Seat cushion hard velco tabs - Replacements?

[BrickBrock]

My boat is a 2005 SANTE. When I purchased my boat used, the hard velcro tabs that secure the back row of seat cushion bottoms were crushed and flattened out. I had to pull out the middle and starboard cushion bottoms during trailer towing because the cushions would lift up and move in the wind. I feared I would lose a cushion on the highway.

I purchased a new set of black hard velcro tabs from Nautique Parts, but it seems like these are starting to deform after only a couple of uses. Has anyone come up with a better solution to securing the back row of seat cushion bottoms?

[obd666]

the lip underneath of the seat back is pretty deep, and we just make sure the seat bottoms are shoved all the way up under it. thats always kept ours in place, never had a problem when towing. in fact, it takes some effort to pull them out when taking the seats out after that. iv'e never even checked to see if the velcro on the bottom is hooking up however. do you push them all the way back under the seat back?

[fyrhog]

Mine move all around to on a 2002 SANTE so any ideas Im all ears.

[kneebrdr]

Keeping the windshield closed up to about 55 mph helps. If I travel any further than the gas station, I always remember to take mine out. Wonder if snaps would work on front edge, back edge should stay under back cushion.

[beach]

Didn't newer Nautiques use the blocks under the seat that keep the seat in place?

[s_kelley2000]

Didn't newer Nautiques use the blocks under the seat that keep the seat in place?

My 99 has the blocks and the seats don't move at all on the highway. I am guessing they did away with the blocks for some reason when they moved from the full wraparound seating to the L shaped lounge. These say they are for the motor box but pretty sure these are what are on the bottom of my cushions:

http://www.nautiqueparts.com/motorboxstopsguides.aspx

[BrickBrock]

So after I installed the new hard, black velcro tabs I can see deformation after only a couple of uses. I need to remove the starboard rear cushion bottom to access my battery switch, so it will be used often. It takes quite a bit of force to slam the two pieces together so that they fully engage (I always feel with my hand to make sure they are lined up properly). It also requires a lot of force to pull apart. I cannot imagine that these will last very long based on the amount of deformation that has happened so quickly. I was hoping someone came up with a improved replacement that will last longer than 1 season.

[BrickBrock]

I have taken my boat out 10 times since installing the new hard, black velcro tabs and now they no longer hold the seat cushions down. This was a factory original part and they are complete junk. I cannot trailer with the back row of seat cushions in the boat. I cannot be the only person with this issue. What alternate solutions have people tried that have worked?

[Chexi]

How fast are you driving?

[s_kelley2000]

I have taken my boat out 10 times since installing the new hard, black velcro tabs and now they no longer hold the seat cushions down. This was a factory original part and they are complete junk. I cannot trailer with the back row of seat cushions in the boat. I cannot be the only person with this issue. What alternate solutions have people tried that have worked?

I will try to remember to take some pics of how the factory did it prior to '02 but I have never had a problem with seats moving in my boat. They used two of these on each seat and they hold great. Maybe some snaps might work well? You are trailering with your windshield closed right? Do you have a bow filler cushion and if so is it in place when you trailer? I tow with windshield shut and bow filler in place and I don't seem to get much wind going into the interior.

http://www.nautiqueparts.com/motorboxstopsguides.aspx

[dscoff]

I replaced the black factory tabs with 0.090" thick aluminum tabs about double the original area screwed into the same spots. I then applied heavy duty/industrial Velcro to the aluminum tabs. It works great! There hardly any added thickness, lots of surface area for the Velcro adhesive to grab and the seats stay firmly in place. I've had this setup for about a year and nothing's come apart yet (screws or glue).

[BrickBrock]

I drive no faster than 65. I do not have a bow filler cushion. I always have the windshield closed when trailering. The middle bottom cushion and the starboard bottom cushion on the back row of seats (L shaped seating on my 2005 SANTE) is blown up when trailered above 45 mph because the hard Velcro tabs no longer hold the cushions down. I need to find a better solution.

[BrickBrock]

DSCOFF, can you post a photo of your aluminum Velcro holders?

[dscoff]

[BrickBrock]

dscoff,
That looks great. On my boat the lower portion of the seat is fiberglass, so I just cleaned and stuck the hook velcro to that surface. I found some hard plastic laying around the house and cut it into strips, drilled the same hole pattern as the original hard black velcro squares. Here is a picture of the velcro I used:


Here is a picture of the hard plastic strips screwed to the bottom of the seat cushion (my velcro stated that is was not recommended to stick on fabric and the bottom of the seat cushion is wrapped in some type of fabric).


Here is a picture of the loop side of the velcro adhered to the hard plastic that is screwed to the bottom of the seat cushion.


Here is a picture of the hook side of the velcro adhered to the fiberglass seat bottom.


I made my loop side a bit smaller than the hook side, but after the job I think I should have made the hook side a little smaller than the loop side. I think that the cut edges of the loop side may come loose over time and clog the hook side, but I do not think that will happen for years. When it does, I will have 3'8" left of 4' long strip of velcro I bought. When I put the cushion down, I wiggle it back and forth a bit to really get the hooks to engage the loops. This seems to hold very well. I think I paid $8 for the 4' strip of industrial strength of velcro.