Re: What plywood for seat cushions?
I took a fishing trip with a buddy and his new boat, it's got only two seats, one facing forward towards the helm, and the second facing rearward behind the helm seat, the seat and cushion double as a live well lid. The seat was about 24" wide by 18" or so and the base was made of Starboard, with a Plexiglass or Lexan live well lid just below. The ride was rough to say the least in rough seas, the boat was brand new and by far not an entry level boat. I'm not sure what he paid for it but I do know it was well upwards of $200K, (A 31' Offshore CC). The seat cracked on one hard wave under my weight. It was 3/4" thick. If the upholstery wasn't glued and stapled to it, it wouldn't have stayed in place. I weight 300 lbs and am well over 6' tall and have seats fail in rough seas before, I even had an aluminum pedestal base shatter. I don't see why they even build a boat that can't take the weight of a big man. Looking at most of the guys out fishing, there certainly seems to be just as many big and tall guys out here as any one else. I test drove a brand new jet boat at a boat show a few years ago, the salesman pretty much directed the test drive route, we pushed it through some light breakers and about a 1/4 mile out the seat base under me exploded. We stopped, swapped the seat and continued, the second seat did the same. I gave up and let the salesman drive it back, I sat on the molded in rear bench seat. Both upper seat bases were made of cast aluminum, both shattered in 10 or more pieces. This was a new boat with brand name seating. Right on the bottom of each seat was a label stating that the max weight of each seat was 170lbs. I guess they built those for kids, I was 15 the last time I was that size. Needless to say they didn't make a sale.
The manufacturer made good on the seat, but the replacement came with a warning not to let anyone over 170lbs sit on it or the back to back, which is the only seating in the boat.
My boats all have plywood seats, I never had one explode under me either. A good quality exterior plywood base, well painted or coated in resin and stapled with stainless staples will out last the plastic seats any day.
