Rotted out boat seat

[tfbrown1270]

Hi.....I know this is a tough one cause I'm in Canada but I need to replace or repair my seat...actually the boats seat...I have a 1989 Princecraft 16.5 ft aluminum runabout..it has fold down sleeper seats...you know the ones where the pilot and the passenger behind him/her sit back to back...and they fold down into a slleeper (too short though)...anyway seems mine was framed in wood that got wet and rotted out...I would like alternatives to buying new since they seem to cost about $300 a side....I only really need one though...can they be repaired...Is there a website that gives hints on hiow to do this?...any ideas.....<br />Thanks <br />Tim

 

[gspig]

Re: Rotted out boat seat

If your vinyl is still good, you should only need to cut a new board for the seat and back. The vinyl is stapled to the wooden frame. pull the staples and assuming that all of the rest of the seat is good, cut new board and staple back.

 

[rnsi]

Re: Rotted out boat seat

I did exactly that. Doesn't take too long. And if you use one of the "fake" woods like starboard, you'll never have to do it again.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Rotted out boat seat

If you are careful in pulling out the staples so as not to tear the vinyl you can replace any or all of the wood. Use some kind of rust proof staples when reattaching the vinyl. I have done that several times years back.

 

[Catchem]

Re: Rotted out boat seat

Kenora,Just did the exact same seats in my boat and all the trimming to boot.Used stainless steel staples and wolmanized plywood.Just make sure you round the edges off so as not to cut the vinyl.

 

[tfbrown1270]

Re: Rotted out boat seat

Thanks...I'll be working on it tomorrow

 

[tfbrown1270]

Re: Rotted out boat seat

Well after checking out the cost of rebuilding the existing seats or replacing them with similar seats I decided on neither.......Instead I went to the local Walmart and bought 4 fold out sport seats without armrests ($4.00/ea), they have a convieniant hole in the front two pads to screw into the wooden decking and I will rig something to secure the back pads...total cost $16.00 + tax....got the idea last weekend when the old seat collapsed completely on a fishing trip and my buds just spread out their fold out chairs and relaxed...I could see the arm rests were a problem (in the way) and they needed to be secured to the floor but other than those minor items the new seats are better than the old.

 

[rnsi]

Re: Rotted out boat seat

Are you sitting in these seats while underway?<br />That doesn't sound safe...

 

[tfbrown1270]

Re: Rotted out boat seat

Hi.....rnsi....you bet 'm sitting in them...Are they safe!?.....time will tell.... what I can tell you though is they are WAY more secure than the old rotted out seat. And thats just resting on the floor and I expect them to be more so when firmly attached.....fwiw I'm on a small lake just north of Kenora Ontario...about 4 miles long and 1/2 mile wide......never seen a white cap on it yet and I stay off the water when its miserable...I know the concern about them collapsing (perhaps) but I gotta say having sat on many over the years I have never seen one fail yet (I'm 6'1 200 lbs)...and thats abusing them on uneven camping surfaces (rocks, dirt, gravel etc)....these are on a flat floor and will have each corner firmly anchored to that floor.....they remind me alot of the old aluminum framed seats in light aircraft or ultralights (only at $4).......I'll post here if I have a problem....

 

[rnsi]

Re: Rotted out boat seat

Well, good luck then. I'd say a lanyard safty kill switch would be even more important in this case...<br /><br />Got a photo of your new setup?