[spinfreak]

One of the boats that I have is a 15 foot aluminum v-hull boat with bench seats...3 benches and a little triangle seat in the front. What I wanted to do was remove the benches, and install a floor. I also wanted to build storage compartments (with a small baitwell) on both sides towards the rear half, and a small platform at the front. I have read previous messages saying that the hull will get weak when you remove a bench. If I was to add supports from the floor to the sides of the boat, would that compensate for the seats? (I'm not sure what the supports are called, but they look sort of like a triangle with 90 degree flanges on two sides, and you would stand it vertically, and attach it to the floor and side). If this would work, I could move the floatation that is under the bench seats, to under the floor and also inside the storage compartments.
What do you guys think? Will this work?
Thanks for any help that you can give.


~spinfreak~

 

[614741]

Hi!!! I had to replace a complete floor on a 93 Dicovery side console 16'. It was over a thousand rivets and I purchased the new ribs from the company. What I'm getting at is, that boat had the triangular (and straight ones too) so I know how they go in. When I removed all the ribs, stringers and supports, I noticed that the markings were on the wall of the boat for the center seat. It wasnt removed just never installed. The boat did have a front bench seat and a rear bench seat to keep the hull integrity. So I think you should only remove the middle seat otherwise the hull would be too flimsy. Even though mine had the front and rear seats it still had three or four braces (triangles) one each wall. I had a 3/4" thick piece of marine ply that was covered with that marine floor covering, lying on the front seat and the front triangle "seat". This was my front platform. The rear of the platform did not extend past the rear edge of the front seat. In the center of the platform I made a door with a stainless steel piano hinge. This allowed me to utilize the space in front of the front seat for my 6 gal. gas tank and the life preservers. I had a small square mike crate at the very front of the platform (bow) to hold my anchor and chain. It was a very nice setup.

 

[spinfreak]

I get what you are talking about. I wanted to take out all of the seats, because I wamted to set the boat up for trolling as well as bait fishing. But with the seats in, especially the rear seat, it would be difficult to get to a rod on a downrigger. With the rear bench taken out, and installing pedestal seats, I would be able to move around the entire boat with no problem.
What I basically wanted to do, was modify my boat to be set up similar to boats from the manufacturer(I think Sea Nymph and Discovery make these type of setups) That have a full floor, a small platform at the front, side storage compartments from the rear of the boat all the way up to just before the front platform, and pedestal seats. I'm just wondering how the manufacturers compensate for not having bench seats?
Anybody else have any suggestions? ~Thanks~

~spinfreak~

 

[614741]

Mine was a 16'and had about 18" from the rear of the back bench to the transom. I put a flush mount stainless rod holder on the left and right side of the top of the seat. No problem at all. Even if you mounted a downrigger plate on the seat also there would still be plenty of room. Mine was a side console model with two pedastal seats. Plenty of room. I kept two cooler behind the rear seat. One for bait or drinks and the other was a livewell cooler with an aerator. The coolers are nice and light and dont take up valuable floor space. The heavier gas (6 gal x 8lbs.= 50lbs.) Alot less than the two coolers. I think you would be too flimsy without both seats. The factory must install heavier or extra gussets to make it work. You could call the company.

 

[spinfreak]

You're starting to give me some ideas...lol. I think I'll try making a scale drawing, setting it up how you said you had yours, and see how it looks.
Thanks for the help.

~spinfreak~

 

[spinfreak]

anybody else have any info that might help me?
~Thanks~

~spinfreak~