Bullet Cabin - Securing Cabin Upholstery In Place
#1
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From: King george, Virginia/Potomac River
I'm assuming this was factory - Velcro and push in ribbed pins to hold some of the seat cushions, seat backs, and armrests in place. The Velcro is worn out, all the pins are broken, then someone before me used construction adhesive to hold them in place. (What a mess to clean off the gelcoat) I'm in the process of re-upholstering the cabin and I'm wondering if the Velcro (new) and plastic pins, (new) hold everything in place? If not, is there another way?
These are the underside of the armrests on the SB bench seat. One had glue and one did not.

Broken push pin

Glue Mess

Velcro strips

These are the underside of the armrests on the SB bench seat. One had glue and one did not.

Broken push pin

Glue Mess

Velcro strips

Last edited by Shah Mat; 11-29-2023 at 06:20 PM.
#2
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,759
Likes: 157
From: Connecticut
I'm assuming this was factory - Velcro and push in ribbed pins to hold some of the seat cushions, seat backs, and armrests in place. The Velcro is worn out, all the pins are broken, then someone before me used construction adhesive to hold them in place. (What a mess to clean off the gelcoat) I'm in the process of re-upholstering the cabin and I'm wondering if the Velcro (new) and plastic pins, (new) hold everything in place? If not, is there another way?
These are the underside of the armrests on the SB bench seat. One had glue and one did not.

Broken push pin

Glue Mess

Velcro strips

These are the underside of the armrests on the SB bench seat. One had glue and one did not.

Broken push pin

Glue Mess

Velcro strips

#4
Yes, Cigarette was known for using "christmas tree" interior fasteners back in the day.
I would think you would do fine to replace them with such, especially since the holes are already there to center/spot the panels.
AND replace the worn velco with 3M Dual Lock "velcro". You would be surprised how strong that stuff is. Items actually "snap" into place. I use it on all kinds of things, including marine, racecar, and RV applications. Link below, but you can buy it at Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon, etc.
3M DUAL LOCK, VHB Acrylic Adhesive, 10 ft, Reclosable Fastener - 454W99|100SJ3560/10FT - Grainger


I would think you would do fine to replace them with such, especially since the holes are already there to center/spot the panels.
AND replace the worn velco with 3M Dual Lock "velcro". You would be surprised how strong that stuff is. Items actually "snap" into place. I use it on all kinds of things, including marine, racecar, and RV applications. Link below, but you can buy it at Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon, etc.
3M DUAL LOCK, VHB Acrylic Adhesive, 10 ft, Reclosable Fastener - 454W99|100SJ3560/10FT - Grainger

#5
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,094
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From: King george, Virginia/Potomac River
Yes, Cigarette was known for using "christmas tree" interior fasteners back in the day.
I would think you would do fine to replace them with such, especially since the holes are already there to center/spot the panels.
AND replace the worn velco with 3M Dual Lock "velcro". You would be surprised how strong that stuff is. Items actually "snap" into place. I use it on all kinds of things, including marine, racecar, and RV applications. Link below, but you can buy it at Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon, etc.
3M DUAL LOCK, VHB Acrylic Adhesive, 10 ft, Reclosable Fastener - 454W99|100SJ3560/10FT - Grainger
I would think you would do fine to replace them with such, especially since the holes are already there to center/spot the panels.
AND replace the worn velco with 3M Dual Lock "velcro". You would be surprised how strong that stuff is. Items actually "snap" into place. I use it on all kinds of things, including marine, racecar, and RV applications. Link below, but you can buy it at Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon, etc.
3M DUAL LOCK, VHB Acrylic Adhesive, 10 ft, Reclosable Fastener - 454W99|100SJ3560/10FT - Grainger
Most of us have had to clean all our supplies and gear off the cabin floor after a rough ride up the river, hence the reason for my concern. I don't want to have to put the cabin back together as well
Last edited by Shah Mat; 11-30-2023 at 09:57 AM.
#6
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From: King george, Virginia/Potomac River
WOW.... You are going for it! Ill be following this thread, I would love to replace the carpet on the walls on my Bullet, but it just seems like a big can of worms. The cushions have been done already. It would look sooo much better down there with old sidewall carpet gone.
Your upholstery work looks great, I love the custom touch.
As for the hull side carpet, we looked at many different materials and decided to go back with carpet. We chose LT grey from Overtons. It is darker and a slight contrast over the LT grey we choose for upholstery. Its not as deep as the original but still has a soft feel. We thought about a foam backed cloth grey headliner in place of the carpet but were afraid of it getting scratched/damaged easily. I am replacing the foam behind the carpet which is several layers of 1" that is "stepped" upward to follow the side of the hull to give it the smooth contour. It's getting white foam backed vinyl for the headliner and speaker/light boards.
https://www.overtons.com/overtons-su...647_color=ltgy
This is the grey cloth headliner we were looking at as a possibility over the carpet.
https://midwestfabrics.com/products/...adliner-fabric
I soooo wish Cigarette gel coated the outside of the head, I'm not liking the carpet on the head enclosure. Again, with anything that will scratch or tear easily will not be good because of the tight entry into the cabin. I saw somewhere on here (Casey?) someone gel coated it, but it looks like A LOT of prep work. I ordered enough carpet to cover it, but may do something different when I get there.

