Seating options for mercury RIB

[trekker9]

Hello all. After much thought, I purchased a Mercury Ocean Runner 430. So far sitting in the garage, it looks pretty good. I've got everything I need except for seating. I want to mount seat pedastals in it, but am reluctant to drill thru the floor. Do You think this would be a problem? I have never done it before, and don't want to screw up my new boat. I have also considered buying some of the wide stance folding deck chairs for it, but not having any experience, I don't know if those would be comfy while drifting in rough water.

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Seating options for mercury RIB

If that's a double deck rib, it's same for installing center consoles and driver seat. Just use proper size screws and washers, you don't want to fall along with seat on choppy waters or at close turns. Apply silicon while screwing screws to hull, same on all uper head screw portions. Seats must sit firmly screwed to deck or....

Other nice option, buy 2 spare seat patches + extra wooden seat same as single delivered with rib to have 2 parallel seats side of each other.

Happy Boating

 

[trekker9]

Re: Seating options for mercury RIB

Thanks for all the advice You provide us Newbs Searider. Much appreciated.

Do You think I should put a Sub-floor in to anchor my seats to, or anchor them right to the fiberglass?

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Seating options for mercury RIB

Why pedestals? Ribs work far better with jockeys when it gets nice and rough.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Seating options for mercury RIB

Will your rib be used as a fishing platform if going with pedestals, just as a open deck with probably 2 wooden seats and tiller steering, jockey seats are cool, but will need control box, drive cables and wheel installation. Could place a thin compact piece of rubber between base and deck and screw through deck, use proper size stainless steel screws and washers + silicone.

Happy Boating

 

[trekker9]

Re: Seating options for mercury RIB

Yes, the boat will be used primarily as a fishing boat.

Thank for the advice.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Seating options for mercury RIB

Do you intend to tiller steer siting on a pedestal ? If they rotate 360?, probably could turn into a out of control driver ballance issue if at speed and hiting waves, other boaters water trails, etc.

Happy Boating

 

[trekker9]

Re: Seating options for mercury RIB

I still haven't made up my mind what i am going to do with this. I called Mercury today, and they said drill into the floor, just use screws shorter than 1.5 inches. I just dont see how that will hold.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Seating options for mercury RIB

If you plan to drill through the bow locker lid to mount a seat use screws with nuts on the other side. If you are drilling into the floor use fat screws with 5200 and goop the base to the deck as well. Screws will hold, however, you must always be aware of them and as they pull out over the years, reattach them.

 

[trekker9]

Re: Seating options for mercury RIB



So I decided to build custom boxes and mount the swivel seats on top of these. So far, I have just one coat of fiberglass on the boxes. I'm gonna sand, add another coat, sand and then paint. To mount to the floor, I'm gonna use some thickened resin to "glue" them, and then just use 4-6 screws per box.

The box in the pic is sitting top down. I haven't attached the lid yet, but am gonna mount it with hinges to open, and store the fuel tanks in there. The rear box will hold the battery.