Converting BacktoBack to Sport seating
 

Has anyone out there converted back2back to sport seating?

Re: Converting BacktoBack to Sport seating
 

scubydo,

I have not done that, but down the road, I may go the other way.

If you do make the change, I don't know if your boat will have the aluminum backing plates under the floor for the seat pedestals. Maybe Mariah put them on all their boats. I don't know how you would find them. I don't think that a stud finder would work.

Shabah 198SE

Re: Converting BacktoBack to Sport seating
 

I converted my drivers seat to a bucket from a back to back unit. Mariah placed the aluminum plate in all of their boats & i was able to find mine using a stud finder. I think a metal detector (if you have one) would do an even better job. The bolts i used were galvanized coarse thread 1/4" bolts with a 3/8" hex head, 2 3/4" long, with a pan washer followed by a 1/16" rubber washer. I drilled & tapped the plate to match.

Re: Converting BacktoBack to Sport seating
 

mikeyt,

scubydo, I don't mean to hijack your post, but there could be useful information here for all.

Repairing a couple of stripped pedestal screws was one of the repairs that I had to make to my boat. The original screws were stainless steel lag screws with a 1/2 inch hex head. I believe that they were 5/16" by about the length that you stated. I updated the stripped ones to 3/8" with a 9/16" hex head (where used, the pedestal mounting holes had to be opened up slightly). I'm not certain that two of them were even in the aluminum plate.

Did you use the stud finder through the carpet? Or, do you have a glass liner?

I assume that you used the rubber washer to keep water out. I'm surprised that you could get a good hold when tapping a 3/16 inch thick aluminum plate to use 1/4"NC bolts. That is good information.

I have considered trying to move the driver's seat back to solve my shifter clearance problem.

Do you have an interior photo of your boat that you could post?

Shabah 198SE

Re: Converting BacktoBack to Sport seating
 

Actually i had MariahTrooper pull one of the bolts from his bucket seat mount & measure it for me and i did use the stud finder thru the carpet to find the edges of the aluminum plate. Now i'm pretty sure that i missed the plate with one bolt but all the rest tightened down okay. MariahTrooper did warn me that they strip easily though. If i remember right that plate wasn't very large (maybe 12" x 12" so it wouldn't be hard to miss it.

As for a photo, my boat's out getting winterized & i should have it back early next week. I'll take a couple of photos then.

Re: Converting BacktoBack to Sport seating
 

mikeyt,

Thank for your response. With all of the foam in there, I was surprised that the stud finder worked. I have two stud finders that are doing well to come within three inches of finding a stud.

According to the binder that came with my boat, you are correct that the plate is 12" by 12".

I would love to see a photo of a Mariah interior that came with a sleeper seat arrangement.

Thanks

Shabah 198 SE