Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

[oregonboatnewb]

This 14ft glasspar boat has a 50hp on it, so i don't think putting 4 people will be a problem for just putting around... Question tho, what would be the best way to put seating for 4 in it ? I've only got 2 chairs mounted in it now, i was thinking put a bench in behind them, something that my brother (works well with the wood) Can fab, and can be put in/taken out if i'm going to have 4 people in it... that way if only 2 of us are going out, we have alittle room to "walk around"

anyway, would putting a bench in the back, neer the motor, prevent it from planing ? The motor also has a whale fin on it...

Here is insides..

Let me know what you guys would do (besides buy a bigger boat ) if you wanted to get you and 3 of your brothers out exploring on the water, and the following boat was what you have for now (next year i'll get a truck, and a 17ft open bow, but for now... this is it !)

 

[DJ]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

I would put the two seats on a box. That way you have some storage underneath it, especially for light items like PFD'S.

Also, you can move the box around (fore/aft) until you get the weight distribution correct.

You have to be careful on the distribution. Too much weight aft will cause the boat to porpoise (bow will bounce).

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

I would put the two seats on a box. That way you have some storage underneath it, especially for light items like PFD'S.

Also, you can move the box around (fore/aft) until you get the weight distribution correct.

You have to be careful on the distribution. Too much weight aft will cause the boat to porpoise (bow will bounce).

All the pdf's and such fit in the front, under the bow, its all open storage...

Can you buy boxes to just put the seats on, or do you know any links of ones to build ?

Any idea how to get the box to stay stationary so it doesn't jerk back on acel/decel if i ever had to swiftly.

What is fore/aft ?

 

[DJ]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

All the pdf's and such fit in the front, under the bow, its all open storage...

Can you buy boxes to just put the seats on, or do you know any links of ones to build ?

Any idea how to get the box to stay stationary so it doesn't jerk back on acel/decel if i ever had to swiftly.

What is fore/aft ?

1. I kind of thought that.

2. I made mine out of 3/4" ply. Easy to do.

3. Mount them just as you would pedestal bases, once you get the placement right. Plenty of options here.
You can also use strap loops that would remain in the floor.

4. Fore/aft = (front/back).

 

[oops!]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

back to back loungers........look on i boats mega mall

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

If i could avoid back to backs i will, i would prefer to have all 4 seats facing forward, so that as we drive around the city and such, we can all see the same things...

How tall of a box did you build with the 3/4 ply ? Got pictures of the one you made ? Did you cover it with paint or carpet ? Did you put hinges on the top and it opens up like a box with the seats stationed on top ?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

If you need extra storage the box design sounds great, but you're stuck with fixed seating and less room in the boat. How about installing a couple of seat base/pedestal/mounts in the boat.

http://www.attwoodmarine.com/products/parts.asp?productid=1009&path=seating_hardware&category=15&gtype=1&group=1&subgroup=0&categoryname=SwivlEze+Hardware&typename=Seating+Hardware&headername=Seating+Hardware

When the boat is going to be loaded up you can pop in the seats, and easily removed when your going out with only the GF. The extra space could come in handy....

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

That looks like a great option... Any idea how much those pedistals cost ? I'm not looking to spend a penny, but not looking to spend a few hundred into a pair of seats in a boat worth under 1k...

I found these

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...7496&ih=019&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&viewitem=

OR even

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5293045


Which i think i could just mount to a board box (just to get them off the ground, and maybe find a way to mount some rope holds on the bottom (the floor is only 6 months since installed, not 100% What was used, but it seem solid as can be.

100 bucks + some wood wouldn't be too bad, or if i can find some used ones i could care less, just want something that functions !

Keep the idea's flowing, thanks again guys for input !

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

Not sure how much that specific style costs, chose it as an example. There are 5-6 different styles of removable pedestals and the price varies. I bought Springfield "HI LO" s for my boat, about $40+/ea from BPS.

Those seats look better than the existing seats as far as back support goes, but I have never been fond of that style of seat, butt part didn't feel comfortable to me. If you are not going to be sitting for long periods of time it probably doesn't matter. Believe it or not, this cheap style is WAY more comfortable to me than that style of seat. Ugly (in comparison) but functional. (not suggesting to put these your boat, just saying...)

Yeah that looks like a good price, I think I got my jon boat seats from there a few years ago.

Are you thinking of putting the new ones up front and the old ones in back?

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2508673

Win Win !!!

Would it be hard to bolt these onto a box i made, do they screw from seat down, or box up?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

you either have to buy a swivel to mount them, or if stationary you have to bolt from inside the box. standard box heights are 8, 10, 12 inches. the walmart seat in my opinion, are more comfortable than the seat you presently have.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

Cut the two seats in half & that will give you four

How about a cooler with a padded top in the back?

 

[redfury]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

You could just pad the back rail and put in a bench seat across the back and have seating for 4 adults and one child. If you make the bottom of the box, you can make it so you can get the seat base off so you can access the area under the splashwell when you need to.

 

[DJ]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

Look here to see the boxes I made. (See link, page 3) Height is completely up to you.

Most seats, like that, have swivels already attached. If not, they're cheap.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=252410

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

Paint steel swivels are cheap, picked up the ones for my jon boat for $8 at WallyWorld. Then all you need is some 1/4" bolts, washers and nuts to secure the seat-base and base-box. Make SURE to Lock-Tite the seat bolts or they will loosen up on you.

Are you going to use stainless steel fasteners?

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

I still haven't decided yet what i'm going to do...

Either 2 seats on a long bench/box, or a bench, on a bench box...

Yall think having a bench and people sitting on it, right infront of the motor, in the furthest part back of the boat would make it hard to plain ?

Gonna go see if i can't find a seat box at a boat scrap yard or something, if not, i'll whip something up in the next week or so.

 

[DJ]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

Yall think having a bench and people sitting on it, right infront of the motor, in the furthest part back of the boat would make it hard to plain ?

Don't know. That's why I mentioned making it temporary until you figure out the weight distribution.

Personaly, I wouldn't want to sit with the engine 12" from my ears.

 

[PaulyV]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

See my avatar picture of optional seating from manufacturer. Starcraft 14' with a 40HP. The other is a Glaspar boat with bench seats. Unless your brothers weigh 250lb each I would assume there would be no problems planing. Be sure you dont exceed the weight recomendations of the boat. See Jet 15' and 14' Rocket in add

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

Nice find, that would be ideal ! need this rain to stop, so i can take this tarp off and take another look at everything and see how i wanna get it done.

That 2nd pic, looks like my boat bottom left, but someone took my windshield off.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Best way to put 4 seats in a 2 seated boat ?

i would build a box, and leave 3-6 inches on each side of the boat, to store paddles, fishing poles, long stuff. the top i would hinge on the front side, and mount the walmart seats on the hinged tops. this would give you great storage area, you will find there is never enough storage on a boat. (anchor, anchor line, fenders for docking).

this is one i did this year, notice the seats, i built my self, there are 2 back to back seats, the box is a 44"x 17" 10 inches high. stored life jackets, and anchor, ropes, fire extinguisher. then cooler went across the stern. fuel tanks under the splash well. seats were less than $100, and my labor.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=238831