How to: Replacing the Seat Back Padding on Delta Kayaks Contour Seats

Patrick
Mar 28
3 min read

Delta Contour Backrest Pad in need of replacement — Delta Contour Seat Back Pad in need of Replacement

If your Delta Kayaks backrest pad is getting a little worn out it might be time to replace it. This is a step by step guide to replacing the backrest padding on a Delta Kayak with their contour seat system.

Useful Tools

wire cutters, needle nose pliers, and a long flat head screwdriver on a table

Wire cutters, scissors will also work
Needle nose pliers for untying knots
Flat head screwdriver

Part 1--Remove the backrest from the kayak

Detail photo showing the tied end of delta seat back adjustment line in the cockpit of a delta kayak

Start by untying the seat adjustment line on the side of the kayak without the adjustment cleat as shown in the photo. The line is hidden in the combing of the kayak and might be tricky to find at first. Needle nose pliers may be necessary to get the knot out.

Detail photo of the seat back adjustment line removed from the backrest of a delta kayak

Pull the line so it no longer goes through the tube in the backrest as shown in the picture above. Do not pull the line all the way out of the kayak.

detail photo of the backrest removed from a delta contour seat in the kayak cockpit

Remove the backrest from the seat pillar. The backrest should now be completely separate from the rest of the seat.

Part 2--Remove the old padding

Back view of the backrest of a Delta contour seat face down on a table. — Contour Backrest out of the kayak ready for the old padding to be removed

In order to get the padding off we need to remove the pine tree rivet(s) holding the pad on and partially remove the seat line adjustment tube.

showing where to cut the zip tie on the seat back adjustment tube

Start by snipping one of the zip ties holding the adjustment tube to the seat back.

showing where and how to remove the back of the pine tree rivets on the seat back

Still working on the back of the backrest, pull the material out of the way to expose the back of the pine tree rivet. Snip off as much of the rivet as you can.

Delta has switched from one rivet to two over the years. Be sure to snip the backs off all of the pine tree rivets.

starting to remove the seat line adjustment tube from the backrest

Next carefully start removing the seat line adjustment tube from the backrest, working towards the side with the zip tie still attached. In the photo you can see the tube has been pulled through the very edge of the backrest.

Try your best not to kink the seat line adjustment tube.

showing how far to remove the seat line adjustment tube

Working carefully, pull the tube out of the backrest until it is free on one side as shown in the photo.

detail photo of how the seat adjustment tube should still be attached to the backrest after removing all necessary parts

Once one side of the tube is removed, flip the backrest around and remove the tube from the very edge of the seat back on the side with the zip tie still attached.

The seat adjustment tube should now only go through the backrest next to the zip tie as shown in the photo.

The seat line adjustment tube can be completely removed from the backrest, but does not have to be. If you do take it all the way out just be sure to be careful not to kink or squish the tube when re-fitting it.

The pad is finally ready to be removed!

Part 3--Putting the new pad on

Before feeding the pad onto the backrest make sure to check that the holes for the pine tree rivets are going to line up with the holes in the back rest.

Pull the pad over the backrest, on the ends you will have to stretch it a bit to get it to fit.

Put new pine tree rivet(s) in from the front side. Using the handle of a screw driver to push them all the way into the backrest is easier on your fingers.

backrest with pad completely installed and seat line adjustment tube re-fitted

Now it's time to feed the seat line tube back through the backrest. Again, be careful not to kink the seat line tube if possible.

detail showing where to replace zip tie on seat line adjustment tube

With the tube re-fitted in the backrest, place a zip tie around the tube as shown in the photo and trim off excess.

Part 4--Put the backrest in the kayak

backrest back in the kayak detail photo of where to feed seat adjustment line on backrest

With the new pad on the backrest it's time to put it back into the kayak.

Put the backrest onto the seat pillar--pulling the seat line tube out from the backrest can make this a little easier.

Start re-threading the seat line back through the tube.

detail showing where to feed the seat adjustment line in the cockpit combing

Thread the seat adjustment line through the backrest, and then into the tube in the cockpit combing.

showing where the seat adjustment line exits the combing into the cockpit and where the knot should be tied

Feed the seat line through the tube until it pokes back out of the bottom of the combing.

Re-tie the overhand knot in the end of the line and tuck it back up into the combing.

If you are having trouble finding the line in the combing, pull the line back out of the tube, then put something like a flat head screw driver in the combing and feed the line back into the tube. The line should hit the screwdriver and deflect down towards the seat so you can grab it.

And with that, you're done. Be sure to re-adjust the seat back position so it's comfortable before getting out on the water and enjoying your new backrest pad!