Ideas for adding "step" into back seat vinyl

[Infinity]

I am having a "step" built into the middle center of my back seat in next couple weeks like the Nautique G3 has. I am trying to find out what they put under the vinyl, anyone know? I assume the foam/cushion is cut out (like 12x8 are)...then some kind of rubber block placed inside the foam cutout (to create a hard area to step on), then vinyl skin installed and the SeaDeck step is installed on top of vinyl so people know where to step to get too transom.

My boat is a 2014 and the seams in that back seat are starting to rip, its the only area of boat I am having that issue, cause everyone has to step there to get to back of boat....so trying to figure out a way to prevent that issue in future. Love it if anyone has ideas, or can tell me how the factory does it and a good material to install under that SeaDeck "step" area.... Taking it to vinyl shop hopefully this week to get it modified and want to make sure I do something that will work well. Appreciate all input, good or bad

[scottb7]

A friend of mine bought me one of these. I was skeptical at first. But it does help. It is not cheap. One of those things that I would have never bought for myself. But that is what makes a great gift. Glad he got it for me.

Yeah it get's a bit dirty, but keeps that dirt off the actual boat vinyl.

http://seatsaver.com/

[Infinity]

scottb7 Is it fairly rigid....so prevents the weight of person from pressing the vinyl down? That is the biggest seam killer and causing the seams to tear is cause the weight is put on seams, so they start ripping. Cannot tell if its basically just cloth, is is strong enough to spread the weight over a larger area to prevent that, make sense? In pics, does not show someone with full weight of one foot on it to know if that is the case or not. Good idea tho, and thanks. Will certainly consider this if they cannot build in something, which I prefer since they are replacing the skin anyway.

[scottb7]

Yeah, it is fairly rigid but not totally rigid when stepped on. Before he gave me this I tried a large cutting board to spread the load. But that was too rigid. This has some flex to it. So it spread the load but still bends somewhat. And it is not slippery. Decent product.

[Infinity]

I ordered my materials last night to try to get something similar to what the G3 has on back seat to step onto back seat to get to transom without ripping vinyl seams every other season. Getting 2) HDPE boards that are 12" wide X 10 deep and 1 1/2" thick....I will put them together to make them 3" thick and then cut out cushion foam and secure them to the bottom of back seat so they stay in place securely. Then the new vinyl skin will be installed as if they are not there. Once done.....I got another textured piece of HDPE that is 3/8" thick by 14" wide and 12" deep. I will place it over the new vinyl directly over the pieces installed under new vinyl (this piece will overhand each side 1" and basically sandwich the vinyl). I will also use a router on sides of exposed HDPE to make it look nice since edges will be exposed. Since my seat cushion foam is 3 13/8" thick, when I secure the top piece of HDPE down to the lower pieces, it will "suck" down the foam a little bit to make it approx even with vinyl so it is not raised up. Then I will have to get a piece of GatorStep cut to size to install over the HDPE to give it that finished custom look.

This sound like a good plan?....anyone think of anything I am missing or problems I may have? Only thing I am not sure of is I will need to screw down that top piece of HDPE to the lower ones, which of course means I am running 2 screws (maybe 4) thru the vinyl so suck it down and hold it in place. Of course I have a screw holes in vinyl....and when stepping on sides of seat next to step, it will tear those holes a little bit, I dont think it will get too bad tho since with the screws there should be a good bit of pressure on the vinyl (also will have slight router along top of piece under vinyl so down pressure will not tear the vinyl). I was thinking of installing some duct tape or something else to keep it from tearing just where screws will penetrate the vinyl (under HDPE and out of sight of course) and I will be sure to keep all screws at least 4" from any side. Gluing will not work since it wont suck it down and hold it tight in place, so I THINK that screws may be my only option....
Can anyone suggest a better way to secure the top piece of exposed HDPE that will be used to step on..... to the pieces located under the vinyl that may reduce my chances of the vinyl tearing as time goes on? If not, I will go with it cause I am still sure it will keep the vinyl in better shape for longer, just hoping someone is smarter than me and can suggest something I have not thought of. Inviting any suggestions OR critizism of my plan, in case it helps me do a better job.

[scttp]

I'm all about projects like this normally, but this seems like a lot of effort/risk to save one seat. I have a 2015 G23 and have just resigned to the fact that I'll neeed/want to re-cover that bench sooner than preferred. Not worth worrying about, tho. A vinyl skin for it or replacement part down the road can't be THAT expensive?


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[Infinity]

I'm all about projects like this normally, but this seems like a lot of effort/risk to save one seat. I have a 2015 G23 and have just resigned to the fact that I'll neeed/want to re-cover that bench sooner than preferred. Not worth worrying about, tho. A vinyl skin for it or replacement part down the road can't be THAT expensive?


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Its not about the cost for just the skin.....its the downtime on boat, getting the skin which takes 6-8 weeks to have made and more importantly finding someone who does the work and does it well. In my area, not easy. Also, its not that cheap especially when you consider the driving boat back n forth, etc. For me, its more the hassle and downtime over anything else tho. It will also make the boat more functional IMO

[Blamey]

If possible I would try punch a hole in the vinyl where the screw holes would go. A round hole in the vinyl will have more strength then a tear.

I'd be worried that the vinyl sandwiched between the HDPE would pull out when streched but not be able to retract back between the two pieces.

