1995 Cobalt 252 consolidated revitalization and fix-up thread

[nolaboater99]

It's really hard to find someone to do work like that that can see it exactly as you picture it in your mind. I've been pretty lucky with mine so far. I found a woman/seamstress that is making my new seat skins that has a shop 5 minutes from my house. Fortunately she is as anal as I am. I've changed or added to, the design of the seats 3 times and she has suggested a couple of changes herself. The other thing that is good is she did one panel that wasn't quite right and I asked her to fix it. No complaining or pushback....she just agreed and said she wanted it right by me.

I got lucky....
Shawn

[thunder550]

Thanks all. I've slept a couple times and feeling a lot better about it now. I was caught up in expectations, not considering the reality that nobody but the factory is going to make it exactly like the factory, and it's a 23 year old boat, never going to be perfect. It's better than it was and looks pretty good, no more embarrassing ripped up vinyl

BBP, yes they did both bottom cushions, and the front lip of the seat bottom as well.

Shawn, sounds like you found a winner!

[thunder550]

Added a couple extra power ports, the USB one also has a voltmeter. Will be handy for keeping track of battery state while floating and listening to music.

IMG_20180524_082148.jpg

[thunder550]

Looks like the camera is catching flickering LED segments. It looks good in person also shows through with the cover on.

IMG_20180524_082128.jpg

IMG_20180524_082122.jpg

[nolaboater99]

Looks like the camera is catching flickering LED segments. It looks good in person also shows through with the cover on.

IMG_20180524_082128.jpg

IMG_20180524_082122.jpg

I installed the same stereo on my boat....

[thunder550]

It's a nice stereo. Love it so far. Does really well now that it has a dedicated power and ground run. I'm loving the voltmeter underneath too, nice to keep an eye on battery voltage to know if I need to start the engine or whatever. Haven't seen much of a drop yet, even after listening for an hour or so. Of course we don't have it up all that loud either.

So when I first installed the bimini top, I cut the rear support poles too short. I had them positioned so that the top would lean forward as far as possible, but it was still leaning back enough to blow up like a parachute when under way. Ordered a new support pole kit and recut the poles to be about 5" longer. This feels a lot more level, hopefully will cut down on the parachute effect. Left plenty of room for adjustment too.

As a side bonus, I took the old support poles, bent them slightly and attached to the factory convertible top brackets on the windshield. This cuts the lateral sway motion down significantly. Bimini was all over the place before when folded back. Now it's pretty solid.

IMG_20180602_123718.jpg

IMG_20180602_123656.jpg

[AsLan7]

That's some fantastic work T550...both on the stereo and the bimini. You are gifted my friend. Wish you were my neighbor.

[Big Block Power]

Looks great but i would af some crossing ones in the rear too stop some of the side to side movement. I'm not sure you have enough poles yet

[Ytmsn]

I agree BB.

Screenshot_20180602-202752_Gallery.jpg

[Big Block Power]

[Driller]

Looks great but i would af some crossing ones in the rear too stop some of the side to side movement. I'm not sure you have enough poles yet

Mine which is factory does have some across the back like gussets in the corners.

[thunder550]

You guys omg

[thunder550]

Update on vinyl... Keeps looking worse. Yay. The piping is all wavy now. Someone also poked a hole in it today, no idea who or when this happened. Ugh.

IMG_20180603_131351.jpg

IMG_20180603_191328.jpg

[ajcampen]

Sorry to hear that. I would be very frustrated

[nolaboater99]

Interesting.... I can show it to my seamstress and ask her if she knows what causes it.
Shawn