1964 15' Sea King

[Brookie11]

Im wondering if anyone has any suggestions out there.....I have a 1964 15' Sea King that I want to install pedastal seats in. The boat does not have a plywood floor in it. Its just the straight fliberglass floor of the boat. Any advice on the best way to install these? I dont have any hardware for mounting either....I need to buy it. The pedastals are 12" pedestals with 6 holes on each pedestal bottom for mounting. Just want to be sure we dont mess up with this !

Thanks for any suggestions !

[Woodonglass]

Send us some pics so we can see what you are talking about

[Brookie11]

Thanks for your response. I tried uploading a couple of pics here. They arent that great as the boat is 3.5 hours away so I cant get fresh pics....

One pic is of the floor at the back of the boat- the other is with one of the old seats still mounted to the floor. It also shows the old red rug that was in the boat that is now gone but it is basically a gray fiberglass floor under that. The seats that were in it were mounted with 1" inch or so small wood screw. They were so rusted and disintegrated that it was hard to tell. Kind of reminded me of a sheet rock screw. Let me know your thoughts....Thanks !!

[Woodonglass]

So, the carpet is gone and you are on a bare floor. I highly suspect it is not fiberglass but rather wood that has been covered with resin and a layer of fiberglass cloth.
Here is what i would do.
I would buy a Yard of 6 to 9 oz fiberglass cloth and a gallon of resin and hardener. I would build a couple of bases made out of 3/4" exterior grade plywood about 2inch wider all the way around than the seat bases, and bevel the edges. I would coat the bases with two coats of resin and hardener. Let em dry. I would then sand the areas of the floor where the bases were to be mounted 8" larger all the way around than the bases I made, and then use some PL Adhesive (Buy it at Lowe's in the caulking section) and glue the bases to the deck. Use something heavy to hold them down. Next day I would wet out the bases with resin and hardener and apply the fiberglass mat over the bases with about a 8" overlap(that's why I sanded it bigger) all the way around the base to attach the bases to the floor. I would give em one more coat of resin and hardener the next day, and call it good. I would then use some 1" STAINLESS screws to mount the seats to the bases. I would use some 5 minute epoxy to coat the screw holes before final installation and screw the screws in before the epoxy set up.

But then, that's just me!!!!!

[Brookie11]

Thanks...

Yes-actually you are right. Wood covered with thin layer of fiberglass...and was painted gray.

Is the idea for making the bases is so they dont rip out of the floor? Or to not drill large holes in the floor or all of the above?

What is "PL" adhesive?

When you coat the bases with the resin and hardener- do you just straight up paint the stuff on? Ive never worked with that stuff before so Im probably going to ask silly questions.....!

Thanks !

[Woodonglass]

Yes, and Yes

The bases are to give you a thicker base to screw into. The deck is probably no more than 3/4" thick. Making it 1 1/2" inches will insure that the seats stay put.

You mix the resin and the hardener together and it will be like syrup, maybe a little thinner. Use some CHEAP "CHIP" brushes from Lowes to Paint it on the bases. It will look like varnish. Two Coats. the fiberglass mat will adhere it all to the deck. Paint a third coat over the bases and the sanded portion of the deck where the mat will go an while it is still wet apply the mat. Use the chip brush to apply more resin until the mat "Disappears". It will just blend into the resin . VOILA' you're done!

PL is and adhesive caulk you can buy at Lowes Check this out
http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Constr.../dp/B001E3VQBE

[Bob_VT]

Along with a larger base mount you could also use T-bolts but they tend to cost the bucks.

Under the decks on my starcraft I mounted pieces of 1/8" aluminum sheets (old street signs) and will mount the pedestals to those to effectively spread the load.

Yes, I buy those cheap paint brushes for my resin work and just toss them when done. My resin mixing bowls are the lower portion of a 2 liter soda bottle.

[Brookie11]

Thank you very much guys for your help with this.....sounds like the right thing to do. I will definitely try this to mount these seats the right way. A weekend project for July !

I love this forum.....

[Brookie11]

So- after considering the great advice for installing the seats, Im thinking what would be the harm in installing the 3/4" plywood on the whole deck? Plus, we planned to put marine grade carpet down also..the floor is solid, so its not rotted or soft or anything. But my thinking is that it would protect the original floor- keep the seats and floor @ the same level...vs the seats sitting up a tad off the original floor.....any thoughts or advice on this out there??

[Woodonglass]

You could................. but I think it's a little Overkill. People use the "Pad" method all the time but do what you think is best for you.

[Brookie11]

Hmmm....the "Pad" method??

I do consider if it is unnecessary...Ill have to ponder. :-) Thanks for your response !!

[Woodonglass]

This is a really bad drawing but hopefully this will give you and idea of what I am talking about.

[Brookie11]

Darn...nothing came thru on my end. Just your links that are included in your responses.

[Woodonglass]

Lets Try this again

[Brookie11]

Got it ! thanks....now I understand...its the set-up under the seats that you are referring to. Nice little drawing by the way. Came thru great. Im thinking that I may just go the Pad route and not the whole floor. I really dont want to add the extra weight .....jury is still out on that one.