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I'm looking to replace the seat cushion on my 1981 Montauk. I found this on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250465497350

Does anyone have any experience with this manufacturer? Is there a better alternative?

Thanks.

Ian

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The best source for a replacement RPS seat cushion is Lois Hall, Hall's Nautical Upholstery:

http://hallsnautical.com/price.htm/price.htm

Nobody does better work than Lois.

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Thanks. As I read it the Halls is about 50% more expensive. Is it worth that much of a premium?

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That is for you to decide. For me it definitely is worth it. You get what you pay for.

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Ian -

Specialty Marine is known to many members as a less expensive alternative to Halls. Note that Halls is the original OEM producer. For the price from Halls, you get the correct fabric, color and texture to match OEM cushions.

I replaced my cooler and rod cushions with a set from Halls. They matched the original RPS cushion exactly. See my Montauk photos on my personal page.

The original OEM cushions lasted 18+ years and were in okay shape, I sold them to another owner who used them. That's quality.

If you are uncomfortable with the price, go with Specialty. Link to their website

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Thanks for the info. I have an all white cooler cushion but that's it and I'm not that concerned with it matching. But if I were to add some other cushions later maybe I would care more then. I have a 1981 Montauk and I don't think the cushions are original. The seam/bead is white which I suspect means it's not original. I guess for all the money we put into these things an extra $100 isn't worth sweating over.

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Speaking from recent experience, what goes into the cushion is more important than exact color match or pattern match, unless you are trying to do a "correct" restoration.

We have a deck chair on our boat which was supposedly a premium item built specifically for boats. After only a few months and a couple dozen hours of butt time, it was sagging in the back. After a few more months the chair was mostly unusable. I took apart the seat bottom and found top quality vinyl cover, great closed cell foam, stapled together with monel staples. All well and good. But the plywood for the seat bottom was 1/2" of the crappiest plywood around. It was almost completely delaminated with huge knots and voids. It wouldn't have lasted long even if it was kept dry.

I don't know anything about any of the above mentioned companies, but before I spent that much money on a seat I want them to stated in writing what material was used for building it.

Just my $0.02 worth.