400 Sedan Upholstery Removal

Boogaboo

Boogaboo

Member
May 28, 2010
133
Lake Simcoe / Georgian Bay / Trent Severn Waterway
Boat Info
'98 330 Sundancer
Engines
2 x 454 MPI G-A-Z-O-L-I-N-E
I bought my 400 Sedan Bridge this summer (YAY!!) & want to update the upholstery in the front master berth. The factory 'Royal Blue' motif just doesn't work and we have already disposed of the bed cover & pillows.

I tried removing the combing panels that wrap around the bed - one on each side + the headboard panel - with not much luck. From what I can see, it appears that the side panels are glued into place from the factory. There are some screws on the headboard piece, which I removed, but the side panels have to come out first to get that one off.

Anyone with experience in this matter? I'd appreciate your insights, as the Big Boy came out of the water yesterday & now is the time to get them out for re upholstery . .
 

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Ya, that's what I was hoping for, recalling my days doing this sort of thing on cars. . .

Well, I'm off to the marina right now to see what I can find this time around. As mentioned, the season came to an end yesterday with the haul out & winterizing commences today :-(
 
try to pull out fabric on sides of the panels. i believe fabric is only tucked in place and once removed mounting screws will be exposed
 
Not sure if yours is attached the same way but I just removed mine. I finally figured out there is very small holes in upholstery folds that conceal stainless screws. I don't see any folds in yours so not sure. I spent a long time figuring out how in the heck the mounted mine....tricky.
 
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The bolster across the headboard is held on with plastic xmas tree type fasteners..pry them out using a screw driver or flat plate tool of some kind. The side bolsters come off pretty easy as I recall (I'm not at the boat). BUT I do remember that the starboard side comes off clean ...but the port side when taken off leaves a void of the vinyl base material at theaft end and actually turn down toward the floor. My plan is to cover a 3-5" wide piece of 1/8"-1/4" thick wood/plywood with a material that the Admiral picks out to compliment her bed spread and attach it where the ugly blue bolsters were with industrial velcro.
Same with the bolster in the smaller stateroom at head level. Again, xmas trees. I may just pull it off - recover it- and reinstall - because of padding .
 
Thanks for the help. I'll be back at the marina tomorrow and will try your ideas.

One quick question for Ray 40 - you're gonna have to help me out on the "xmas tree type fasteners". Not sure what you mean?? I did pry the port side panel back with quite a bit of force (just shy of what thought would result in something breaking) but all I could see was what appeared to be reddish, industrial strength adhesive at the aft section.

That said, I'm not against breaking something if I have to, as I make my living breaking and then putting back clients' houses, but I'm up for the 'gentle' approach first ;-)

BTW, how come no pics of your boat, Ray 40??
 
Sorry about the lack of pix...I don't know how to post them! Kids all in hi tec bus. - say I don't deserve computer!
Xmas trees - a fastener that at the insertion end is a bit pointy and has small fins the branch out gradually as it goes into drilled hole - the fins work against you as you attempt to pull out. The fastener is attached to the article you are trying to adhere/remove - kind of screwed into part you are attaching/removing.
It seems to me these fasteners were only used across the head of the bed. Regular screws used on the side bolsters.
I'll check the boat this PM - It's been a year since I did the removal.
 
Well, sucess! Sort of :-/

Yes, the 'Christmas Tree' clips were there, but only on the aft sections of the side panels. Trouble was that as the boat is a '97 & the clips weren't as flexable as they once were and only half actually pryed out of the 2"x 4" mounts, with the other half tearing the backing plywood from the bolsters. Front portion was held in place with about six screws along the bottom. Once the side panels came out, the front section was easily popped up and out.

No worries, as the admiral was just happy to see me bring them home today. A relativly painless walk around the fabric store with her (we only did each ailse ONCE) produced a mutually acceptable new covering. Just gotta pick up some stainless steel staples and I can get the new fabric on.

But first, I giotta get those 454's winterized. But that's a question for another posting . . .
 
Boogaboo.....think about a thin covering of foam( 1/4")over a thin piece of wood cut to size and covering with the Admiral's fabric choice using a 3M type spray-on type adhesive instead of staples . Possibly then a industrial grade velcro type fastening system to install it???
 
Boog,

Whatever you do on the inside will be over-shadowed by those fenders hangin' off the side while cruising. Put those things away.
 
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