Seat options for an inflatable?

jrs_diesel

jrs_diesel

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 3, 2010
Messages
552
I have a Bombard Max 3 (9' SIB), which has the wood floor and inflatable keel. Love the boat, but I don't like how far forward they put the bench seat. Luckily I am tall so I don't have much of a problem sitting sideways to be able to reach the tiller and drive.

I would love to install a seat base and put a normal fishing type swivel chair, but would like to how best to secure it to the wood floor without poking through the hull underneath with a bolt. Any ideas on how to do that?

Also, when I searched for seats in this forum, I found this thread that showed a nifty setup for seats that used a drop in tube frame, instead of bolting in through the floor. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=265505&highlight=seats

Unfortunately, I did not see a link to the company that makes that seat system. Does anyone know who makes that seat system?

Thanks :)
 
lncoop

lncoop

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 18, 2010
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5,147
Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

Thinking that was custom made, but have you considered building a small frame to mount your seat on? I built a big four bay frame for different applications on my river raft, but you could throw together a scaled down version for peanuts that would get the job done. I like frames because they place all the weight on the tubes.
 
Beefer

Beefer

Lieutenant Commander
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Aug 4, 2008
Messages
1,737
Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

That seat looks like a homemade tube base (PVC would probably work), with this $40 seat:

wd139_721_greenshell_0.jpg
 
nobrainsd

nobrainsd

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 19, 2008
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Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

If you would have right clicked on the photos of the seat you could have checked the properties of the image which reveals that it is originally from boatstogo. Here is a link to the product you seek. http://www.boatstogo.com/seating_platform.asp

PVC tube is not an adequate material for a boat seat frame. If you need to make something custom and don't want to weld it check out Speed Rail fittings from Hollaender for use with aluminum tube.
http://www.industrialmetalsupply.com/SharedContent/Documents/Products/Hollaender Catalog.pdf
 
jrs_diesel

jrs_diesel

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Mar 3, 2010
Messages
552
Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

Amazing! Exactly what I was looking for. :) Thank you nobrainsd!

Didn't dawn on me that it was a linked image. Can't wait until fishing season now.

Thank you guys :cool:
 
nobrainsd

nobrainsd

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 19, 2008
Messages
230
Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

Checking the image file properties is a good trick, sometimes...

Looks like a pretty comfortable set up. Be sure to post pics of how it works out for you.

Feel free to use my favorite line when fishing. "Don't hook the boat!"
 
M

mpj76

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 13, 2008
Messages
30
Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

I have a big cooler squeezed between the tubes with a cushion on top. It's worked out well, but I don't have any back support. The plus is that you really maximize space.
 
jamnn

jamnn

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Sep 12, 2011
Messages
48
Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

I built two dry boxes and attached swivels with the seats attached. I bought the seats for 20$ each at an end of season sale. I glued and nailed the boxes together and then silicon ed all the seams inside and out. I then put about six coats of marine spar varnish to waterproof. My deck is wood so I through bolted the boxes to the deck with the head of the carriage bolt towards the inside of the bottom of the deck. I also varnished all drill holes through the wood. I know you do not want to through bolt but I am only taking my boat apart to clean once a year. The rest of the time it stays inflated on the trailer or in the water so it is really not an issue for me. I used SS bolts and aluminum angle to add extra support. I also used Tef-gel to prevent corrosion where the aluminum came in contact with the stainless steel. The weight is distributed across the deck and the boxes give me lots of storage for my anchor. air pump, repair kit and beverages. I do however have the added weight but it is only me and my wife so I have a four person boat that is only going to carry two adults. We can ride comfortably and the bow won't rise as much if I ride alone. I hope this helps.
 
R

Ripekg

Seaman Apprentice
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Sep 21, 2013
Messages
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Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

I have a follow up question since these post were back from 2010 thru 2012. Now that you have purchased, or maybe you never did, boatstogo aluminum platform with steering wheel and seat platform???, how has it performed???

If you never did, what did you do for a platform? Build it? I would like to learn from your experience since I am at this point with an OLD AVON 12' I'm restoring. I want to put boatstogo in but thought I could just buy aluminum tubing from Home Depot and put sand inside and bend it. That's the way to bend aluminum and not get kinks. SLOWLY of course. Anyway, if this thread still has life in it, like I feel my OLD AVON does, I would like some input here on the same discussion ... after the fact.

Appreciate anyone's input. I could just buy two used fiberglass seats since the handles for those are already glued in place from previous use. Any thoughts on which was to go? I will be selling this later on after this years use in freshwater lakes. I have an Evinrude 25HP that runs very well which will push this 12' Dinghy along.

Thanks for any help I can get from ALL YOU GUYS that have the experience. I am really a newbie at this. It's only my second Dinghy in the last year.
 
R

ronaldj

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Messages
655
Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

image.jpgimage.jpg

You can also use these to mount a boat seat to the bench seats that come with most inflatables
I use the clamp on adapter
 
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R

Ripekg

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Messages
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Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

I've seen those but conflicting reviews as well on that type. Just wanted to see if the experience of the past could bring some light. After doing several hours of research, ********.com had great deals with free shipping on some good fishing chairs and Academy had great sales on pedastal's with swivel attachments. Was able to get 3 seats for $175 TOTAL to my door! I'm excited to see how all this is going to look. Will post restoration pics when I get done! Should be done by end of April and on the water fishing!

Thanks for your suggestions
 
R

ronaldj

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Messages
655
Re: Seat options for an inflatable?

Mlmg said:
I have heard these will cause the seat to lurch backwards when accelerating...any one use these and have the "lurch" problem?
Click to expand...

I have the clamp on
My bench seat snaps into my boat
I have not experienced the lurch you speak of
I am experimenting with different seats to see which one is the best for fishing
 
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