boat modification

[ampersat]

a great number of the smokercrafts and the like on the used market have full bench seats. forget about all of the issues surrounding the floatation installed in the seat, since this could be compensated for elsewhere in the boat.

what would be the impact to the overall structural stability of a boat to take out a seat altogether or chop out the middle portion of the bench to make a split seat configuration? how much work and money would it take to add the appropriate ribs inside to compensate for this? if you were shopping for a used boat, how would a modification like this affect what you expect in terms of price? how would a modification like this be viewed by the coast guard or whatever agency titles or licenses the boat?

[WaterDog]

I’ve got exactly what your talking about. A while back I picked up a 13 foot Alaskan. The previous owner cut out the center section of the rear bench seat. :cool: , saves me from doing it. It doesn’t effect the boat in anyway that I have noticed at least structurally. However, if your going to insure it you might have a problem. I’m not going to insure mine so I don’t see it as an issue.

What was done was the middle 18 inches of the seat was cut out with a sawzall. Then some plywood was cut to size as an insert to form the inside wall. Looks OK, although I or even BOE :wink: would have probably done a better job of fit and finish.

This didn’t seem to effect the price but then I didn’t care that the boat had been modified in this manner. The price was decent and I don’t plan on selling it but I could see where someone else may not want it this way. I’d be interested in what the result of a safety check would do. I’d guess I couldn’t get an inspection sticker.

[Jsail]

Ampersat,
The term that comes to mind is structural integrity. That seat is holding the sides at a fixed width (beam).
If you take that away the sides would want to flex in and out, not a good thing.
The boats with side seats are mounted on boxes that are riveted to the bottom and the sides.
Securing to the two different surfaces is what gives each side stability.
I’ve seen it done on a 12’. He took out the center seat and put in a bow locker.
The bow locker comes back about 16”. In theory the top plate and bulkhead for the locker added back a little stability.
Before he started I had him build a paper boat that would float. I had him glue in some cross pieces of wood or straw where the seats are. Then he was to float it and press down on the boat and watch what the sides do. Then I had him remove the crosspieces and do the same. Without the supports the sides fold in or flail out when lifted.
When a boat is designed, weight factors are taken into consideration. The frame and gunels? were designed to be supported by the cross section of a seat.
It can be done, as in a sled, but if you remove some engineered structural pieces graemlins/eek13.gif I would recommend either replacing them with something or fishing in real shallow water.
It is less critical at the stern or bow, or if you leave part of the seat riveted to the sides and the floor.

[Wang]

I cut the seats out of an old Valco sled I owned and never had a problem. Id been inspected at Yaquina Bay and also at Netarts and never had a problem. The main reason I cut them out was to open the floor up for duck huntin.

[Keta]

Smokercraft sells ribs that you can rivet in to replace the structure you remove with the bench seat. :smile: