Seat frames (Upholstery)

[Wetracer]

Does anyone know where to get info on building different kinds of seat frames?? I need to build some for my upholsterer to do my boat. I searched this section and could not find anything. Mike

[lebel409]

Me too...my dash got extended on the passenger side so I'm thinking back to back on the drivers side and face to face on the passenger side with a panel uphostered to match the seat between them. The rear passenger seat may be more like a jump seat, might me a little narrow.

Any plans?

[lebel409]

I talked to my dad who raced boats in the sixties. He said you build a simple 3 sided box out of 3/8" plywood or for a back to back seat an H. Then build a seat pan, just a piece of plywood that fits into the seat. Then you resin or varnish the crap out of it. At this point you can put in some foam for making shapes/contours to make sure you fit and everything is where it's supposed to be, then take it to the upholstery guy. You may be able to skip the last step if the shapes are simple or the upholstery guy has the boat to work with so he can get the shapes right.

Then you screw the seat backs in, put the seat bottoms in and go.

I'm gonna go a little farther. I'm going to put a C shape around the bottom of the sides and wood cleats at all the corners. I think I'm also going to put some extra drain holes into the sides. I'm thinking about ways to keep the foam either dry or at least not wet againt the seat bottoms...

[hbpdub]

instead of the cleats I used fiberglass matting on all the corners and now the seats are bomb proof.

[lebel409]

Good idea, thanks!

[marty722]

Do you have to use marine wood or can you use reg plywood and do some treatments on it? I'm going to add to my seating also but can't find marine wood anywhere local. Thanks

[lebel409]

http://www.aitwood.com/

They're in Anaheim. I'm also tempted to use the curved sections, but maybe making too much work...

My dad said the the seat bottom is what really gets soaked, foam against wood. Marine plywood wouldn't matter on the sides and isn't enough on the bottoms. A composite of some sort might be cool.

Of course this is easy to talk about. When I get the fiberglass/gel issues dealt with and a moter in place I'll get more concerned about my seats.

[sleekcraft78]

I just did the interior in my boat, I didn't use marine plywood. For my new dog house i used birch hardwood. It was really nice to work with and very clean. I resined over all my wood. To make it strong I spread a polyester blanket over the inside and resined it. Sweet shit to work with. front seats I went cheap and puschased tem already done and put them on swivaling pedistals. The seats were cheaper than getting the old ones reupolstered but the swivels wernt cheap. I figured instead of everyone sitting sideways in the seats to talk to everyone they can turn it. Hopfully be easier on things.

[jimslade]

Cheap wood works fine. I layer of cloth and drill ventilation holes in the bottom and it should outlive most of us. Make sure all wood even holes get resin.