homemade seats

[broadstbullie]

Hello fellow boating enthusiasts. Does anyone have a template for building your own bench or back to back style seating for older 14' to 15' fiberglass boats?

Any help is appreciated.

BB

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: homemade seats

Welcome to iboats Dry Dock.

I doubt you'll find templates for that, as most either copy what they have or design thier own. Since each style / brand of boat have their own design (normally) it would be tuff to have templates for all of them.

http://www.boatingseats.com/scripts/bassboatchoice.asp?gclid=CNPzi5WNzqgCFQ0J2god33Sciw

That link may give you some ideas... Good Luck

 

[ezmobee]

Re: homemade seats

Unless you're dead set on DIY, it might not be worth the effort when you can pick up a set of these http://www.walmart.com/ip/DELUXE-LOUNGE-SEAT/9729774 (or similar). They even have plastic bases that will never rot.

 

[Deronism]

Re: homemade seats

I was looking in to building my own seats. But I found that it was more cost effective to just buy seats... The wood, foam, vinyl and the time to make them was way more than just picking up a set. I ended up ordering seats similar to the ones ezmobee suggested after searching around I ended up getting 2 lounge seats and 2 jump seats in a package deal shipped for just over 500..

 

[ajgraz]

Re: homemade seats

Unless you're dead set on DIY, it might not be worth the effort when you can pick up a set of these http://www.walmart.com/ip/DELUXE-LOUNGE-SEAT/9729774 (or similar). They even have plastic bases that will never rot.

I agree with this. Get some lounge seats that have plastic bases and plastic seat backs. About 2 or 3 years down the road, the crap vinyl, garbage foam, and non-stainless staples and hardware will all need replacing, but then you've got templates to apply some good firm foam, quality vinyl, monel staples and stainless hardware to your never-decay seat bases and backs. Those will then last another 10-15 (maybe 20) years with care.

 

[registeroot]

Re: homemade seats

has anybody on this forum built their own seats before?

 

[Tolyn]

Re: homemade seats

Some folks have. General consensus is what has been expressed here so far. There is a lot more time, talent/effort, equipment and material involved than would initially seem on the surface. Most of the ones I have seen definitely look DIY and those are from folks that clearly show way more talent on a sewing machine than I would ever come close to having.

+1 on the buy pre-mades or talk to your local upholstery shop and see what they can do for you.

Respectfully,
-T

 

[fishrdan]

Re: homemade seats

I built my own seats, complete interior actually, on 2 boats and have received comments at the dock. It wasn't 100% showroom quality, but it looked pretty darn good.

I don't think anyone will have "plans" as most of us who build their own seats are trying to make them fit their boat. On my old SeaSwirl I designed the interior with a big open space in the middle, no back-back seats so there was plenty of room for walking around. Plus, LOTS of storage. If you need stock seats, it's probably cheaper and easier to buy them as suggested earlier.

If you are going to build your own, only use thick materials where needed (seat tops) or you will add a lot of unnecessary weight to the boat. Then you will need to seal it all up so water does not ruin it in short order. Then selecting the right density of foam for the seats and for the seat backs, they need to be different for comfort. Then buying "marine" grade vinyl, stitching it up, stapling it down, pulling it tight so it looks right... It can be done, but it's not going to be easy,,, if it's going to look good and last

One of the worst mistakes I see often is people over-building things for the boat and weighting it down. Using 3/4" ply where 1/4", 3/8" or 1/2" would have worked fine... Or, throwing in a bunch of 2x4's as if they were building a house.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: homemade seats

I just Sewed and recovered some fishing seats for my boat. I had NEVER touched a sewing machine before. I think they turned out fine and have receive many compliments. I WILL be designing and creating my own bench seats for my 1961 Lonestar Flamingo in the next several weeks. I do not anticipate any issues or a great deal of effort to be involved. In fact I find it to be enjoyable work. Cost for a 58" bench seat will be approximately $150.00 as compared to $358 and it will be the EXACT colors I wanted which I could NOT find from any MFG. To me making your own is WELL WORTH THE EFFORT. But that's just me.

 

[sprintst]

Re: homemade seats

I built my own that were reverse engineered from my originals that were rotten. It will cost more to have them covered that if I had just bought them. The Veada seats looked good and could be done in any color you'd like.

Here's the link to mine to see how they were done. I could have just used them without the upholstery for the time being but I sent them off to be covered.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=319609&page=11

 

[registeroot]

Re: homemade seats

looks good sprintst!
do YOU have any PICTURES woodonglass?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: homemade seats

Check out my thread in my signature. Pics and videos of my sewing on my fishing seats. Heres some examples of the Seats I hope to make.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: homemade seats

About 2 or 3 years down the road, the crap vinyl, garbage foam, and non-stainless staples and hardware will all need replacing

Mine were still in pretty nice shape after 5 years.

90% of the DIY upholstery I've seen on this site, with some notable exceptions which includes Wood's, have looked fairly terrible.

 

[Over My Head]

Re: homemade seats

Mine were still in pretty nice shape after 5 years.
90% of the DIY upholstery I've seen on this site, with some notable exceptions which includes Wood's, have looked fairly terrible.

Ha! You have to be really good your design and with a sewing machine to get a quality looking product. Yes I have made some boat seats and also done some upholstery and mine did look absolutely terrible. It would have been cheaper and easier and I would have had a much better finished product if I would have bought new and/or hired a pro.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: homemade seats

have looked fairly terrible.

I would basically agree especially IF you try to do it WITHOUT a Sewing Machine. the Wrap, Tuck, and Staple Method does NOT CUT it!!!! At least not for me. I bought a CHEAP ($35) machine to learn on and IF I would not have been pleased with the results I would have abandoned ship and would have purchased my seats from a mfg. I guess I am blessed to have the skills to accomplish this. I Know there have been others but as EZ says the majority either do NOT take the time to do it right or do NOT have the skill set to do it right.

 

[Tahorover]

Re: homemade seats

has anybody on this forum built their own seats before?

I did.
Red is how Century did the seats, Blue is my seats

 

[MountaineerMiner]

Re: homemade seats

I am very interested in thid thread and hope i continues....

I hope to rebuild my 1970 Mustang to original conditon. The problem is that this boat is hard to find original so making my own seats is a priortiy

Good luck,

Mike