Every angler or lover of water walks sooner or later comes to the idea that sitting on a hard inflatable can for hours is not a thing for your back. Comfort on the water It's becoming the number one priority, especially if you're planning long trips to trophy fish or just want to enjoy the scenery without back pain, which is why the question of how to put a chair in a PVC boat is a big one for most owners of such boats.
Unlike aluminum or plastic boats, where seats are often already provided by the design, inflatable models it all depends on your savvy and correct installation. depressurization In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of choice and installation, so that your vacation is not overshadowed by technical problems.
Before you start drilling or sticking, you need to carefully plan the location. It is important to understand that the installation of the chair is not just to screw the bolt, but a set of measures to ensure the safety of the chair. reinforcement We'll look at the different types of attachments, from simple brackets to complex swivel mechanisms, so you can choose the best option for your own. PVC transport.
The water environment is aggressive, and the use of conventional rusty fittings is unacceptable. stainless steel Or have a reliable corrosion-resistant coating, and the fabric of the boat itself requires careful handling to avoid damaging the reinforcement layer when it is installed.
Choosing the right chair for an inflatable boat
The first step to comfortable fishing is to choose the right seat. The market offers many options, but not all of them are suitable for installation on inflatable sides or light plywood cans. The most common choice is between soft folding chairs on the frame and more massive rotary chairs on the platform. Easy option is suitable for easy walks, whereas serious trolling will require a simple option. ergonomic adjustable.
It's important to consider the weight of the structure. If you put too heavy a chair, it'll shift the weight. centre The lightweight aluminum frame with a fabric seat is the middle ground for most PVC models, and they are strong enough to withstand a fisherman in winter clothing, but they do not overload the vessel.
Notice the type of attachment to the floor or the bank. Some models involve rigid fixation, others - temporary installation. Turning mechanisms They allow the fisherman to change direction quickly or to keep track of the sounder without getting up, but they require more complex installation and a stable platform.
- 🪑 Folding chairs: light, take up little space, are easy to remove, but do not have armrests and backrests with good support.
- 🔄 Turning chairs: provide maximum comfort and visibility, require installation of the base, heavier and more expensive.
- 🛋️ Soft jar linings: The simplest option, does not require installation, but does not save from motion sickness and does not have a back.
You should also consider the upholstery material, which should dry quickly and not absorb the smell of fish or gasoline. Synthetic fabrics with water-repellent impregnation are the best choice. If you plan to install in the bow, make sure that the dimensions of the back will not interfere with the control of the motor or oars.
Necessary tools and materials for installation
The quality of the installation depends on preparation. You don't need a whole arsenal of locksmiths, but the kit should be specialized. The basic rule is: nothing superfluous, but everything is at hand. To work with PVC and metal, you need a set of tools that will ensure the accuracy and reliability of the connections.
First of all, get a quality sealant. Regular silicone from a construction store may not be suitable, because it does not hold well on polyvinyl chloride and quickly peels off under the influence of ultraviolet. Use specialized PVC adhesives or polyurethane sealants that remain elastic after drying. waterproofing mounting places.
⚠️ Warning: Never use acid sealants or solvent-based adhesives that are not intended for PVC. They can chemically destroy the fabric structure of the boat, causing permanent damage and loss of warranty.
You will also need marking and drilling tools: a speed-adjustable drill, a set of drills (including wood feathers if you make a platform), a core, a roulette and a marker. Metal work (if you make brackets yourself) will require a metal hacksaw or a Bulgarian, and a file to remove the burrs.
- 🔧 Tools: screwdriver, wrenches, pliers, scissors.
- 🧴 Expenditure: degreasing agent (acetone or alcohol), brush for glue, rags.
- 🛡️ Defense: gloves, glasses (during metal drilling), respirator (when working with glue).
Use paint tape to pre-mark the drilling locations, so you can try on the chair and adjust your position before the final installation, without leaving any holes.
Types of fasteners: from brackets to rotary platforms
There are several basic ways to fix a boat seat, depending on your boat design and your personal preference. strap-upThey attach to the board or the bank with screws and press the legs of the chair, a versatile solution that does not require complex installation.
More advanced option - installation on squirt-board Or a specially designed platform, which is attached to stringers (inflatable tubes along the side) or bottom floorboard, which allows you to place the chair anywhere in the cockpit, and these systems often use standard sea bases with threads that screw the leg of the chair.
The third option is combined, when the chair is attached directly to the plywood-canIn this case, the bank acts as a support structure, and it is important to make sure that the plywood is thick enough (at least 12-15 mm) and moisture-resistant, and fastened with through bolts with wide washers so as not to push through the tree.
| Type of attachment | Difficulty of installation | Reliability | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push-up brackets | Low. | Medium | High. |
| Platform on stringers | Medium | High. | Medium |
| Installation on the jar | Low. | High. | Low. |
| Clay paste (stationary) | High. | Maximum | Missing. |
Each type has its advantages. Braces are good because they can be quickly dismantled and moved to the other side. The platform gives a sense of dry feet and stability. The stationary installation on glue paste (rarely, but used for heavy seats) provides monolithicity, but does not allow you to change the interior of the boat.
