Being in an inflatable boat for long periods of time without comfort quickly tires even the experienced fisherman or hunter. Standard inflatable seats, which come as standard, often do not provide the necessary back support and are fixed too low, which makes it difficult to work with tackles. PVC-board It's becoming one of the first tuning elements that boat owners look for, and it's not just a matter of convenience, but also an important aspect of ergonomics that affects the safety and efficiency of fishing.
A well-designed support allows you to use a full folding chair that can be taken with you or fixed permanently. Unlike standard solutions, a custom stand allows you to adjust the landing height, which is critical for people of different heights. In addition, the correct design eliminates the risk of damage to the cylinders by sharp elements of furniture, ensuring the sealability of the vessel even in active operation.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of creating and choosing stands, consider the appropriate materials and give step-by-step instructions. You will learn how to avoid common installation errors and what tools will be needed for the work. The right approach to the organization of the interior space of the boat It will turn your boat into a real floating office or a comfortable platform for trophy fishing.
Why you need an extra support for the seat
The main problem with standard inflatable boats is that they are not properly fit, and when the angler sits directly on the balloon or on a bench stretched between the sides, their knees are above the pelvis level, which is a position that clamps the vessels in their legs, disrupts blood circulation and leads to rapid leakage of the limbs. Chair stand solves this problem by lifting the seat to the optimal height, which allows the legs to hang freely or rest on the bottom at right angles.
The second important aspect is functionality: from a low position, it is extremely inconvenient to work with spinning, especially wiring in twigging or jig, where active brush and body work is required, installation and maintenance of attachments such as sonars or rod holders is also difficult, the raised seat provides a better view of the water area and makes it easier to reach the various parts of the boat.
⚠️ Warning: Installing a too high stand can shift the center of gravity of the boat and make it roll. It is not recommended to raise the seat level more than 35-40 cm from the floor without appropriate stability calculation of the vessel.
In addition, using a separate support allows you to vary the types of seats. You can use a lightweight tourist clamshell chair, a massive car seat or a specialized fishing chair with a tackle box. Universal design gives freedom of choice depending on the duration of the upcoming foray and personal preferences.
Selection of materials for the manufacture of a stand
In the manufacture of rigs for inflatable boats, the key criteria are weight, strength and resistance to moisture. The most popular material for creating a frame of the stand is marine plywood. It has a high bending strength and, thanks to the impregnation with phenolic resins, it is excellent against the effects of water. plywood requires additional treatment of the ends and surfaces to avoid stratification over time.
An alternative to wood is aluminum alloy profiles, such as duraluminium corners and pipes. Aluminum is lightweight, does not rust or require complex maintenance. Devices from profile pipes are often more durable than wood, but are more difficult to make at home without welding or special connecting elements. For temporary solutions, you can use durable plastic or composite materials, but they may be less resistant to dynamic loads.
As fasteners, only stainless steel (AISI 304 or AISI 316) or high-end galvanized fasteners are required. Conventional ferrous metal will quickly rust even when painted, and rust can spoil the appearance of the boat and the fishing clothes.
Design features and types of stands
The design of the stand depends on whether it is installed on the floorboard (half) of the boat or on the transom. Floor options are stable plates on four or more legs. They provide maximum comfort, because they allow you to turn the chair in any direction. An important element of such designs is the presence of wide "heels" at the ends of the supports, so as not to push the cylinders or floorboard under the weight of a person.
The transom stands are attached directly to the wooden trunk of the boat, which saves the interior space of the cockpit, which is especially true for boats up to 3 meters long, but such structures put additional stress on the transom, especially when driving for an outboard motor when vibrations occur. transom bracket It should be designed for the weight of the passenger with a margin of safety.
There are also combinations and removables. The good thing about removable supports is that they can be removed if you want to put a large load or drop a dog in a boat. Stationary structures that are glued or attached to floorboards provide monolithicity and no backlashes, but they lack flexibility in space use.
How to calculate the load on the legs of the stand?
When calculating the load, consider not only the static weight of the angler, but also the dynamic coefficient. When rolling, the load per leg can increase by 2-3 times. If a person weighs 90 kg, the structure must withstand a minimum of 150-180 kg of distributed load. It is recommended to make the safety margin twofold.
Step by step instructions: making a stand of plywood
The process of creating a stand yourself begins with the design and preparation of drawings, you need to determine the exact size of the base of the chair you plan to use, and the dimensions of the free space in the boat, and then you can start to unravel the material and build.