Nasty carpet around head

Last edited by Shah Mat; 11-30-2023 at 11:17 AM.
#7
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Posts: 6,759
Likes: 157
From: Connecticut
Going for it, lol, I went past elbow deep last year. When the boat is somewhat back together I'll start a thread of the whole rebuild.
Your upholstery work looks great, I love the custom touch.
As for the hull side carpet, we looked at many different materials and decided to go back with carpet. We chose LT grey from Overtons. It is darker and a slight contrast over the LT grey we choose for upholstery. Its not as deep as the original but still has a soft feel. We thought about a foam backed cloth grey headliner in place of the carpet but were afraid of it getting scratched/damaged easily. I am replacing the foam behind the carpet which is several layers of 1" that is "stepped" upward to follow the side of the hull to give it the smooth contour. It's getting white foam backed vinyl for the headliner and speaker/light boards.
https://www.overtons.com/overtons-su...647_color=ltgy
This is the grey cloth headliner we were looking at as a possibility over the carpet.
https://midwestfabrics.com/products/...adliner-fabric
I soooo wish Cigarette gel coated the outside of the head, I'm not liking the carpet on the head enclosure. Again, with anything that will scratch or tear easily will not be good because of the tight entry into the cabin. I saw somewhere on here (Casey?) someone gel coated it, but it looks like A LOT of prep work. I ordered enough carpet to cover it, but may do something different when I get there.

Nasty carpet around head

Your upholstery work looks great, I love the custom touch.
As for the hull side carpet, we looked at many different materials and decided to go back with carpet. We chose LT grey from Overtons. It is darker and a slight contrast over the LT grey we choose for upholstery. Its not as deep as the original but still has a soft feel. We thought about a foam backed cloth grey headliner in place of the carpet but were afraid of it getting scratched/damaged easily. I am replacing the foam behind the carpet which is several layers of 1" that is "stepped" upward to follow the side of the hull to give it the smooth contour. It's getting white foam backed vinyl for the headliner and speaker/light boards.
https://www.overtons.com/overtons-su...647_color=ltgy
This is the grey cloth headliner we were looking at as a possibility over the carpet.
https://midwestfabrics.com/products/...adliner-fabric
I soooo wish Cigarette gel coated the outside of the head, I'm not liking the carpet on the head enclosure. Again, with anything that will scratch or tear easily will not be good because of the tight entry into the cabin. I saw somewhere on here (Casey?) someone gel coated it, but it looks like A LOT of prep work. I ordered enough carpet to cover it, but may do something different when I get there.

Nasty carpet around head

#8
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,527
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From: Lake Ozark, MO USA
I would rip hat carpet out, probably smells anyway. Get some vinyl in a color you like and put some thin foam backing on it to replace all the carpet. I had a Dr. Vinyl guy come in a redo my entire V berth. I tore it all out, it was ripped in places from an umbrella shade bouncing around up there. The material and installation labor was $200.00 ish.







