Bow Cushion Life Span?

[ptige]

On our 2007 RZ2, we had the front left bow seat cushion board crack at the end of last season. It was still aligned well so I repaired it with some aluminum angle pieces. Then this season the front left cushion board split again in a different location, and then the bow filler cushion cracked in half also. I will find a local Southern California upholstery shop to make new Starboard (HDPE board) backers and then transfer the skins. Might go ahead and have them re-make the front right cushion.

Just curious if anyone else has had the Starboard material start to fail as their boat approaches 10 years old? I know our kids are a lot bigger now, but these cushions all cracked during normal light use. Sort of surprised, because even though the Starboard is fairly flexible it seems to be pretty well supported by the fiberglass housings underneath. I might reinstall the aluminum angles I made once the cushions are re-done.

[WakerideN]

I just did an 06 and it failed. We see them all the time. Go See SoCal Upholstery. Dave does great work! also look into thermolite board. that is what we will be MFG with in the future.

[culrich77]

Mine did the same thing last year and I too used some angle brackets and epoxy from Home Depot! So far this year it's holding strong, I'm just hoping to make it through this year and then have it fixed and some of the upholstery redone in the winter.

[Timmy!]

When mine broke, I took it to the upholstery shop and had them put in 3/4" marine plywood and then shorten the cushion length a few inches so that the front cupholders were accessible. I can't remember how much I had taken out, enough that the cushion would slide towards the back and reveal them.