Maybe use Staples to hold the vinyl to the HDPE so when the vinyl is streched it's not pulling against the screw hole but rather against the several Staples so the pull force is spread across several points. Also have the stables close to the edge so there is less vinyl to pull on.


What boat do you have?



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[Infinity]

If possible I would try punch a hole in the vinyl where the screw holes would go. A round hole in the vinyl will have more strength then a tear.

I'd be worried that the vinyl sandwiched between the HDPE would pull out when streched but not be able to retract back between the two pieces.

Maybe use Staples to hold the vinyl to the HDPE so when the vinyl is streched it's not pulling against the screw hole but rather against the several Staples so the pull force is spread across several points. Also have the stables close to the edge so there is less vinyl to pull on.


What boat do you have?



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That is a good idea about staples, I could put a solid line of staples along the outer edge down into the HDPE piece below the vinyl since top piece will hang over lower piece. That is 1 reason why top piece will hang over an inch, I was afraid vinyl may pull out a touch too, and the hang over may hid small crinkles....but staples could stop that from happening. I think I will do that. I was also going to pre-drill where I run the screws thru and then make the holes in vinyl larger to keep it from tearing tho hopefully the pressure sandwiching the vinyl plus staples holding everything in place will prevent any issues. I think that will work well, thanks for the idea

[Infinity]

Oh, its a Centurion SV244

[Infinity]

Pictures below....So I did my afternoon project....obviously the NEW vinyl skin is not installed yet, but wanted to put it together so I could see what it would look like, etc. I will remove the top piece of HDPE and then they will remove old vinyl and install the new skin with foam backing OVER the HDPE blocks I installed in the cutout in the cushion foam.

So 1st I cut out the cushion foam the same size as my 2 block....then I drilled holes and secured them, countersinking the screws and doing it from both sides so it would be secure (I routered a round edge on the top piece so when vinyl presses down there is no sharp edge to catch on), then from under the seat, I drilled and installed 6 screws into the doubled up blocks to hold it securely into place so they can install the new skin in place and it will not move.

Then I drilled holes (this HDPE is PITA to drill cause you can only do 1/4" at a time since the hard plastic does not come out like wood shavings, but well worth the time). I used heavy duty deck screws guaranteed to not corrode or rust and they are painted to also help protect them. Then I installed the black top piece that is slightly textured and will act as the step I also routered the top and bottom edges along outsides since it will press down on the vinyl and I dont want tears and it makes it look better since its exposed, obviously I do not have my GatorStep yet to install over it and I am going to look into possibly having a piece of aluminum made instead of using this black HDPE since some have mentioned that GAtorStep may not stick well to it, not sure about that yet. But this way I have a template for the screw holes since vinyl will be fully sandwiched on the end product, there will be no cutouts on the new vinyl skin, the only place there will be any holes in the vinyl is where the 4 screws went in. Cost me $134 in materials for the 3 pieces of HDPE from Interstate Plastics ($100 for materials and $34 for shipping), I ordered them the exact size I wanted and they were here within 4 days, so pretty sweet. All in all, took me about 4hrs this afternoon to complete and I know for sure this will make the vinyl last longer and should also look pretty good once I get the GatorStep piece installed.

[DW SD]

Could you have removed the vinyl cover and cut out the foam and installed the hdpe stack and then reinstalled the vinyl and achieved similar?

I’m guessing the reason the vinyl gets ruined is how much the foam compresses when you step and constantly stresses the vinyl.

What i wonder is if the vinyl would get ruined as quickly if the foam is removed the substrate no longer compresses.

BTW - good job. Will look nice and tidy with the gatorstep in place.




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[Infinity]

Could you have removed the vinyl cover and cut out the foam and installed the hdpe stack and then reinstalled the vinyl and achieved similar?

I’m guessing the reason the vinyl gets ruined is how much the foam compresses when you step and constantly stresses the vinyl.

What i wonder is if the vinyl would get ruined as quickly if the foam is removed the substrate no longer compresses.

BTW - good job. Will look nice and tidy with the gatorstep in place.




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Yes, I could have done it without cutting the vinyl....but I had new skins coming anyway so it was just easier to get precise measurements doing it this way.
Exactly...stepping on the foam and compressing it is exactly what pulls the stitching in the seams and why I put the block there, so it wont be able to compress in future. I made it that large, so people dont step on the front lip and cause the same issue.

Not sure I understand what you mean about removing the substate so it wont compress tho, then it would not be a comfortable seat. Maybe I am totally mis-reading that tho.
Thanks, looking forward to good weather, I posted the pics and details cause I know others have mentioned this and may give other people some ideas on how they can retro-fit their boats. If I did not have new skins here....I would have removed the vinyl, done the mod and they re-installed it so the vinyl was not cut out like that 1st and 2nd picture.

[Infinity]

So here is the finished back seat with the new vinyl skin installed.....and the top piece of HDPE (no holes cut in vinyl)....it is screwed thru the new vinyl and sandwiches the solid insert below it. Just waiting for the Aqua Marine Decking to arrive, since this piece of black HDPE will have decking covering it and I also ordered pieces for other areas of my boat. Since I used a router along the edges of the insert under the vinyl....you can sit right next to this without pulling the vinyl down against any edges. Think its going to come out perfect and will give a place for people to step up to the walk-thru transom in center of sundeck so no one is stepping on vinyl and ripping seams over time, since that is what was starting to happen on my old skin.

[Infinity]

Pic of the finished product...just have not gotten my Aqua Marine decking yet to install over the step