How to attach Bench Seat...?

[Cougar_15]

It looks like I painted myself into a corner and I'm hoping that someone out there can help me come up with a solution to my latest stumbling block. I wanted to change the seating layout in my boat so I built a bench seat to go in front of the splash well (I will be building a back rest but haven't got there yet).

The challenge I am now faced with is how to attach it to the hull. The kicker is that it needs to be able to be easily moved/detached so that there is access the area under the splash well (battery, bilge and gas tank). I have only come up with 2 ideas and I'm not sure that either one is the best answer.

My first idea was to mount the bench on top of heavy duty drawer/shelf slides such that the whole bench would pull out. My concern is that since that area will definitely get wet I don't know how well they would hold up (even if I use stainless).

My only other idea is to attach it using hinges on the bottom of the front panel such that the bench would tilt in toward the center of the boat. This is not my first choice but I know it would work...

Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

Install some ice chest/cooler tie downs, one at each corner.

 

[djt283]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

Why not make the bench permanent and have the top fold up? Since it looks like you've already built it, I would use two pieces of square aluminum tubing and bolt them to the floor (one along the front, one along the rear). Then you can use some type of latch to connect the bench to them for easy removal.

 

[Cougar_15]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

The top does open for storage inside the bench and the back of the bench is open so I can reach through to open the vent on the gas tank (portable tank) but there is not enough access through the back of the bench to fill the gas tank.

The problem with using square tubing and latches is that when I need to move the bench I would have to lift it over the tubing before I could slide it forward.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

I dont like screwing anything through a floor because you compromise the water tight seal of the fiberglass. If it was me. I would put down two pieces of painted and sealed 2x4s and 5200 them to your floor and then you can latch or screw to them. When the seat is removed you will have two small lengths of 2x4 sealed to the floor and that would give you acess to your blige and tanks. 5200 is strong stuff it will hold that seat in place without putting any holes in the floor.

my 2 cents

 

[Cougar_15]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

I like the idea of no screws holes! The deck is painted with a polyurethane paint, would the bond between the 5200 and the paint be strong enough or would I need to sand it back to the fiberglass first?

 

[drewpster]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

I agree with Damifudo with a couple of exceptions.
I would use hardwood, not pine and I would use epoxy, not 5200.
It would also be better to have a permanent tank under there with thru-hull fill fitting. Then you will reduce the need to move it so much.

BTW- don?t bond anything on top of paint, sand to good glass and bond to that. I would also glass the blocks to the deck, or at least coat them heavily with epoxy and re-paint over them. Don?t forget to seal your screw holes for the fasteners that hold the seat to the block as well.

enjoy
drewp

 

[BF]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

the rear cushions in my SeaRay I/O are secured with little tabs (about 6" long) of 3/4" nylon webbing which are attached to the underside of the cushion. They have a dome near the end of them and snap onto snaps that are screwed into the seat base... I like that by unsnapping a couple domes the whole cushion can be moved away, instead of having a hinge or something keeping the cushion in the way. I'd think a similar thing would work well for you. Use only stainless domes etc if you go that way. This is assuming that the seat is sitting on some structure giving it all the support it needs, and you're just looking for a way to keep it in place and from not blowing/rattling away etc.

good luck.

 

[Lou C]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

I had the same issue when I re-did the interior in my 88 Four Winns...I wanted the seats to be removable since to do any work on the engine its much easier with them moved foward...the way I did it was to use threaded anchors in the deck and then I have machine screws that screw into the anchor...so the anchors (shaped like a barrell) have a wood screw thread on the outside and a machine screw thread on the inside. I drilled holes in the deck to install them and sealed the holes with 3m 4200...and the seat frames have holes drilled in the bottom of them and the machine screw has a rubber seal and washer so water does not get in the threads of the anchor...works well and keeps from damaging the deck by having to remove the seats each year when I winterize it...

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

I would be more concerned with the speakers resting on the grilles if you tilted it forward(and the fact they will take on water back there) You could use the split hinges so as you tilt forward to fill with gas etc. but if removal is needed you can un clasp the hinges and slide forward. I boats sells them in chrome, maybe you could beef up a small section inside and attach a cable so it would only tilt forward so much. like a snowmobile hood.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: How to attach Bench Seat...?

Velcro strips stapled to the edges of your seat and epoxyed to the floor