Swivel seat mounts on bench seats?

[iggyw1]

I want to put some quick release swivel seat mounts onto my aluminum bench seats. The seats are solid filled with foam, and I cannot get to the bottom of the swivels to put nuts and washers on the bolts to mount the swivels. Can I drill small holes and use self tapping big screws to mount the swivels or maybe some good sized toggle bolts just working from the top of the bench seats? What are some other (better) ideas? Thanks!

 

[airshot]

On my tinnie, I made some large U shapes from wood that straddled the tank style seats. Came down about a foot on each side then used a simple bungee strap to hold them in place so I could slide them from side to side, then screwed the swivel seat to the wood U . Worked great and the ability to move them side to side made balancing the load much easier.

 

[Scott Danforth]

On the tinny fishing barge, the top wood in the aluminum seats is glued to the seat with 3M 4000 uv. The wood has 4 stainless T-nuts. The swivel bolts on top and the folding seat sits on top of that

 

[redneck joe]

Go with scotts plan. Def need more bite than aluminum. Of course get stainless and even at that make sure the stainless and metal dont touch.

 

[airshot]

If the seats are in a fixed position, you may regret that when balancing the load. Not a big deal on karger boats, but small tinnies, you need to be able to mive people weight around...been there done that, make them movable.

 

[JimS123]

My tinny had a deck finished with marideck. The side seat and live well were also covered with vinyl covered plywood. The front seat (where I wanted to put the swivel base was bare aluminum.

I fitted a plywood sheet to the front seat and covered it with matching marideck.. Also cut holes on the ends for drink holders. The plywood was fastened with a dozen SS sheet metal screws. In the center I drilled holes for the seat mount and bolted it from the bottom.

The pic here was when I fitted the parts, so you can see the holes drilled. I don't have a closeup of the finished job. I did the helm seat in the same fashion. It was quite sturdy and worked well.

 

[tbetty]

My tinny had a deck finished with marideck. The side seat and live well were also covered with vinyl covered plywood. The front seat (where I wanted to put the swivel base was bare aluminum.

I fitted a plywood sheet to the front seat and covered it with matching marideck.. Also cut holes on the ends for drink holders. The plywood was fastened with a dozen SS sheet metal screws. In the center I drilled holes for the seat mount and bolted it from the bottom.

The pic here was when I fitted the parts, so you can see the holes drilled. I don't have a closeup of the finished job. I did the helm seat in the same fashion. It was quite sturdy and worked well.
View attachment 392291View attachment 392290

 

[tbetty]

this

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-jon-boat-seat-clamp

and this

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-quick-release-seat-swivel

 

[JimS123]

this

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-jon-boat-seat-clamp

and this

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-quick-release-seat-swivel

I always had reservations about those clamp-on seat bases. Just doesn't look stable enough in a bouncing boat. Read the reviews.

 

[airshot]

I always had reservations about those clamp-on seat bases. Just doesn't look stable enough in a bouncing boat. Read the reviews.

I agree, that is why I made my plywood U shaped mounts to straddle the build in seats. The plywood came down a foot and a bungee strap clipped at the bottom held it in position. Very stable, but, could be moved from side to side by unhooking/ hooking the bungee strap. Wish I had pics to show them. Mabey not real pretty but many compliments on how well they worked.