Dinette seat

Larry Patrick · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 5:36 pm Post subject: Dinette seat

Wife is tired of pinching fingers lifting seat off and on . Wondering if anyone ever cut in a door so you can access without lifting seat off each time? Might cut a 8x8 or 12x12 cabinet syle door in fiberglass side that faces hallway. Wondering if it is strong enough to sit on after cutting access hole?Will need hinges and latch any suggestions?

breausaw · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:36 am Post subject:

Aft or forward I don't think it would be a structural issue. I cut in an access hatch under the aft seat on our 22 and below the feet on our 25. If you keep 2''' or 3'' margins you should be fine. Place the hatch cover where you want it, tape it in place and pencil around the cutout. Drill a hole and go after it with a gigsaw, rotozip or Sawzall. Should be an easy install.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 10:39 am Post subject:

We cut in hatches on both dinette seats. Handy for small stuff that we keep near the opening.

thataway · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 2:56 pm Post subject:

No problem with structure or weight bearing on the seat. Many boats come this way, with hatches cut in these areas.

Larry Patrick · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:00 pm Post subject:

Good to know ,its structurally okay to do thanks

Casey · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:17 pm Post subject:

We modified the seat areas for both the forward dinette seat as well as the aft dinette seat. Here's what we did:

Forward seat. Rather than cut-in a hatch and install louverd door, we cut the hole (about 12' x 12" as I recall) then took a piece of matching Sunbrella and sewed hem's around all four edge's. We then put snaps on all four corners and screw-in snap in the area around the hole. Works like a charm, and Really makes getting stuff in and out of the compartment MUCH easier. ...no more pinched fingers.

Aft seat. We took the hard backed seat cushion out. We removed all the staples holding the cushion to the board. Then took the cushion to an upholstery shop and had them make the cushion in to a 'regular soft cushion (no hard back). I then took the board and cut about 4" off the back edge (you want enough so it's a little wider than the back support cushion). That piece was screwed to the rear portion of the seat bottom (up against the aft cabin bulkhead). We then took a length of "piano hinge" and affixed it to the raw edge and the remaining part of the original seat base. That gives you a hinged seat base where you can install the newly covered seat cushion. Works very well. (Remember to paint the newly hinged lid before you do the subsequent installation.)

Rereading this it sounds rather awkward (I was never a technical writer...). Hope you can understand.

Best,
C&M

Montana Kev · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 11:21 pm Post subject:

I modified the forward seat with a hatch when I did the forward facing conversion. I started to build a drawer but decided to just make a hatch, it provides more storage then a drawer. There are several photos in my album at the below link.
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album1399&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

Kevin

Larry Patrick · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 6:31 pm Post subject:

Nice work Casey and Kevin,alot of good ideas there,wife will be happy.She complained every time moving those seats.