Bench Seat Repair - How much should this cost me?

[Jeff_C]

I've got a 1993 20' Stingray cuddy. It has a full sundeck across the back with a full width bench seat in front of it. The backrest for the bench seat is attached to the sundeck and lifts up with is as part of the engine cover. When the engine cover is closed the bottom of the beckrest bears on the stringer that makes up the rear of the bench seat box. The seat of the bench seat itself is a lid for access to storage inside.

My problem is that the stringer and wood box that makes up the bench seat has rotted and appears to have detached somewhat from the hull (or whatever else its supposed to attach to.) The entire bench seat box is able to slide forward and back a few inches.

I'd like to have the entire bench seat box rebuilt. The lid and bench seat are fine, however, and I don't need any upholstery redone. I'm not very good with tools, so I'd prefer not to tackle the project myself. All together I think it will involve replacing one stringer that makes up the rear of the box, and then reframing the front of the box off of that stringer. What sort of ballpark figure do you think I'll be looking at to have someone do the rebuilding for me? In my mind I'd like to think I could get it done for $500 or so, but I have no idea if that's a realistic number. Any opinions?

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Bench Seat Repair - How much should this cost me?

Do you have pictures of the area you want rebuilt?
These guys will want pics.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Bench Seat Repair - How much should this cost me?

I have an upholstery shop and I'm familiar with the seat base you're referring to. If the seat, foam, and material are all still in good condition, I'm correct in assuming all you need done it to rebuilt the base, seal it, carpet it, and reattach it to the floor and the gunwales?

If so, assuming, 6-7' wide, 18" deep, front & rear stringer, and 2 sides. Corner brackets, sealer, and carpet, (installed) I would charge in the $300 range.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Bench Seat Repair - How much should this cost me?

The OP states the box is pretty much junk and needs to be rebuilt. Not being able to see how extensive it is or if the OP is capable of building the box and reattaching it to the hull is the question. Fireman's # for the upholstry is pretty much spot on excluding the box and foam. if the OP can't do the box and refurbish the attachments himself, that could easily be another 3-400 alone.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Bench Seat Repair - How much should this cost me?

The OP states the box is pretty much junk and needs to be rebuilt. Not being able to see how extensive it is or if the OP is capable of building the box and reattaching it to the hull is the question. Fireman's # for the upholstry is pretty much spot on excluding the box and foam. if the OP can't do the box and refurbish the attachments himself, that could easily be another 3-400 alone.

He indicated in his original post that the lid and seat were fine and he needed no upholstery done, so I'm assuming that the seat base is just rotted away. It's typical for a boat that age. I've done many of them in the past. 2x6 or 2x8, cut to fit, bracketed, sealed with bilge paint, and carpeted to match and completed with SS hardware. 1.5 days and it's ready to go.

 

[Jeff_C]

Re: Bench Seat Repair - How much should this cost me?

Ok, that's for the input guys. I'm now a lot more comfortable about taking the boat out of the water and taking it to a shop to get fixed rather than just trying to make due with the seat in the condition its in.