Frequently Asked Questions

GCO Concepts is a new company that we started to provide the boating industry with custom upgrades to their boat to give it a newer feel and exciting updates.  We currently offer sun pad recliner mechanisms and sun shades for the cockpit area.  We are located in Missouri and boat on Lake of the Ozarks.  I am an Engineer by trade and work full time, making the recliner mechanisms on the side.  The original design was tested and still utilized on our personal boat.  We had so many fellow boaters inquire about the recliners and where we got them that we decided to offer them to the lake boaters.  The response has gone nation wide, thus the creation of GCO Concepts.  

The recliner mechanism are water-jet cut to exact dimensions, so if any part needs to be replaced under the Lifetime Warranty, the parts are all interchangeable.  The primary structure of the recliner is made from HDPE (high density polyethylene)  which is UV resistant, excellent impact resistance, high tensile strength, low moisture absorption and chemical and corrosion resistance.  All of the hinges are high quality marine grade 316 stainless steel.  The screws are also 316 stainless steel.  The assemblies come with an installation kit that includes the stainless mounting screws, Life Calk sealant, the proper drill bit and instructions.  Note: the drill bit is included to verify that the screw hole is not too large to prevent stripping and too small to crack the fiberglass. The recliners are all hand assembled and thoroughly inspected before packaged.  All of the components have a lifetime warranty.  Just contact us should any component fail and we will ship out a replacement part.  We do ask to get the damaged part in return to determine the cause of the failure.

The recliner mechanism comes with an installation kit that includes the stainless mounting screws, Life Calk sealant, the proper drill bit and instructions.  They are very easy to install with a cordless drill, philips screwdriver, a tape measure and a sharpie marker.   We are always available to help with any questions during installation.  

The recliners are permanently mounted to the deck to prevent a hazard during cruising.  They also are fixed to eliminate finding a storage area to keep them.  Storage is a premium on boats.

The screw holes are drilled with the supplied 1/8" drill bit and then filled with supplied Life Calk sealant that will seal any weather or water intrusion from getting into the deck structure.  

Yes, we custom make sun shades for certain boats at Lake of the Ozarks only.  We are only making them local due to the process of measuring each boat for the proper fit.  We currently have patterns for the Sea Ray 460 DA, the 420/440 DA, and the Sea Ray 380 DA.  As we fabricate different boats we will be able to provide the sun shades to remote areas.  The signature look of the sun shades is the custom designed rear pole assembly.  The 6061 aluminum poles are made in (4)-four pieces that snap together for ease of storing and assembly.  The entire process of putting the GCO Concepts sun shade up takes only 3-5 minutes with one person.  The sun shade top zips into the factory / existing hardtop or soft top bimini zipper.  The shade Has a factory look and provides a nice escape from the hot sun.

No, GCO Concepts does NOT provide the cushions at this time.  With all of the unique shapes and sizes of cushions, it is very difficult to obtain a pattern out of state.  The recliner mechanisms will work with your factory bow cushions with minor modifications.  See the FAQ on 'how to modify your cushions'.  if you need new cushions, check with your local upholstery shop and they can assist you with new pads.  If making new pads, we suggest having a seam sewn across the pad at the base of the recliner.  This will allow the pad to fold and lift upward with the recliner.  

The GCO Concepts recliners will work with your factory bow cushions with a slight modification.  Most of the cushions are attached to the deck with a cord strip that slides in a track or a set of snaps.  If you have the cord track assembly,  slide the cushion out of the track and set back in the proper location.  Draw an imaginary line across the bottom edge of the recliner to the side edge of the cushions.  Take a wire cutter and snip just the cord attachment at the mark, on both sides.  Then slide the cushion back into the track, only inserting the lower cord section into the track.  The upper cord section from the cut to the top of the pad will remain outside the track.  This will allow the pad to fold upwards with the recliner mechanism.   If you have snaps to hold the cushion in place, simply just undo the snap from the bottom edge of the recliner to the top.  You can then snap them back down when the recliner is folded flat.  If your cushions have thick or stiff foam, you can unzip the cover on the pad and mark a line across the foam at the base of the recliner.  Then take a razor knife and cut the foam at the marked line ONLY 3/4 of the way through the foam.  Do not cut all the way through the foam.  This will give the pad a designated folding seam and not bunch up so much when folded up.  If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.  636-584-5230