New Project - Removable center seat!

[TrepMan]

Gang - I've been meaning to tackle this one for a year, finaly got around to it. 90% of the time in the fall through spring its just me and Dan or Eli fishing, so I wanted to remove the center seat to make it easier for Dan or Eli to get to the back deck. So I removed the center seat (2 nuts under the seat accessed via the storage under the driver/passenger seats). I'll do a full grab bag when I get a chance, but here is the picture with the carpeted step and then the seat re-installed. I did decide to move the bolts that hold the seat down as the factory ones are way towards the back of the seat/boat, and very hard to get in/out, so moved them forward (required removing the seat skins) and will get 2 plastic removable caps to close up the new holes when the seat is out.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

Trep - Nice Job! I tried to do the same thing on my 896, but when I pulled the center seat I realized that my "cooler" was under both the passenger seat AND the center seat so I have a partial hole. Thinking about making a plywood cover to match the one bolt hole and then putting rubberized treads on top of the ply. I never have a third passenger and hate it when people step on the center seat to climb on the back deck. My older 700LX DC had the removeable bottom cushion with a tread on the fiberglass. Never left the center seat in.



Let us know how it works!

 

[Jim B]

Looks good Trep. Thats somthing i could do to my 882 pretty easily too. I like the idea a lot.



I was thinking about the bolts, why not use some heavy duty velcro to hold the seat down? It should hold it pretty good and make removal much easier, just sew one side onto the seat the use sticky back type on the boat. On my old champ the whole bench dat was held in with velcro, it never moved.

 

[Steve Rizza]

Sure looks like it will be alot easier getting to the rear deck now. Especialy for the short legged folks.



What are you going to use when you re-mount it. Heavy duty Velcro so it is removable ??? Looks like a pretty tight squeeze in there, shouldn't go anywhere.





Just read Jim B's post........Great idea Jim.





Steve

 

[TrepMan]

Steve and Jim - for remounting i've drilled 2 holes (after relocating the bolts on the seat base far forward) just infront of the carpet. I'm heading to Home Depot tonite to get a set of Wingnuts so when I need it back in I can pull it out of the storage compartment and wing nut it in place, also getting 2 rubber "plugs" to close the holes when the seat is out.



Jim - I thought about the velcro or just the weight of the tush holding it down, but my kids are NOT very heavy and would not want when we hit a bump and they go a few inches airborn to have the seat come out!!! LOL



Trep

 

[Rich Stern]

Nice work!



You want to sell that boat?

 

[mike chip]

trep,

i did that to my old pt 17 and it was the best mod i ever did to it. good job, it looks good

mike c

 

[Teri C.]

My Triton came that way.

 

[Al Greco]

My Toon has the removeable center seat too. It does make it very convenient removing or adding the seat quickly. When I fish tournaments I leave it at home and when the kids come with me I simply put the seat back in. Good job Trepper.

 

[TOMMY RICH]

I'm getting ready to do similar to my center seat with drink holders

 

[Rich Stern]

My Triton came that way.

And you only paid 4 times as much as Trep did.



Shrewd.

 

[TrepMan]

Rich - I'll make ya a straight up trade the Nitro for the Sprint - deal??? LOL



Tee - I was thinking the same thing about the cup holders, like the new TV-18 has, maybe next year!

 

[Teri C.]

Ah, but you soon forget, I bought my Triton used; therefore, I did not pay 4 times as much!

 

[Randy Walls]

Nice job Trep. I made a similar modification only didn't want the center seat to go back in at all so I carpeted a highly sealed piece of plywood and replaced the seat in my TV-18. Looks like it came from the factory. Really saves the seat from feet.



Nice Job!



Randy!

 

[Rich Stern]

Ah, but you soon forget, I bought my Triton used; therefore, I did not pay 4 times as much!

OK, you win. 3 times as much.