☑️ Checklist of preparation for manufacture
The first step is to cut out the top platform and the support pillars, and the platform should be wide enough so that the legs of the chair do not hang from the edges, the optimal shape is a rectangle or a square with rounded corners to prevent injuries and damage to the cylinders by sharp edges, all corners and faces of the plywood should be carefully polished.
Then we build a frame. The legs can be fixed at an angle (slanting) for greater stability or perpendicular to the plane, reinforcing the structure with horizontal lintels (tsargas). To connect, we use furniture screws and PVA joinery (water resistant) glue. After assembly, the structure must be covered with yacht varnish or special impregnation to protect against moisture and ultraviolet.
The final step is to put an anti-slip coating on the top, which is to use a self-adhesive film with an abrasive coating or to glue a piece of carpet, and this will prevent the chair from sliding on the smooth surface of the plywood while the boat is moving.
Installation and fastening to the elements of the boat
If you're making a stationary stand that you plan to attach to the floorboards, it's important to spread the load. You can't just fasten the legs to a thin plywood floor, it can break through. You need to install reinforcing plates (laying plates) on the bottom of the floorboard under the mounting site, and you can fasten them with wide washers through the bolts.
For transom variants, special brackets are used that cover the top slice of the transom. These brackets usually have an adjustable grip width and screw clips. When installing, make sure that the metal contact points with the transom tree are laid with rubber or plastic pads to avoid damaging the lacquer coating and preventing water from entering the tree structure.
Removable stands They're often fixed by the floor-mounted response parts, which can be metal pins that go into the leg holes, or fast-mounting systems, and the main requirement is a secure fixation that prevents the boat from rolling spontaneously.
⚠️ Attention: When drilling holes in the floorboards of the boat, be extremely careful. A mistake of several millimeters can damage inflatable tubes under the floorboards. Use depth limiters.
Comparison of materials and specifications of structures
To help you make your choice, we have compiled a comparative table of the main materials used to make stands, each with its own advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when designing.
Moisture resistance| Materials | Structure weight | Difficulty of manufacture | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phanera FSF/FB | Medium. | Tall (covered) | Low. | Low. |
| Aluminum profile | Low. | Very high. | Medium | Medium |
| Stainless steel | Highly | Maximum | High. | High. |
| Plastic (PVC profile) | Low. | Maximum | Medium | Medium |
As you can see from the table, plywood remains the leader in both accessibility and ease of processing, making it ideal for home craftsmanship. Aluminum benefits in strength-to-weight ratios, but requires more precise fitting of parts. Steel and plastic are used less often because of either high weight or specific requirements for joining elements.
Frequent errors and expert recommendations
One of the most common mistakes is to ignore the weight of the entire structure, and the PVC boat already has a limited payload, and every extra kilogram on board is a lost payload. Overly massive stand It can significantly reduce the driving performance of the boat and increase fuel consumption.
And there are also frequent geometry errors, and if the legs of the stand are too close together, it's easy to flip over, if it's too wide, it's going to take up all the useful space, and the ideal base should be the same as the seat with a small margin.
Use rubber tips on the legs of the stand, which not only protect the surface of the boat from scratches, but also prevent the structure from slipping on the wet floor, which is especially important when pitching.
Don't forget the aesthetics and safety of the ends. Unpainted or poorly treated edges of plywood will quickly gain water, swell and begin to collapse, and sharp corners are also a potential injury. All protruding parts of the structure shall be rounded and covered.
The key to building a stand is to balance comfort, weight and safety, so don't sacrifice sustainability to save space.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Can I use regular plywood instead of moisture resistant?
Regular plywood will quickly absorb moisture, dissipate and lose strength, and in constant contact with water and high humidity, only PVC or PVC grades that have been varnished or impregnated can be used.
What is the maximum weight of a homemade stand?
Properly assembled design of plywood 12-15 mm thick with reinforced connections calmly withstands the load of up to 150-200 kg. The main thing is a high-quality assembly and the absence of defects in the material.
Do I need to drill the bottom of the boat to mount the stand?
In most cases, this is not necessary. Floor stands are stable due to their own weight and wide base. If you want rigid fixation, it is better to use existing boat fasteners or a sling system without damaging the cylinders.
How to protect metal fasteners from corrosion?
Use only stainless steel (A2, A4). If you use conventional metal, you need careful painting and regular lubrication. However, it is better not to risk and immediately buy the appropriate fasteners, so that the rust does not spoil the boat and clothes.
Will this be suitable for a boat with an inflatable floor (NDB)?
inflatable floor boats require special solutions with a very wide footing area to avoid damaging the keel and bottom cylinders. Conventional stiff legs can be dangerous, and in such cases it is better to use suspended seats or special inflatable platforms.