HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

[Newbie518]

I am New to the hole boat ownership thing some please bear with me Thanks,

Can anyone give me some info on how to replace the wood in the seat backs of my boat? they are folding seats. and they have been bad for sometime but all of a sudden they broke (crumbled). I would like to try to fix insted of replace if possible and not too expensive.
Also the boat is a 87 starcraft with a outboard and it has 4 pedastal seats I would like to change the to back seats into 1 bench seat if possible. has anyone done this and is it diffacult?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. THIS SITE IS THE BEST!!!

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Pictures would be nice if you have any. Hard to understand what the seats look like.

 

[Mark42]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Yes, pictures always help. How is the deck? I ask because almost always rotted seats are the result of a boat that sits out uncovered all season. That also takes its toll on the deck, and whats below.

Just something to think about.

 

[Newbie518]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Sorry I have no pictures of the seats.
The deck is O.K not rotten but my my 200lb fat *** gets on it it flex's HA HA anyway the seats are the tilt forward kind and the plywood inside is none marine grade but they do say starcraft on them so i would like to replywood the inside of the seat if possible

 

[Mark42]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

If you can see the staples that hold the vinyl to the plywood, pry them out until the vinyl is free, then use the old ply as a template for new pieces. Most seats I've seen have the foam inside a plastic bag to keep water out. The vinyl is over the bag, and stapled to the bottom of the ply.
If the ply will keep getting wet, use pressure treated ply or use CDX and coat with polyester resin. Probably less work to just use pressure treated.

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

agree with Mark 42.

Be extra careful with the wood if it is gone. some sort of template is better than none. I have used plywood BC for my seats coated with thinned resin (my upholster did) sorry.

 

[jennis9]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

if you have an aluminum boat - keep the PT wood away from the metal - it will corrode it. The treatment in the wood contains copper and that is the culprit. If you decide to build a back bench - you might need to know this.

My suggestion is to get a good grade plywood, cut your pieces out and spar varnish them and then recover them with the vinyl. Watch out for the staples you choose as well - same rule applies to any metal to metal contact. Some of the staples sold say they are marine grade - and this is true, but they also contain copper -- so they will have corrosive affects on your craft. Get stainless steel to be safe.

How do I know this? well, the previous owner of my boat used cheap non SS staples. They rusted and left a nice chalky reaction to the gunnel. I just finished redoing the interior of my 85 starcraft and did not make the same mistake he did.

and of course, if yours is a fiberglass starcraft, then my point is mute.

oooh, my 300th post... yippeee!

 

[Newbie518]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Thanks Guys,
That sounds great, I can use staples I wasnt sure if i would have to have the backs resawn. or not.

 

[Newbie518]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Yes my starcraft is fiberglass but i am still looking for ideas on how to change the rear post seats into a bench seat. can i use the existing post hole's and just get a bench seat or should i biuld one out of marine grade plywood and screw seats to that??
Thanks everyone for all the info i am truely learning alot about boats from this site..
Tim

 

[mars bar]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Staples are good , but I don't mind a nice set of carpet tacks with staples.

 

[Newbie518]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

I dont know what that means..

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

I dont either..

your seats are stapled.. remove the back seam strip first.. ( unless its a "cover " but highly doubt it ). Remove all your coverings. If your ply is sticking to your back side cover..remove the ply WITH the cover if you can in one piece(s). If this happens .. get some butcher paper and tack it on the wood B4 you remove the cover to make your template for the new ply-back. If not..remove the bad wood in one piece and trace on to your new ply.

At this point you will want to THOROUGHLY clean your vinyl off inside and out ( make it new m8 ). If it has stitched seams then seal .. seal .. seal as you go along with your other processes ..

When you go to put your vinyl back on.. its a good idea to "tack" your corners and lengths by holding your staple gun at a 45 angle..( that way you can get them out ez if you dont like it ..or make adjustments ) ..

After all tacked.. staple ( yes Stainless ) the thing on.. last is your seam cover.

YD.

 

[Newbie518]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Thank you.
ANy ideas about the seem cover? (getting it back on) maybe i am not sure of which is which.
It looks as if the front of the seat canvas is sowed to the back of the seat canvas. with the plywood inbetween.
does anyone know of any photos. to make this easier for a Dumb AS* like me..
SORRY for my stupitity.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Shields..your not stupid m8..

we have to work on visualization and past experience..

Seam Cover is basically a 3/4" little strip that would cover up both the inside and outside cover staples..( I shoulda called it a seam strip )

You know..cover front..staple..cover back..staple..that seam would be covered up with a seam strip.. in the middle if you open it up like ... um.. .... like.... um.. a rose bud..then you can see the tacks....

If you dont have that and everything is just a "cover" that is bare stapled to the back then reproduce that as said above..

YD.

 

[Newbie518]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Thanks Yacht Dr.
I am going to give it a shot within the next couple of days. I will take before and after pictures so everyone can see what i DID..
Thanks for the confidense.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

no prob m8..

Just make sure you buy/use Stainless staples..

YD.

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

Is this what you guys are referring to as seam strip?

 

[jennis9]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

that is called hidem -- the center of the strip opens and hides the staples so you have a neat seam if it shows.

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

I was just asking if that is what the other postings were referring to. Same concept but they used a different name and could not find any seam strip material online. Making sure we are on the same page that's all.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: HELP!!!Rotten seat backs

yup thats what I was talking about.

YD.