83 exciter seats

[mlpeeps]

I bought an 83 exciter from a member of this site last spring. I had a great summer using the boat. I do have one question. The front seats where replaced with new seats. They used a 4"x4" plate on the bottom of the new seat. Over the summer the inserts in the seat bottom ripped out. The seat also has inserts for a larger plate, I think 4"x11." So I purchased new posts and seat plates that fit those inserts, however the new plates have a larger diameter post so using the old posts is out of the question. I would like to install the new seat posts but the holes do not line up with the threaded inserts in the fiberglass in the floor of the boat. What is the best way to go about this issue?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[ezstriper]

can you re-drill the mount to line up with the floor ?

 

[haftoo55]

:cheersWhat I have seen guys do is take a 4" hole saw and drill a hole in the center of where your old seat pedestal set. You should go through the carpet the glass 1piece of 1/2 ply a piece of 3/4 ply and more glass and you should be through. Making sure you don't go into the bottom of boat. ( this is what it should be) Then you have to dig out the foam around where the t-nuts are. Set new pedistal on floor so it is centered( where old pedestal set) Then take a 3/16" drill bit and drill the six holes. Pull the the seat pedestal off and drill the holes that you just drilled to 5/16" and install 1/4-20 t-nuts from under side. Please be careful when you drill holes so you don't go thru bottom of boat. Also make sure the bolts that you use are stainless steel so they don't rust. You can fill the hole back up with foam if you wish but most people don't.Also you should coat any bare wood with resin to keep it from rotting. Your seat pedestal will hide the hole put your seat on and go. If you have any questions give me a yell. Alan Carpenter Checkmate Boats

 

[mlpeeps]

Thank you very much. That is very helpful. I should be able to handle it.

Thanks again
Matt