon on my screen shot😂.

Interesting. Thanks.

Anyone got a photo of the underside?

How do you get the seat backs or coaming pads off? No visible fasteners.

Also Great Lakes has fabric but there shipping is 2X the cost of the material. Anyone know who the fabric was made by? I'm sure Rinker didn't make it.

Formulaben

FWIW, I re-upholstered 6 cushions on my old wake boat, and it was all the same: black starboard (HDPE) with glued-on foam on top, vinyl skins wrapped stapled to the bottom, then covered the staples with "hide-em" for aesthetics.  Then rectangular cleats screwed in to keep in place.  Rinker uses the cylindrical pins as above, but I don't see why you couldn't go either way, assuming it's a cushion that sits over an open storage area. 

hookup1 said:

How do you get the seat backs or coaming pads off? No visible fasteners.

My 270 has one piece with fasteners that were vertically slotted: to remove just pull firmly straight up.  Another had snaps that hadn't been exercised in some time and required a healthy pull to remove, then were more compliant after use. 

Pat310

On my 310 you can see how the seat backs come off like @Formulaben said and the snaps he spoke of. Holes in the storage lids are where the the pins that @aero3113 showed go to hold the seat bottom

Pat310

The fixed cushions with no storage below are held in place with some heavy duty velcro. You can see the seat cushion back in the lower right with the slot for the seat back hooks. If i get back to the boat this week I’ll take some pics of the underside of the removable seat bottoms

aero3113

On my 330 there’s no lids over the storage, just open area. The pins on mine align with the edge of the opening.

hookup1

Thanks to everyone who responded. Grady White does a similar thing where the backs are tabbed in and secured by snaps. I'll take a look at mine this weekend.

My companion seat is velcro'ed down. I have the back but not the velcro'ed bottom.

My rear dinette seats are over uncovered compartments. I have the backs but not the bottoms.

I'll grab a picture to two this week.

Still trying to figure out the source for the fabric. Great Lakes Skipper has limited stock and doesn't really know original manufacturer. I can sew but I want same material.

Cableguy Greg

Here is a photo of the back of the cushion on a 280EC. 

hookup1

Cableguy Greg said:

Here is a photo of the back of the cushion on a 280EC. 

That's perfect! Next I'm trying to find out who's fabric they used. Great Lakes Skipper has limited availability and expensive shipping. I can source elsewhere if I can figure out what it is. Rinker did use a quality fabric.

Probably Spralding Proquinal, color unknown. Spralding is big fabric maker. Proquinal line discontinued. We'll see.

hookup1

I pulled one seat back/coming pad today. Opened it up to look at the fabric. No identifying numbers, etc. I ordered a few fabrics in to see how they look.

My coaming pads are secured by a small plastic tab on the bottom with a screw. The top edge is HD velcro'ed along the lip. Velcro tore out of seat back/coming. Not a big deal.

GMSLITHO

Funny on my 270 there was storage behind the seat on the port side next to thr helm 

Formulaben

GMSLITHO said:

Funny on my 270 there was storage behind the seat on the port side next to thr helm 

Yeah, I found that by accident! 

rasbury

Formulaben said:

GMSLITHO said:

Funny on my 270 there was storage behind the seat on the port side next to thr helm 

Yeah, I found that by accident! 

Same here- to bad there wasn't a bag of boat bucks in there..

hookup1

I think that is where the cocktail refrigerator went! Port side aft. Mine is a empty void. Also big void on Starboard side behind helm seat. Access from top and bottom.

hookup1

I'm starting to build the tops for the aft seating using 1/2" Coosa Board.  Light, holds staples well, won't rot, you can walk on opening. Comparable price to starboard. Aft seat back is thermoformed curved ABS plastic. Ordered that in. Not expensive.

Still having accent fabric problems but I'll work that out.

hookup1

Patterned the seats and cut Coosa board. Ordered the pins to keep them in place.

hookup1

I made three bottom cushions and one backrest. They need to warm up and flatten out.

In the Spring I'll see how the backrests clean up and possibly re-do them.

aero3113

Nice job!! ⚓️

Pat310

Very nice. What sewing machine did you use? Also, what was the vinyl you wound up using ? Seems like a great match

mbnarney

Looks great

aero3113

You should be able to clean up the other cushions no problem. Here’s what mine looked like when I first got her. Took some scrubbing but came out great.

hookup1

Pat310 said:

Very nice. What sewing machine did you use? Also, what was the vinyl you wound up using ? Seems like a great match

I use a Sailrite LZ (but I rarely use a zig-zag). Most everything I buy from Sailrite. I have a Trivantage account and Sailrite pricing is close enough. They are the only supplier to really support the DIY cloud and should be highly commended. Most everything I have learned is from their DIY videos. The dark grey accent was original Rinker material from Great Lakes Skipper. The white fabric is Sailrite Eversoft White. Great match. 

hookup1

aero3113 said:

That looks great! What did you use? I'll work them hard in the Spring. I don't like bleach - have to try different mildew products.

You should be able to clean up the other cushions no problem. Here’s what mine looked like when I first got her. Took some scrubbing but came out great.

aero3113

I think I used Purple Power, full strength and a stiff bristle brush.

hookup1

I do like the Super Clean purple. It is strong. No bleach. We'll see.

Formulaben

A garmet steamer followed by an ice cube will tighten up that area on the bench seat.

Also, I found this stuff is really good, and very inexpensive for cleaning vinyl...it is a concentrate, so you dilute it and put it in spray bottles.  You just have to follow the directions!   

https://www.amazon.com/Roll-Off-ROGL-Amazing-Roll-Off/dp/B001RMTY8E