Removing Bow Seats?

[twink90]

Well we have done a tune-up, replaced tilt motor, bilge pump, and tons of other little stuff on motor. The boat purrs!! We were going to put it in the water for the first time last weekend, and discovered rotten wood!!

Yea, we were so worried about the motor, we overlooked the boat itself. Several spots on the floor are soft, and bow seats are rotted. Can we safely just remove the seats and just make more room for standing? Maybe a step up floor or something. On the Floor itself, would it ok to replace the soft parts, or just do it all?

Our first boat, and we still have not even been in the water! We are just frustrated, and have no idea if we can even complete this project. Financially, we will have to as paying someone is not an option. Our $1,000 boat is not looking like a good deal now.

Any tips or help on this matter would be appreciated. Details will be helpful.
Thanks so much

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Removing Bow Seats?

Can't tell too much from the picture, but the bow seat area doesn't look so terrible. The soft spots in the deck could be a much bigger problem. I had a guy tell me once about soft spots in a boat deck. "It's like cockroaches...if you see one, you've got a thousand". Maybe you'll get lucky.
As far as whether they compromise the structural integrity...I'll defer to the more knowledgeable and experienced here.

 

[INJUN]

Re: Removing Bow Seats?

I'd look at the boat restoration pages here to get an idea if you want to do the fixing. There are several great on-going threads here containing all the info you'll probably need.

I feel for you with the urge to go. Temporarily you could try covering the deck & bow seats with plywood for a temp fix. You may want to consider a way to secure them down, especially if you're a fast boat and on big water.


Remember safety is your major concern.

 

[twink90]

Re: Removing Bow Seats?

For multiple reasons we would like to remove the seating at the bow. Boats main purpose will be fishing, & trolling motor mounts up there. So more standing room would be a bonus. Plus the seats/fabric are beyond repair. Wood actually disintagrated on seat bottoms.

We just didn't want to remove any of the structure untill we knew it would not affect the way the boat is made. Kind of like support walls in a house, cut it out and the house becomes unstable.

We were going to put plywood over existing floor for now. Should we go ahead and pull up carpet, or just lay the plywood directly over it? Since its a short fix, not sure if it would matter.
Thanks and I will keep searching the forums.

 

[slia67]

Re: Removing Bow Seats?

Twink,

Seeing that gave me flash backs. Before you go any further, double check your transom especially the bottom and make sure the bolts are pulling through and there isn't any rot. (Don't ask!)


Doug

 

[oops!]

Re: Removing Bow Seats?

uh....hate to tell you this....but there is a very good chance you are in for a complete re fit......

that is an early bayliner......they were prone to rot.....

check the transom to see if it is strong enough to get you thru this season.

if it is....rip up the carpet, and lay new wood down over it.

if it isnt.....uh.....well...any good auctions in the area?

bear in mind...anything in a boat can be fixed.....but you just wanna go fishin.

IF THE TRANSOM IS SOLID

you can just lay wood over the rot.... then you can fish this season and decide to fix the boat in the winter or sell it as a project boat.
buy if you lay wood over the rot.....the boat will be toast in a year or two