Attaching seats to floor

[Matrex]

Just finished cutting and dry fitting my floor. Last thing I want to do is drive screws into it - they caused many of this boats problems. But... I need to attach the front seats somehow. Any recommendations. These are essentially a box with a stringer across the front and back. They were simply screwed into the floor - of course the floor rotted around the screw. There has to be a better way!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Attaching seats to floor

Please resize your photo to 640 x 480 which is the best size for the forum.

Nope.... screws through the seat braces is the common way. You could build up frames and screw horizontally or just go through the braces.

Here is the key. Make sure you have a drainange hole so water does not get trapped under the seats. Use stainless steel screws and use 3m 4200 or 3m 5200 and seal them completely. You can even install a bead of 3m 4200 under the cross brace before you zip them down. The secret is in the sealing and allowing for stray water to escape.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Attaching seats to floor

Let 2 x 6 epoxy coated blocks from your hull across the stringers. Lay your floor over the top and use epoxy paste to bond them to the underside of the floor. Pre-drill the holes thru the floor into the blocks (I used 1/4" stainless lag bolts) and control the depth of your drill so you do not go thru the blocks.

On mine, I flooded the pre-drilled holes with CPES. I kept pouring it in till it would drink no more, then I squeezed in 3M 4200 before I ran the screws in for the final fastening.

I also ran the screws in (to cut some threads) before I administered the penetrating epoxy.

My seats will never come loose and they will never let any water below decks. It blew my mind when I discovered that the factory attached those big seat assemblies, thru 1/2" plywood, with #10 screws.