Mounting Pedestal Seat

Greyduk · #1 05-15-2016, 02:06 PM

I have a 1987 V-20 cuddy. I am thinking that I would like to mount a helm seat opposite the one that is already there for the driver. The problem is, I want to be able to put a backing plate under the deck and bolt thru. I would either have to put a deck plate beside the pedestal in the floor (which I don't want to do), or go in through the side of the fish box which is in the floor.

Has anyone put a deck plate or cut a hole in the side of the fish box? If so is there anything that would prevent access to the through bolts for the seat if I go at it that way?

I would appreciate any thoughts on solving this. Thanks for any input.

bradford · #2 05-15-2016, 03:10 PM

The port side stringer is next to the fish box. Don't want to cut that.

Greyduk · #3 05-15-2016, 03:22 PM

Thanks for your reply. No I sure wouldn't want to get into that. But if I cut through the fiberglass wall of the fish box do you think I could reach above the stringer to put the backing plate and nuts on the screws?

phatdaddy · #4 05-15-2016, 03:26 PM

greyduk, i went through the same thing when i redid my deck. this was my solution. was able to get large fender washers and nylock nuts on bolts. you can see i messed up on the drivers side, but nothing a little work with the dremel couldn't handle

Greyduk · #5 05-15-2016, 03:39 PM

Hey Phatdaddy, how are you. I responded to your post about the Spanish Mackerel and how good they are with cheese grits. At that point I was just a spectator but look what I have gotten myself in to now.

Thanks for your input. I only have to worry about the passenger side of my boat. The driver side is through bolted already. I bought one of the back to back seats but it is so cheap and small that I am thinking of the pedestal seats now. I have two pretty decent helm chairs with sliders that I can use if I get comfortable with the installation.

SkunkBoat · #6 05-15-2016, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyduk

Thanks for your reply. No I sure wouldn't want to get into that. But if I cut through the fiberglass wall of the fish box do you think I could reach above the stringer to put the backing plate and nuts on the screws?

NO. Not possible.

For a new seat...Cut an access hole in the center of where the pedestal will be. thru the hole, glue some backing strips under where the pedestal base holes will be. Then the pedestal covers the hole.

Actually the original pedestals had threaded insert underneath... they cut the hole as I said before then drilled the hole pattern and held the inserts thru the hole, tightened bolts to pull inserts into bottom of deck then removed bolts and mount the base. I hope you can follow that ramble...

Or mount a 100 qt cooler there with a cushion....

Greyduk · #7 05-15-2016, 03:53 PM

Skunkboat, thanks for the thought. That might be something I could work with. I also thought that I could mount two seats on that side and use a deck plate between them. Then cover it with a small tackle locker that would fit between the two pedestals. Thanks.

SkunkBoat · #8 05-15-2016, 04:01 PM

like this but stainless or brass.

The access is cut in the center of the pedestal footprint.

tsubaki · #9 05-16-2016, 06:26 AM

I know you have flotation in yours but see if any of this thread is helpful.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...hlight=hatches

Destroyer · #10 05-16-2016, 06:32 AM

IF you really want to use a full backing plate, and IF there is sufficient room under where you want to mount your seat, there is a way to do it without having to reach under the deck. It sounds complicated, but it's really very simple. Just involves a little work

1) Place your pedestal over the metal you want to use as a backing place. The backing plate metal MUST be at least the same thickness as whatever size bolts you intend to use to secure the seat pedestal. Scribe a circle on the backing plate that matches the outside diameter of the base of the pedestal.
2) Place the pedestal on the deck exactly where you want it to go and using a pencil trace around the base of the pedestal mount onto the deck and also trace the bolt holes through the mount onto the deck.
3) Use a transfer punch through the holes of the pedestal to exactly mark the place where your threaded bolt holes will be in the backing plate.
4) Drill the proper size holes in the holes in the pedestal and thread them. (Probably 5/16 or 3/8, depending on what size bolts you intend to use). Cut the backing plate into a circle shape Just slightly smaller than the scribed line that you made in step 1.
5) Using the previously marked bolt holes on the deck as a guide, place the backing plate exactly where you want the seat to go and mark the deck through the new bolt holes of the backing plate. Drill through holes in the deck one size larger than the bolts that you intend to use. (5/16 bolts get a 3/8 hole, etc)
6) Cut a slit in your floor between the holes just long enough and wide enough for the backing plate to fit through. This slit will be completely covered by the pedestal mount base once it's installed.
7) Drill a small hole in the center of the backing plate.
8) Thread a strong cord (Paracord works great here) through the center hole in the plate and tie it around a washer bigger than the hole you drilled in the plate center. On the other end of the cord tie a large nut wider than the slit in the floor. (This is to prevent the cord from accidentally falling completely through the slit).
9) Squeeze a liberal amount of construction adhesive onto the side of the plate opposite the washer side, then slide the washer and then the plate through the slit in the floor. Use the cord to pull the plate up flush with the bottom of the deck, while using a pencil eraser to position the backing plate holes in line with the holes you drilled into the floor.
10) Place a bolt thru each of the deck holes and thread them into the backing plate holes. Once you have all the bolts threaded into place tighten them all to pull the backing plate firmly up against the underside of the deck, thereby gluing the backing plate to the underside of the deck in exactly the correct position.
11) After 24 hours or however long it says for the adhesive to cure return to the job, remove the bolts and make sure your plate is securely glued into position. If you're satisfied that it is then cut the cord and let the washer fall into the void beneath it, squeeze 5200 into the slit to seal it, then position your pedestal seat mount over the bolt holes and bolt it into the backing plate.
12) YOU'RE DONE. GO HAVE A BEER OR TWO.