Boat seat box

[AlaskaBhad]

I am looking for any advise - I am a new boat owner and new to the forum.
I am doing a little restoration on the wood and building seat boxes similar to the one in the picture (w/pedestal seat).
For the bulkhead, console, and seat box lid I will be using 3/4 marine ply; stained dark, CPES to seal, and 1-2 epoxy coats.
>Will this be sufficient?
For the seat box I was going to use the 3/4 marine ply and CPES, epoxy coat and then paint.
>Will this be strong enough (to hold a 200lb-300lb passenger) and sufficiently waterproof/resistant for a seat box? I thought about fiber glassing, but have never done that and am not sure if it is necessary.

I have looked at a lot of strings and websites and there are plenty of varying opinions and very little on actually building a seat box for a boat.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Boat seat box

3/4" should be plenty strong . I would install an extra layer of ply under the area that the pedestal will be . And you will need to fasten the box to the deck ..

 

[chconger]

Re: Boat seat box

For the bulkhead, console, and seat box lid I will be using 3/4 marine ply; stained dark, CPES to seal, and 1-2 epoxy coats.
>Will this be sufficient?
For the seat box I was going to use the 3/4 marine ply and CPES, epoxy coat and then paint.
>Will this be strong enough (to hold a 200lb-300lb passenger) and sufficiently waterproof/resistant for a seat box? I thought about fiber glassing, but have never done that and am not sure if it is necessary.
I have looked at a lot of strings and websites and there are plenty of varying opinions and very little on actually building a seat box for a boat.

I think the answer in both cases is yes, it is sufficient. If you add the glassing step in with the epoxy, then you will guard that nice wood from checking along the grain.

For bright work (stuff where you want to see the wood) you can use West 207 hardener with the West epoxy and some light (2-4 oz cloth), then UV varnish over all that. You wont see the cloth, the epoxy will stay clear, and it will all be bullet proof.


If you skip the cloth, still use that 207 hardener on any bright-work taking epoxy.

 

[jbillingsley]

Re: Boat seat box

To accomodate a 300lb passenger, it should be designed to support nearly twice the weight of the USCG's standard assumption of a 160lb passenger. Off the end of a lever, such as a seat pedestal, the fulcrum would need to be significantly strengthened.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Boat seat box

That is a plenty strong idea. I would double the plywood in the small area under the pedestal for extra strength. Consider sone heavy duty hinges, heavy duty latches and making the box with a seal. That will make a great storage area.

 

[AlaskaBhad]

Re: Boat seat box

Thanks for all of the advise. I will post some before and after pics. I have pulled all of the wood from the boat interior (1976 Chaparral 244) and this will be my winter project.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Boat seat box

Skip the CPES, it won't help.