Going from folding driver seat to normal pedestal style

ric · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2012 9:47 am

Well, I found a good seat that matches my boat. Turns out the neighbor had one? Weird. Anyways. I can't wait to put in storage the stupid folding captains chair. Worst idea ever in boating.

Obviously you can't get under the fiberglass flooring to put a backing plate under the seat pedestal, so how is it attached firmly? Is the floor thick enough for just screws?

PDACPA · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2012 10:24 am

Ric mine had the pedestal style, and the previous owner cut the shaft an I sat too low. I bought a new one at west marine and the screw holes matched up perfect. Screws right through the deck.

Can you look in your ski locker and see with a flashlight if there is a reinforcement under there? I know it is tight, but I ran some wires under there as the sides of my ski locker do not attach to the deck.

No picture with my seat on it, but here is one when I put the new post in and was doing either stereo or gunnel lighting wiring.

Berger · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2012 11:58 am

The first thing I changed on my boat was the useless passenger front/back lounge chair to a captain pedestal. There was no backing plates on the lounge chair, so i just used SS bolts and epoxy when I installed the new pedestal. I'm on my 3rd season now and the seat is still very solid.

I bought both the pedestal and two new Four Winns bolsters on-line at Great Lakes Skipper. Sold the original set on Craig's List in about 2 hours.

ric · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2012 3:25 pm

doesn't seem too hard then. What is a good length?

Something like this? http://www.easternmarine.com/swivl-eze-adjustable-pedestal-w-seat-mount-2385405

LouC · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2012 5:37 pm

When I put the new deck in my '88 about 5 years ago, I also put in new seat pedestals. The way the older boats were made, the deck is 1/2 in ply, with a 3/4 in reinforcement under that that is notched into the stringers. I used wood screws to install the new pedestals but I knew that there was plenty of wood under there to take the load. I also sealed the holes with 3-M 4200 to keep out moisture. I can tell you that all the places where the old deck rotted first, was where there was a screw hole that was not sealed.
I do not know how the decks are constructed on the newer boats, maybe if you e-mail 4 winns they can tell you. Be careful about drilling into decks because the closer you get to the chine of the hull the shallower it is.....

PDACPA · **Posted:** Thu May 24, 2012 10:31 am

Sorry guys, I meant to do this last night, but with my boat potentially out of service for the holiday weekend, I have been helping my buddy re-rig a boat he re-did for his boys so we have at least 2 boats.

My pedestal is 15 inches high. It is all one piece with the base molded on. There are 7 screws and the holes lined up exactly the same. I never thought about using 5200 on the bolts, but now that Lou mentioned it, I might do that on mine.

My OEM seat fit right on top. I am just about 6' tall and I can see over the windshield perfectly. I also love that my seat turns around so you can move when backing up or sitting in the boat on the hook.

And the boat we were re-rigging 1972 Mako 17

ric · **Posted:** Thu May 24, 2012 10:36 am

I love Mako's! Beautiful boats made for the rough. My friend redid his old one recently. Yamaha 200, new center, top, rails, paint, electronics. Basically a brand new boat. I had it topped out at around 48mph on the GPS last saturday and then took it out on Ponce Inlet in 3-4ft wind swells. Handled that like a dream. The GF was screaming her head off in fear for her life though so wasn't out for long.

PDACPA · **Posted:** Thu May 24, 2012 10:59 am

Well his other boat is a Maki 20 with an 80's hull with a 2008 Yamaha 200. He re-did that one too. Strips the boats down. New fuel tanks, new foam, patch all the holes, re glass anything that needs, shoots it with new paint and gel and non-skid and re-rigs.

His is the boat with the T-Top in the pic and my other buddy has the Mako 191 with the older Yamaha.

I would like a Mako, but the admiral likes the Four Winns seating way better and more space without a center console taking up the middle.

I can hang if I have no people and gear, but the 200 is faster. I need the 5.0 V8!

ric · **Posted:** Thu May 24, 2012 11:41 am

Tell me about it. If i ever keep this boat I'm going to swap in a v8. With the selling of my 3.0 and very good craigslist shopping skills I've priced it under $1000 doing it myself when all said and done. Really damn easy to do, I just need a overhead crane :shock:

With your 4.3GL, that's cheap modification heaven. Set of good heads, intake, cam, and a holley performance 4 bbl carb will put that thing in the low 300's hp wise.

PDACPA · **Posted:** Thu May 24, 2012 11:54 am

This is what we used to put the Suzuki 4 stroke he bought for the 17 on the boat.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-fold ... 35915.html

ric · **Posted:** Thu May 24, 2012 12:24 pm

I have one of those, but the boat is much taller then what it goes to.

www.iFourWinns.com

Going from folding driver seat to normal pedestal style

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