Bow Sun Pad Adhesion No Rails

Dudeism

New Member
Nov 19, 2017
15
Toronto
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2000
Engines
454 Mag MPI Horizon MerCruiser
Hello...am trying to retrofit my 2000 340 Sea Ray Sundancer with a sun pad on the bow. The boat does not have bow rails and am wondering if it's a good idea to drill multiple holes for installing rivets to hold the sun pad down. Does anyone have alternate options to secure the sun pad to the top of the deck? How do they do it on some of the newer boats that seem to have no rails?

Please note that I've considered using temporary roll-away style sun pads and thats not an option, neither is using industrial strength Velcro.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.
 
Not sure I would use rivets... but possibly snaps (pull the dot, maybe) or Tenax fasteners? Neither would be comfortable to step on, but if you are leaving the pad on all the time it may be ok.
 
We can all agree we would rather not drill into the deck of a boat. Sometimes there is no option, and if done right, it's not a problem.
I secured my bow pads with Stainless steel snaps. Holes properly piloted and threads sealed with 3M 4200.
 

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We can all agree we would rather not drill into the deck of a boat. Sometimes there is no option, and if done right, it's not a problem.
I secured my bow pads with Stainless steel snaps. Holes properly piloted and threads sealed with 3M 4200.
There you go! Came out great!
 
Hello...am trying to retrofit my 2000 340 Sea Ray Sundancer with a sun pad on the bow. The boat does not have bow rails and am wondering if it's a good idea to drill multiple holes for installing rivets to hold the sun pad down. Does anyone have alternate options to secure the sun pad to the top of the deck? How do they do it on some of the newer boats that seem to have no rails?

Please note that I've considered using temporary roll-away style sun pads and thats not an option, neither is using industrial strength Velcro.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.
You definitely don't want rivets.

If you wanted to use SS, screw-in snaps, you could completely and permanently protect the deck core by overdrilling the hole then filling with epoxy, then come back pre-drill for the snap. Still use some sealant, but if if any water would get past the sealant it would stop at the epoxy.

Another option would be use self-stick/glue-down SNAD snaps.
 
My pad is a couple years old. The pad itself is three pcs forward to aft. They are velco'd together and standard snaps hold it in place. The first pad goes thru a channel like your canvas...the channel is fastened to the deck. The cover in the pic is snapped down using directional snaps or pull the dot. I have never had a problem with the cover

IMG_E7289.JPG
 
That looks great, any issues with the pad coming undone at cruise speeds?

My pad is a couple years old. The pad itself is three pcs forward to aft. They are velco'd together and standard snaps hold it in place. The first pad goes thru a channel like your canvas...the channel is fastened to the deck. The cover in the pic is snapped down using directional snaps or pull the dot. I have never had a problem with the cover

View attachment 81674
 
Great job, congratulations! Does it flap or come undone at cruising speeds?

We can all agree we would rather not drill into the deck of a boat. Sometimes there is no option, and if done right, it's not a problem.
I secured my bow pads with Stainless steel snaps. Holes properly piloted and threads sealed with 3M 4200.
 
My OEM sunpad is done like Blueones with snaps on the tabs. Mine is vinyl and one piece. The front that faces the wind at speed is a longer tab with more snaps than along the side. The pad does not flap in the wind, at least at the speeds my boat runs.
 
FYI, if you want to leave it there while underway, I wouldn't trust regular snaps or those SNAD's I mentioned. Use the pull-the-dot that the others mentioned.
 
0DFC8A14-8921-4F93-8DA2-669428570BB1.jpeg
Our pad is held on with the bungee fastners and the cover slides into a track in the front like Blueone and then just stretches over the backs no other fastners and it never moves the least amount of holes the better . You still need to drill holes but it’s very easy to install and remove if needed.
 
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These look like a great option, thank you.

View attachment 81688 Our pad is held on with the bungee fastners and the cover slides into a track in the front like Blueone and then just stretches over the backs no other fastners and it never moves the least amount of holes the better . You still need to drill holes but it’s very easy to install and remove if needed.
 
View attachment 81688 Our pad is held on with the bungee fastners and the cover slides into a track in the front like Blueone and then just stretches over the backs no other fastners and it never moves the least amount of holes the better . You still need to drill holes but it’s very easy to install and remove if needed.

This is exactly what mine has.
 

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