The Secret of a Sustainable Platform
When making the platform, use a sandwich design: two sheets of plywood 5-6 mm thick with a layer of polystyrene pasted between them. This will give stiffness, but will retain buoyancy and lightness.
Step by step: installation of a chair on a jar
Consider the most common and affordable option, which is to put a swivel chair on a transom can, which is a method that doesn't require any interference with cylinder design, and is suitable for most boats, and you have to prepare the can itself first, and if it's a flat one, you'd better reinforce it or replace it with a special "fishing" one with stringer grooves.
Find out where you're going. Get in a boat (on land) and have someone move a chair to find a balance point. It's important that your legs reach the bottom or paiola comfortably, and your hands reach the motor's ramp. Put the holes under the mounting bolts, and the distance between them should be consistent with the landing holes of the seat base.
⚠️ Warning: When drilling cans, be sure to use a drill depth limiter so as not to damage the bottom layer of plywood or, in the worst case, not to touch the cylinders if the can lies on them.
Drill holes with a diameter corresponding to fasteners (usually 6-8 mm). Treat the edges of the holes with varnish or paint to prevent swelling of the wood from moisture. Insert bolts from the bottom up, smearing the hats with sealant. On the top, put on the washers, the base of the chair and the nuts. Tighten the connection with a key, but without fanaticism, so as not to break the tree.
☑️ Checklist of the can installation
Once the sealant has been dryed (usually 24 hours), you can do tests. Check the stability, wobble the chair in different directions. If there are no backlashes, then you've done it. PVC It is equipped with a full-fledged captain’s workplace.
Installation of inflatable tubes and stringers
And you can't just attach the base to the balloon, because it's going to make you question the weight of the person. flat-timber or special inflatable stringers that come with some boat models.
If you don't have any mounting sites in your boat, you'll have to use a belt system or a Velcro system, or you'll have to glue special PVC pads. Pyatak glue is a very important process. The surface of the balloon needs to be thoroughly degreased, shined with fine sandpaper and two layers of glue. Once the site is glued, the mounting site needs to be warmed up with a hair dryer for better polymerization.
The reciprocating part of the mounting is mounted on the set site (e.g., a threaded flange), and often a metal or plywood insert is inserted inside the pen to distribute the load, allowing heavy seats to be screwed into the base without fear that the mount will tear out the fabric, which is suitable for mounting seats in the bow or on the sides.
- 💧 Preparation: thorough cleaning and degreasing of the surface of PVC.
- 🔥 Heating: Using a building hair dryer to activate the glue.
- 🔩 Fixing: installation of the loader for drying time (2-4 hours).
Therefore, the method with external pens and internal reinforcing plates without through drilling is the safest for the tightness boats.
Safety comes first: If you are not confident in your abilities when working with PVC glue, it is better to choose the option with a mount on a removable can or a platform that rests on the boat floor.
Safety and stability testing
Once the chair is installed, you can't swim straight into the middle of the pond. You need to be thoroughly checked. First, do the test on land: rock the chair hard, try to get your feet on it (carefully), imitating the roll of the boat. The structure should not creak, stagger or deform.
Then go out in calm weather. Take the first few minutes to check the boat's behavior under load. If the chair is mounted on a can, make sure it doesn't sway the boat on one side. When you're on board, check if the mount rubs the cylinders when you're moving. Any friction of metal against PVC at speed can cause scuffs and holes.
⚠️ Warning: Never set the chair so that it blocks access to the air vent valves or makes it difficult to row with oars in the event of engine failure.
Check the condition of the fasteners regularly, once a season. Bolts can weaken from vibration, and glue can age from ultraviolet light. Timely nut lifting and updating the sealant will prolong the life of your tuning. Also monitor the condition of the fabric around the fasteners: the appearance of white stripes or scuffs is a signal for immediate dismantling and rework.
Remember, if you put a chair in, it changes the sailing and the weight of the boat. In high winds, a high chair can work like a sail, so in stormy weather, it's better to dismantle the back or use low seats. Take care of yourself and your boat.
Can I stick a chair directly to the floor of the boat?
Theoretically, you can have a hard floor (aluminum or plywood). However, inflatable floors (NDF) this is strictly forbidden, because when pumped, the floor will change geometry and tear off the mount. For hard floorboard, use a bolt connection with a sealant, not just glue.
How much weight can a standard PVC can bear in a boat?
A standard plywood jar with a thickness of 12-15 mm, based on stringers, can easily withstand the weight of an adult (up to 120-130 kg) provided that the load is evenly distributed. The weak point is not the plywood itself, but the attachment points to the cylinders.
Do I need to remove the chair when transporting the boat?
When assembled, the chair and its base take up a lot of space and can damage the fabric of the boat when packed, and it takes 2-3 minutes to disassemble, but saves from rubbing cylinders and breaking mechanisms.
How to replace a special glue for PVC, if it is not at hand?
No "household" glue (Moment, Superglue) can be replaced - they are not elastic and will peel off. In extreme cases, you can use two-component polyurethane adhesive, but specialized glue for PVC (for example, Texacol or its analogues) provides the best chemical welding materials.