1965 MFG Niagara seat fasteners

[dcarmack]

I am rebuilding my classic boat and have a question for those more experienced. I had to remove one of the seats to get the vinyl repaired and ran across a problem with the fasteners that attach the front seat mounts to the deck.

The deck on my boat is fiberglass instead of wood, and the front seat fasteners are an assembly consisting of a bolt that tightens a brass bushing that is enclosed in a rubber grommet. The assembly is slipped into a hole in the deck and cinched up to tighten the seat mount to the deck. Both of mine were ripped and the hardware irreparably corroded. I have included pictures of the parts and the assembly.

Does anyone know what this assembly is actually called, so that I can search for replacement parts on the internet? If not, what would be the best way to recreate this functionality with home made stuff? I was thinking maybe heat shrink and a rubber washer rubber cemented to the top. Any better ideas our there?

 

[reelfishin]

Re: 1965 MFG Niagara seat fasteners

The original bolts in those boats were called Well Nuts. They are in effect a reusable threaded form of a rivet. When you tighten up on the bolt, the threaded portion forces the rubber center to compress and expand which in turn makes a water tight seal.
They may be available through places line McMaster-Carr or Fastenal, or possibly some marine suppliers.
It is important in those boats to ensure a water proof seal at all deck holes to preserve the air tight integrity of the lower hull compartment which acts as flotation in those boats.

I've gotten buy by using rubber grommets and J bolts when using aftermarket seats, but if you still have the OEM seats with the metal frames, you better off using the correct well nuts.

 

[dcarmack]

Re: 1965 MFG Niagara seat fasteners

THAT WAS EXACTLY THE INFO I NEEDED!

Within a few seconds of seeing what these things were called I had ordered enough of them to replace all of them on my boat. The internet is a wonderful thing.