Sunpad

I'm about at my wits' end in trying to find replacement sun pad cushions for my boat. First, I learned the OEM versions can't be ordered from Sea Ray any longer. That's fine, I'd like something a little more practical anyway that could possibly fold into a lounge chair.

So I start with people at Great Lakes Marine Innovations and their new Bow Lounger that was discussed in this thread. It has been like pulling teeth to get them to respond to my requests to have a lounger built. I've spoken to Steve (contact below) who keeps telling me his boss will call me after I mailed them a detailed template...but we're going on a month now of me bugging him and still no progress.

So today I call up Gioia Sails (also discussed below) and they were actually very responsive and helpful. The trouble is, they don't have any templates for a boat as old as mine so I was told by them that I'm just out of luck.

So now I'm back to square one and no prospects of having sun pad cushions in sight. Does anyone have any contacts or other ideas on how I can have sun pad cushions made (preferably lounge type) short of just buying foam/upholstery and doing it myself?
 
Something you guys might want to think about. I bought my boat in 2007. The Factory Sunpad was missing from day one. I noticed in around 2009 or so that the new 500 Sundancers(my 48) were coming from the factory with Sunpads that also tilted up. I ordered one thru a Sea Ray Dealer. Cost was $1800. My point is that since the Sundancer 500 is still being produced, the tilting sunpads are still available. So, I would think it would be nothing to modify the one that fits my boat to fit your boats. It is one thing to start from scratch, it is another thing to take it to a canvas shop and have them modify one.

On additional point I would like to make is that even on the one I have, It does not tilt as high as I would like. I want to basically sit up right. The way the starboard brace is configured, it doesn't allow for that at this time. I would be nothing to modify it though. Good Luck.

Bill
 
This was from Gary at Great Lake Marine Innovations - Russ we have had one made however after testing for a year or more we have
determined that it will not hold up to Salt Water, so we have gone back to
the drawing board. I will keep your name and inform you when we get a
redesign completed.

Gary

He is reffering to the ratcheting backed pad.
 
Russ Calasant said:
This was from Gary at Great Lake Marine Innovations - Russ we have had one made however after testing for a year or more we have
determined that it will not hold up to Salt Water, so we have gone back to
the drawing board. I will keep your name and inform you when we get a
redesign completed.

Gary

He is reffering to the ratcheting backed pad.
Click to expand...

Nice that he got back to you...he has been ignoring me for a month. I spoke to Steve there a few times who keeps telling me Gary will get in touch with me. Just as well I guess; even though I'm in fresh water I don't want to make that large of an investment in something with quality issues.
 
THJeff said:
Nice that he got back to you...he has been ignoring me for a month. I spoke to Steve there a few times who keeps telling me Gary will get in touch with me. Just as well I guess; even though I'm in fresh water I don't want to make that large of an investment in something with quality issues.
Click to expand...

They gave you a price? How much?
 
Russ Calasant said:
That is pricey but I would pay it if the mechanism will Stand up to salt water
Click to expand...

I fully intended to pay it (and possibly more) but for the fact that they continued to ignore my inquiries. I received one e-mail reply from Gary initially (with the price), then he ignored at least three return emails and two phone calls to him. I then started to try Steve, who I spoke to and exchanged several texts with but he said he doesn't deal with the bow lounger. I even sent them a complete template of my bow area to give them the measurements for the loungers along with a detailed cover letter and never heard anything back even after continued e-mail and voice mail messages. I guess my point is, even though this seems like a great product that's perfectly suited for my needs, if they ever got started on fabricating the lounges it would probably take months to complete. And, if anything ever went wrong with the lounges it's very doubtful they would provide adequate customer service to correct the issue. To me, it's a completely unacceptable business practice to just ignore repeated iquiries about the product you're selling and extremely frustrating to the customer.
 
THJeff said:
I fully intended to pay it (and possibly more) but for the fact that they continued to ignore my inquiries. I received one e-mail reply from Gary initially (with the price), then he ignored at least three return emails and two phone calls to him. I then started to try Steve, who I spoke to and exchanged several texts with but he said he doesn't deal with the bow lounger. I even sent them a complete template of my bow area to give them the measurements for the loungers along with a detailed cover letter and never heard anything back even after continued e-mail and voice mail messages. I guess my point is, even though this seems like a great product that's perfectly suited for my needs, if they ever got started on fabricating the lounges it would probably take months to complete. And, if anything ever went wrong with the lounges it's very doubtful they would provide adequate customer service to correct the issue. To me, it's a completely unacceptable business practice to just ignore repeated iquiries about the product you're selling and extremely frustrating to the customer.
Click to expand...

I would agree with you. I'm really surprised that no one makes one already.
 
They must've sensed my disdain; I received this reply from Gary today:

Hello Jeff,

Gary Cates here, and first I do apologize for your long wait. As you may or may not know we have been pitching our Bowloungers concept for a couple of years. We have had a couple of prototypes in place for more than a season, one set of loungers has been on my boat. Our current bowlounger requires a ratching hinge on each side, the ones we have been testing are made of powder coated steel and that is not holding up to the moist conditions. We have been trying to secure this hinge in marine stainless steel, 316L gauge, this would not only hold up to freshwater, but also in salt water, which is where we believe or biggest market is.

In our quest for this hinge we have not been able to turn up anything, and the cost of making it makes our product cost prohibitive. So we are back to the drawing board, one shorter term solution is to craft a product that would be similar to the product used on new boats. Those are constructed using a product like King starboard, and they go back to an established product without the innovation. If we were to look at constructing those we would most definitely use our current combination of foams and material as those parts of our lounger has gained rave reviews, as any moisture just flows right through and they stay dry always.

I have a couple of other folks who are interested as well. I have retained their information and told them I would keep them aware of our progress. We need to conquer the saltwater situation, as well as provide a quality innovative product to the marine community.

Thank for time and again I apologize for the delay.

Respectfully,

Gary Cates
 
I have a solution for 50/52DA's and 1999-2004 410DA's. Pics coming soon. My local seamstress is making them, and made a pair for myself, and a good pal. We love them. Around $1100 for the 50/52, and $1000 for the 410. Less than half what Sea Ray wanted. With Sunbrella fabric and Starboard.
 
sellnit said:
I have a solution for 50/52DA's and 1999-2004 410DA's. Pics coming soon. My local seamstress is making them, and made a pair for myself, and a good pal. We love them. Around $1100 for the 50/52, and $1000 for the 410. Less than half what Sea Ray wanted. With Sunbrella fabric and Starboard.
Click to expand...

I would be very interested to see the product! I hope the $1,000 for the 410 is for 2 pads or one large one with hopefully split backs so one could sit and the other lay flat.
 
sellnit said:
I have a solution for 50/52DA's and 1999-2004 410DA's. Pics coming soon. My local seamstress is making them, and made a pair for myself, and a good pal. We love them. Around $1100 for the 50/52, and $1000 for the 410. Less than half what Sea Ray wanted. With Sunbrella fabric and Starboard.
Click to expand...

Any pics of the finished product?
 
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