Newbie here - question about seating in a Sea Ray 200

[steves86ta]

Hi All,

Thanks for having me, i'm new to the forum.

A few weeks ago I picked up a 1992 Sea Ray 200 that needs pretty much a full restore. I got it cheap and plan to make a project out of it. This is my first 'family' style boat. I come from the Jet boat world where i was more worried about my 0-90mph than being comfortable and family friendly. Now i have two kids, wife, dog, etc...

Picked up the Sea Ray for 500 bucks. The drive had a hole in it and broken skeg i am assuming they ran it aground or hit something.

So far, it needs some flooring replaced, the drive fixed (already have a new one built just need to pick it up). Carb cleaned up and the fuel pump seemed to be DOA. Based on what the guy told me, he got it as payment for some work he performed. It sat uncovered outside his shop for 5+ years and the sun/wind/rain/dirt absolutely hammered the interior.

I did get it to start and fire, so started working on it after that.

My question for this post has to do with the lounge seats. I know the lounge seat bases are glassed into the hull. Is there any reason i should NOT cut them out? I would really like to go to two captain seats on pedestals and do something for the rear. Regardless the seats need to be replaced, so if its not a big deal to cut the seat boxes out and smooth/glass over the floor in preparation for carpet i am fine with that.

I guess i'm asking if they are structural in any way? If so, I will stick with this style and buy new lounge seats.

Thank you in advance. When i have more time ill start a build thread

 

[Lazy Daze]

Sounds like a good project!

No, the seat bases are not structural in any way. Cut away.

Google Toggler anchors - you may need something like that when installing a new seat base (blind fastener). Although you may run into some foam under the floor making it hard to get the toggler to set right. A small access plate could be cut and then you could relieve some of the foam. It might be easier to glass two pieces (thicknesses) of 3/4" ply to the floor as a base, and then screw through both the ply and the floor. That should give enough purchase to hold a pedestal seat stanchion base.

 

[steves86ta]

Sounds like a good project!

No, the seat bases are not structural in any way. Cut away.

Google Toggler anchors - you may need something like that when installing a new seat base (blind fastener). Although you may run into some foam under the floor making it hard to get the toggler to set right. A small access plate could be cut and then you could relieve some of the foam. It might be easier to glass two pieces (thicknesses) of 3/4" ply to the floor as a base, and then screw through both the ply and the floor. That should give enough purchase to hold a pedestal seat stanchion base.

Thanks for the reply

Yeah if I do cut them out I'll glass in some new mounts for the pedestals

 

[Golfman25]

Yeah, before you get started search Frisco boater on you tube. He restored a 90s sea ray. There is a high likelihood as you did into it you’ll find more and more issues.

 

[steves86ta]

Yeah, before you get started search Frisco boater on you tube. He restored a 90s sea ray. There is a high likelihood as you did into it you’ll find more and more issues.

Yeah, ive seen his threads i just havent had time to watch his videos yet.

So far i havent found any rot in the stringers and the transom seems to be very solid just the floor above the fuel tank was crap and the floor was rotted around the ski locker.

 

[GypsmJim]

I've been in brand new boats with pedestal captain's chairs and found them to be unsatisfactory because of poor stability. My wife simply hates them.

My current SPX has raised bases like you described, with a swivel captain chair on top at the helm. The passenger seat is a bunk, but a bucket was an option. In other words, its like a pedestal in height, but the swivel base is only a few inches tall and no post required.

AWESOME improvement. Now the wife is sorry we didn't order twin buckets. If I had the OP's boat I would keep the bases and mount the new seats right on top of them.

 

[JayhawkCurtis]

Yeah, before you get started search Frisco boater on you tube. He restored a 90s sea ray. There is a high likelihood as you did into it you’ll find more and more issues.

Didn’t he get divorced shortly after those videos? Don’t know if I’d follow his game plan lol.

 

[steves86ta]

As an update - i appreciate the info from everyone

But after weighing costs/work/effort i decided to just order new back to back seats. Ordered a set of the white/teal Wise ones from boatseats.com im hoping it's not to much work to adapt them to the existing glassed in bases

 

[Golfman25]

Didn’t he get divorced shortly after those videos? Don’t know if I’d follow his game plan lol.

I think so, but he did a good restore on that boat.