Replacement Boat Seats

[Gitzit1179]

Hello All,

The information available in this forum is fantastic...thanks so much to all who have posted. It has given me the confidence to finally start my winter project: to refurbish my rig with new carpets, dash and bow panels and (of course) new seats.

I've noticed that most of you seem very happy with the plush seats from the boat seat store. My intention is to buy those but I was wondering if it is possible to rig those seats up so that the back part is fixed and the seat part can hinge forward. The reason is that I would like to have a storage compartment underneath the seat.

Anyone have any experience with this? A tutorial on the procedure would be a great help.

Thanks

[old373guy]

Yes, they can be installed that way, call the boat seat store they can send the hardware you need with your order. Great people to do business with.

[Gitzit1179]

Thanks for the reply. So I called them and asked about the hardware needed per your suggestion and I was told that those seats will not work in the manner suggested. I find that hard to believe. Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Thanks

[JoePA]

Let me go look at mine. I think you can unbolt the bottom fromt he back but you may have to cut the two bars that run up to the back section. It is possible but may take some work.

[ZaraSpooked]

Tell me if this is what you're talking about, if so I can provide detailed photos etc. My seat backs are stationary, and the bases are hinged. These are the standard seats.

[Gitzit1179]

Yes, this is EXACTLY what I am hoping to accomplish and those are the seats that I will purchase from the boat seat store.

Is it a simple modification? Did you have to buy any special hardware?

Thanks a bunch!

[ZaraSpooked]

You might be able to accomplish the same thing in a couple of ways. What I did was to seperate the seat bottoms from the tops (four screws), then i used the aluminum angle that was remaining on the seat-back to attached the seat-backs to the boat (had to drill four holes n aluminum). I then used the provided hings to hinge the seat bottom so they would pitch forward.

If you wanted to leave more of the area under the seat accesible for storage, I would attach the seat backs directly to the are behind the seat instead of underneath like I did. believe this could be easily accomplished by cutting the seat back aluminum brackets off before the bend, and using the remaining aluminum stub to attach the seat backs.

The Boat seat store seats are pretty good, I do have a seam seperating, i'm checking now to see if there is a warranty, as they've only been on my boat for a year.


Modified by ZaraSpooked at 10:17 PM 12/1/2009

[Gitzit1179]

Spooked,

Thanks for the explanation and ideas. Your method sounds perfectly plausible. I will give it a try after I finish my recarpeting job.

[stratosjoe]

ZARA are those seat belts under the shotgun seat?

[ZaraSpooked]

Yeah, its a modified weightbelt (SCUBA) for my part time fishing buddy. She's a little lightweight, don't want her to blow away. Plus, she is more comfortable running, and I know where she is when i'm docking or otherwise busy keeping my eyes on other things so I know she won't be momemtarily distracted and hops up.









Modified by ZaraSpooked at 10:28 PM 12/2/2009

[Jack Yates]

I purchased the same seats pictured above three months ago(Same color) for my Skeeter from the boat seat store and could not be happier. The quality of work and their service were top notch.

There is a video on their website showing how they should be installed. It was a piece of cake for my installation. Took about an hour.

[Skeeter Boy 181]

Cutie! <TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ZaraSpooked &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, its a modified weightbelt (SCUBA) for my part time fishing buddy. She's a little lightweight, don't want her to blow away. Plus, she is more comfortable running, and I know where she is when i'm docking or otherwise busy keeping my eyes on other things so I know she won't be momemtarily distracted and hops up.









Modified by ZaraSpooked at 10:28 PM 12/2/2009</TD></TR></TABLE>

[Gitzit1179]

So in the end and after much research, I purchased the seats from Great Lakes Skipper. The were the same seats as available from Boat Seat Store (Wise) except that they are overstock made for a boat manufacturer. And the manufacturer just happened to be the same as my boat. So I got the correct colors and even an the correct embroidered emblem on the seat backrest.

But they did not come with the aluminum brackets. Its actually OK because from the beginning I've wanted to hinge them as you have in your rig. So I am left to ask you; what is the size (length and width etc) of the hinge used for the seat part? Secondly, about how high did you mount the back rest in relationship to the seat?

I would post a picture of the seats but can't figure out how to do it.

Thanks

[stratosjoe]

Now I know about the seatbelts! I would not want that sweetie blowing away either