best way to install these seats on my jon boat??

[Kajun]

I have a 14x36 jon boat that i'm riggin up .....i have some cushioned camo seats that i'd like to use... prob i'm running into is what to use to fasten the seat pedestal base to the jon boats thin aluminum bench seats.....the metal is pretty thin and the holes on the base are pretty big...i'm thinking just riveting it to the thin metal will not hold up for very long and i'm looking for a better way to do it.....i also dont want to cut into the bench seat to have access to backside of the bench seat.....does anyone have a way to do this without cutting into the bench seat?

here's some pics...

[Buzz]

Kajun,

I had a jon boat almost exactly like yours a few years ago. I know you said you don't want to cut the bench seats but thats exactly what I did. I carefully cut out a section and saved the piece of aluminum, then mounted my seats with some 3/4inch treated plywood underneath. I took the saved square of aluminum, some pop rivots and a couple small hinges and now had a storage area. It worked for me.

Later,
Buzz

[beenfishin?]

I modified one last year. Got a piece of 1/4 inch aluminum large enough to cover the entire top of the seat then I used poprivets to put it on. the base was attached with selfdrilling screws. If you can't get aluminum, 1/8 inch steel would work. Good luck.

[willsjwills]

There is an easy way to do this using two interlocking aluminum extrusions that can be had from a boat dealer. One piece fastens to the front of your seats using pop rivets or sheet metal screws. The other piece you bolt a seat and swivel to. you can remove the seat or slide the seat over by lifting up on the rear of the seat. A Triton aluminum boat dealer will either have them or can get them.

[Carl Palmer]

Try aluminum "Rivnuts" these can be found in 1/4-20 size if not bigger.... if present holes are too big just move your seat over a 1/2 inch so you can drill the right size holes. Hope this helps. I have had good sucess in the past using these. Carl

[superdave1984]

I have the same type seats in mine. There is a piece of 3/4 plywood a little bigger than the seat bench under each one that the seat is bolted to. The plywood is bolted to two lengths of angle brackets with the holes all in them which are bolted to the bench seat. Works great. Wish I had a picture to show you.

[badbrad]

Kajun, I had a 14/48 jon and used pieces of steel angle to help mount my base. I used a hole saw and cut two holes in the back of the bench seat the width of the base. I pre-drilled holes in the angle to line up with the base. Inserted the angle into the holes, mount the base and then used stainless steel bolts and lockwashers to secure it. The steel angle is cut the width of the bench seat and really helped to reinforce the seat. After I was done, I covered the seat including the holes with carpet. You can't even tell the holes are there.

I sold the boat to my best friend to buy my bass boat. I can take some pic's of it and post for you if you'd like.

I did pretty much the same thing for the front of the boat, only difference is I reinforced the front with an 1/8 inch piece of aluminum that was cut to fit the front deck of the boat. Made it really solid up front for using a bass seat or chairback seat.

[roh1961]

Is it hard to steer a tiller with your seat in the center?

[ShilohRed]

This is what I did to mine ..
I drilled the center hole. Then the 4 mounting holes. Mine had the foam filled bench seat. lay the bolts on top of the foam. Then lay seat seat base down and insert bolts down into each nut laying on top of the foam. Just enough to hold each bolt.
Then tighten them up. Held the 5 years I used the boat. And still on it now..
Pete

PS forgot you put the nuts in form the center hole and a screw driver.

but if it were me doing it agian I would look here and use one of these.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...336&id=0013304

[cody]

i used 1/4" toggle bolts to secure the carpeted plywood and seat bases. it's pretty sturdy with the plywood on the bench. here's a quick pic. dont pay any attention to the dust.