Tournament 225 Owners: Need Pattern/Dimensions for Aft Backrest Bolster

[Irishroads]

Hello All:

I have a 2009 Grady-White Tournament 225 and unfortunately the aft backrest bolster went overboard after it was reupholstered and reinstalled by the upholstery shop without the retaining screws. The original assembly is no longer available from Grady-White, so I’m trying to have it recreated.

What I’m missing is the rigid internal backer that the upholstery is built around and, particularly, the location of the mounting hardware that engages the existing clips on the boat. (Picture of the bolster installed, and missing attached below).

If anyone has a 2009 Tournament 225 with the original aft backrest, would you be willing to remove the bolster from the boat and take a few measurements and photos? I’m primarily looking for:

• Overall width and height of the bolster/backer
• Shape/profile, particularly the corners and any curves
• Thickness of the assembly
• Photos of the backside
• Location and spacing of the mounting brackets on the backside, measured from the edges of the bolster
• If practical, a tracing of the overall shape/profile of the back of the bolster

There is no need to take the bolster itself apart. I’m hoping the dimensions, photos and mounting locations visible from the outside and backside will give an upholstery/fabrication shop enough information to recreate the internal backer. I can then have a bolster rebuilt.

I’d be happy to compensate someone for their time and trouble.

Also, if anyone knows of a source for a replacement aft bolster, even a used one from a parts or salvage boat, I would greatly appreciate the lead. I reached out to Grady-White parts and my local dealer but they haven't been able to help.

Thanks very much for any help.

 

[DennisG01]

Actually, you can do an easy thing to figure this out. The overall dimensions are easy because you know the space it needs to fit inside. Get a piece of 1/2" foam board insulation from Lowes or HD - it's cheap and very easy to work with. Use that to make your template of the board. Then, either smoosh it onto the clips to make an indent or put some lipstick on the clip... which will transfer your mark to the foamboard. Cut the hole and see how it fits. If needed, make another template if it's not quite right. You could also take a small piece of foamboard (the same height that you want, but only about 6" wide) and use that figure out the hole for the clip - it's much easier to re-do a small piece than the big piece. Once your small piece is good, transfer it to the big piece.

With your final template, be sure to leave a little room for padding/vinyl on the edges.

The reason I mention this is that this is something you want to do yourself to be sure. Nothing against anyone on this forum - but what if they're wrong?

 

[Irishroads]

Actually, you can do an easy thing to figure this out. The overall dimensions are easy because you know the space it needs to fit inside. Get a piece of 1/2" foam board insulation from Lowes or HD - it's cheap and very easy to work with. Use that to make your template of the board. Then, either smoosh it onto the clips to make an indent or put some lipstick on the clip... which will transfer your mark to the foamboard. Cut the hole and see how it fits. If needed, make another template if it's not quite right. You could also take a small piece of foamboard (the same height that you want, but only about 6" wide) and use that figure out the hole for the clip - it's much easier to re-do a small piece than the big piece. Once your small piece is good, transfer it to the big piece.

With your final template, be sure to leave a little room for padding/vinyl on the edges.

The reason I mention this is that this is something you want to do yourself to be sure. Nothing against anyone on this forum - but what if they're wrong?

Thank you. That's an excellent suggestion.