Captain's Seat Not Fitting

[boaterjen]

HI guys,

I have a new M, and I'm getting to know it. I note that the Captain's seat, behind the helm, won't sit into its grove. Its forward edges, on the side, sit on the edge of the settee just beyond the groove it's intended for. If I sit on it just right, it'll then wedge down into it's intended grove.

Will the Fiberglass retrain over time?

I'm concerned that it will damage the fiberglass of the settee getting forced down into its grove.

Jen

[seahouse]

Congrats on the new M!

My seat doesn’t line up exactly either, but it sounds like yours might be a bit worse – I don’t have to sit on it, just pull it sideways as I close it, to make it fit properly. Between the seat being floppy, and the play in the hinge(s) a sideways nudge usually is all that’s needed for it to close properly (or improperly). The arrangement is unlikely to ever be perfect.

Going from memory (I won’t be seeing my boat until May now), and without seeing yours, I would make the general (caveat: he who generalizes, generally lies) suggestion to slightly loosen the hinge mounting screws, realign the seat, and tighten them back up.

In the extreme case, the hinges might have to be bent to make a better fit, but I wouldn’t suggest that (or even loosening the screws) unless you’re confident in what you’re doing.

Study the arrangement, see where the actual point of interference is, see which way and how much the seat needs to move, and see if moving the hinges on their screws will move it in the right direction and amount.

Your dealer might help with that, add that to your “punch list”, so everything like that gets addressed at the same time.

Good luck – Brian.

[boaterjen]

Good ideas.

I agree. Hinge... Unlikely ever perfect.

Will loosen-retighten n see.

Thanks

[raycarlson]

yes your gelcoat will wear through very quickly.

[mastreb]

Mine fits. I'd loosen the screws, fit the seat, and then tighten them.

[Jack Sparrow]

I removed the seat completly this added more usable seating area on the sides, I can now sit in the aft corners when sailing

Jack Sparrow

[Catigale]

Jen..I can't remember the seat screws but you might have to pop some plugs to access the nuts on the seat screws. Worst case..remove screws, slightly enlarge holes, align seat, reseal and tighten screws

[boaterjen]

Thanks. WillCo

J

[boaterjen]

I don't understand.

I seem to be able to fix things with just

1. duct tape
2. silicon gel
3. plastic ties
4. velcro

So how am I going to widen the bolt holes and re-tighten?

Ah!

Remove the bolts altogether
Put plastic ties through the hinge holes and holes in the fiberglass
Seal with silicon gel, let dry
Use velcro to attach the hinge back onto the fiberglass.

(Velcro worked well to put the paper towell roller up.)

Ok. I think I have it now.

J

[Kittiwake]

.... Its forward edges, on the side, sit on the edge of the settee just beyond the groove it's intended for. If I sit on it just right, it'll then wedge down into it's intended grove. ....

From your description, I might try just filing off a bit of the offending edge of the hinged seat: on my M the hinged seat is quite thick and strong there and has no gelcoat where it fits into the groove.
Kittiwake

[boaterjen]

Ok I fixed it. I removed the bolts on the seat side of the hinge, sat the seat in place, laid hinge over it.

Hinge was installed crooked at gunnel side of hinge. Hinge is crooked. But can't get to those nuts, so I drilled new holes--which are maybe 3/8" NE of old holes, as it were. Replaced bolts. Wrapped seat in duct tape. Finished w a little Velcro--white, of course. Works fine now.

You all are great. Tks 4 ideas.

J

[Catigale]

..and remember, before you get your BP over 200 fixing stuff on a brand new boat - you could have spent 3x as much, and ended up doing the same thing...

[raycarlson]

be careful grinding on the M seat. it looks thick and strong but is really two thin upper and lower halves glued together and hollow inside.