Folding Boat Seat

I bought a fishing boat 16 foot that has metal bench seats in it and want to change to fold up seats with taking out any of the bench seats

1/2" to 3/4" thickness should be suitable. Seal it with a nautical-quality varnish / sealer too.
Keep an eye on the wood over time though... being exposed to the water will break it down over time.

2006-09-07 11:06:01 by blm147

Seat tracks designed for bass hunter boats + many other small boats.

The boat came with the old lounge style seats remove, new carpet was installed and it seems like it might be missing the hareware to attach the old seats. Really not sure how to install them.

Very few things regarding repairing or installing on boats goes very easily or quickly, especially if you expect it to last for more than a couple of years.

If you ever plan to either install, or reinstall any screws into a boat floor for whatever reason, you must properly fill the screw holes with silicone or a marine grade hull sealant before permenantly securing screws to the floor.

If you intend on permenantly removing any screws out of a fiberglass boat hull, make sure you have a tube of epoxy resin nearby to fill the screw hole immediately.

Failure to properly seal screw holes will result in boat floor absorbing water which can lead to fiberglass boat floor rot, which is expensive to have replaced.

Please update your question to be a little more specific so I can give more helpful details on this.


Update:

(Might be a bit long, but its got the nitty gritty details).

Hmm, it depends on the condition of the seats on whether you should attempt to secure them to the boat floor or chunk them.

Are they still in good enough condition to save, or need replacement?

If they have lots of upholstery tears, exposed foat cushioning, or the frame is rotting or the hinges are about shot, then its time for new boat seats.

From experience in replacing and installing new boat seats, you are far better off buying new than trying to get them fixed if they are in bad condition.

Regarding the specifics, most of the time the boat manufacturers are lazy. When they install them, they just find a seat frame support that is reachable on the bottom and stick a long screw in it.

Then when the seats are in position, they move the screw in farther past the frame support and screw it directly into the boat floor. Its a quick and dirty way to secure boat seats to the floor, but can also cause problems in the future if you have to remove them.

For my boat seats, I took a 4 foot long aluminum L piece about 1 inch high and cut it into 1 1/2 inch long L brackets. Each plastic support would be given 4 brackets, 2 brackets on each side for the left of the plastic support, 2 brackets on the right of the plastic support.

This is so I can BOLT the seats onto the brackets and not have to remove screws out of the boat floor should the need occur to remove them. If you can't find the screw hole you left open when you're pulling screws out of the boat floor, you're (no pun intended) screwed.

The first L bracket was precisely marked on how high the bolt hole needed to be for the bracket to butt up against the plastic support. This was done by taking the support and the bracket and putting them on a level surface, then marking the height the hole needed to be for it to allow a bolt and nut to work.

Once I made the first one correctly, it was just mass producing them for both jump seats. Then the plastic supports had to be drilled in the same locations as well for all.

I had two plastic floor mount supports per lounge seat that are used to secure the seats to the boat floor. I did NOT directly screw them to the floor, I bolted them onto the brackets I made, then screwed the brackets in.

Also, as mentioned before, EVERY time I put a screw in the boat floor, I backed it out, filled the hole with silicone, then reinstalled it. This is absolutely essential you do this.

If you need more specific help regarding the details on this, send me an E-mail and I'll be glad to help.

2009-07-20 18:27:13 by Shannon S

100% plastic frame with aluminum hinges
Measures 19"H x 16"W x 14"D
Hinges and hardware are constructed from corrosion-resistant aluminum

Im trying to get hold of a couple of folding seats for my boats and there is a particular one i am after but i am having trouble getting hold of one. It is a single folding chair by plastimo. If anybody knows any sites or shops that stock these type of seat of any other good site that does boat seats in general id be very gratefull. Thank U

http://www.chandleryworld.co.uk/acatalog /WiseHelmsmanSeatsPedestals.html

2007-11-18 14:29:23 by richard b

Price: $102.10 $79.74

Tracker Style High back provides extra back and shoulder support for all day fishing
6 year frame warranty, 3 years on upholstery
Mounting Hardware Included mounts on an BIA Pedestal System 6 Year frame warranty, 3 years on upholstery

the ones with springs that automatically fold up. help please.

If the cost doesn't matter, check at West Marine - you will find West Marine on line also. Are there any second hand marine stores in your area? Or boatyards? Often you can get good leads there. Best of luck with finding them.

2008-02-03 09:26:08 by spoilfish

I have about a 30 year old boat with a 15 year old 70HP motor...it is fairly small that seats 4 comfortably(It says it seats 8 though cause the seats fold down. I use it on my lake. It is not a bowrider. I need to know because I want to know if my son(130 pounds) Could barefoot water ski behind it. It does not have a speedometer. PLEASE HELP.

I have a fairly cheap handheld GPS that will tell u speed. Find one and take it for a ride. You might need to reprop your boat down one or two pitches for the hole shot you would need.

2007-07-24 14:45:32 by nickels_2121