Replacement of bolster cushions

Kbolliff

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How do you get the aft bolster cushions off of a Grady White 33 Xpress
 

DennisG01

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Well, first... hello and welcome aboard. We are real, live people on this end, just like you - it's never a bad thing to make a nice introduction :)

What have you tried so far? A picture would help for those of us not familiar with your particular setup - although we're familiar with bolster removal in general. Does the bottom side have grommets with screws? If so, it would then just slide up and off after removal of screws.
 

wspitler

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There are stainless steel Phillips head screws that are accessible from within the grommets on the bottom of the bolsters. A long Phillips head screwdriver can find the screws and unscrew them allowing the bolsters to be lifted off of stainless steel brackets.
 

Fishtales

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Take some pics and share with folks. Usually they are fastened with screws and then the bolster lift off (push them up). That is a general method, I'm sure on newer boats there are other mounting methods.
 

Kbolliff

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Well, first... hello and welcome aboard. We are real, live people on this end, just like you - it's never a bad thing to make a nice introduction :)

What have you tried so far? A picture would help for those of us not familiar with your particular setup - although we're familiar with bolster removal in general. Does the bottom side have grommets with screws? If so, it would then just slide up and off after removal of screws.
You are exactly right! My name is Kirk and Fran and I live in Jacksonville Florida I own a 33 Grady Xpress, and have owned it for the past three years. The boat stays in the water and is exposed to the sun year-round, which is part of the problem. The aft bolster cushions have become worn and need replacing. Thank you for replying. I will try to get some pictures of the of the bolster cushions.
 

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Kbolliff

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You are exactly right! My name is Kirk and Fran and I live in Jacksonville Florida I own a 33 Grady Xpress, and have owned it for the past three years. The boat stays in the water and is exposed to the sun year-round, which is part of the problem. The aft bolster cushions have become worn and need replacing. Thank you for replying. I will try to get some pictures of the of the bolster cushions.
I have a looked under the cuddles for any existing screws, but have not been able to locate any.
 

Kbolliff

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I have a looked under the cuddles for any existing screws, but have not been able to locate any.
I have looked under both sides, but I am not able to locate any screws. I can pull the cushion out enough to see behind it and it looks like just brackets hold it on but I can't get it to move up or right or left. Thanks for your help.
 

Halfhitch

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Kirk, when you look at the bottom of the bolster cushions you should see a brass grommet every couple of feet or so. You will not be able to see any screws due to the foam settling over them. You just have to feel around with a #2 phillips screwdriver in the grommet hole, at all different angles till you hear the screwdriver hitting metal, then line up on the screw by feel and back it out. Once the screws are all out you can lift up on the cushion and it will come off the clips.
 
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loubeer

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Kirk, when you look at the bottom of the bolster cushions you should a brass grommet every couple of feet or so. You will not be able to see any screws due to the foam settling over them. You just have to feel around with a #2 phillips screwdriver in the grommet hole, at all different angles till you hear the screwdriver hitting metal, then line up on the screw by feel and back it out. Once the screws are all out you can lift up on the cushion and it will come off the clips.
 

loubeer

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Kirk - I have a 2003 and all the guidance given is spot on. Looks like your boat is a little newer, based on the water supply under the gunnel, but removal should be the same.
 

glacierbaze

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This is how mine were attached on a Seafarer. Three small screws along the bottom of the long side, and two on the short side.
 

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tunagrady

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Fairly easy to swap them out on your own. Just need to purchase an electric or pneumatic stapler, a staple remover and some monel staples.
 

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DennisG01

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Year round boating is great, Kirk... or so I hear!

I think once you poke around a little closer inside the grommets you'll find the screws.
 

glacierbaze

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Use something flat, like a putty knife, and slide it along under the bottom edge. That should locate the screws, if they are there. Mine were short enough that they did not go through the panel behind them.
I just sliced the mesh on the bottom, because I knew it was not going back on.
Your side bolster looks like it has a roll at the top, which will make it harder to cover.
 

Kbolliff

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Good morning
I wanted to let people know that I found the screws that hold the back cushions on for my Grady 33. Each cushion has two or either three weep holes built-in to the bottom of them to let water out of the cushions. The screws are inside of each of those weep holes, so they are virtually invisible from the front or the back of the cushion. Once you take the screws out, the cushions lift straight off the brackets.
Thanks for the help.
 

Fishtales

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Nice... Good luck with the recover.
 

Fishtales

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Here is a thread that may help if you are going to do yourself.
 

Kbolliff

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Kirk - I have a 2003 and all the guidance given is spot on. Looks like your boat is a little newer, based on the water supply under the gunnel, but removal should be the same.
You guys are spot on with the directions. I found the screws and got all of them out and cushions off. Thanks for all the help.
 

Kbolliff

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Here is a thread that may help if you are going to do yourself.
Thanks it sounds like this is something I may try
 

Fishtales

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If at all handy, you can do it for sure. Material is readily available. I used a pneumatic stapler from HD made the job go much faster.