Comfortable water stays often depend not only on weather and catch, but also on how ergonomically organized the space of the swimmer. Many owners of inflatable vessels come to the idea of modernization, as sitting on inflatable tubes or rigid banks for hours is extremely uncomfortable for the back. PVC-boarding It solves the problem of fatigue and allows you to focus on fishing or motor control.
But simply mounting a seat on the heel can disrupt the weighting of the vessel, which is critical for small dimensions. An improperly fastened element can shift the center of gravity, impair driving performance, or even damage the bottom of the pitching. In this article, we will go through all the nuances of equipment selection, types of attachments and safe installation technology to make your swimming truly comfortable.
Before you start drilling holes or buying equipment, you need to evaluate the design of your boat. PVC boats They often have built-in attachments, such as beams with profiles or special areas, and if your boat is in the budget segment, you will have to be smart and use additional accessories for fixation.
Choosing the right seat type and platform
The first step is to determine the type of seat that will be installed. The market offers a variety of options, from simple folding chairs to professional rotary seats with armrests and height adjustment. construction And the way it's fixed is that a heavy metal chair might be redundant for a lightweight PVC boat, but a plastic chair might be too brittle.
The key to comfort is the platform, or heel, which is the base that takes all the load and transfers it to the bottom or the trunk of the boat. Platforms are removable and stationary. Removable options are convenient because they can be removed by freeing up space for packing or sleeping, but they require reliable fixation so as not to shift while driving.
⚠️ Attention: Seats designed for aluminum or fiberglass boats are not allowed without adapting to the soft bottom of PVC boats. Sharp corners of a metal platform can wipe the cylinder or damage stringers under dynamic loads.
When choosing, you should also pay attention to the upholstery material: the fabric should be resistant to ultraviolet, salt water and dry quickly. Synthetic materials such as Oxford or special marine fabrics are best suited. Wooden elements should be coated with moisture-resistant varnish or oil to avoid rotting.
Necessary tools and materials for installation
You need to have a set of tools to get it right, and you don't have to rely on random objects, because you need to be careful with the composite materials of the platforms and the dense PVC, and most often you need to have a plywood or a composite slab that distributes the pressure over the bottom area.
If you're planning to attach the platform to the transom or the sides, you'll need special brackets. In some cases, you'll need drilling, which is an irreversible action. So before you start, make sure you choose the right place to apply the force. You need different toolsets to work with metal and wood.
Below is a list of equipment required for a standard installation:
- 🔧 A drill or screwdriver with a set of drills on wood and metal.
- 📏 Roulette and marker for accurate marking of the mounting places.
- 🔩 Set of stainless fasteners (bolts, nuts, washers) with a diameter of 6-8 mm.
- 🧴 Sealer for outdoor work (polyurethane or silicone) for waterproofing.
- 🪚 Lobzik or hacksaw for fitting the platform to the size of the cockpit.
Special attention is paid to sealants. Even if you don't drill the bottom, but use overhead elements, sealing the joints will prevent water from entering between the layers of plywood of the platform and the boat cylinder, which will prolong the life of both the seat and the vessel itself.
☑️ Installation readiness check
Fixing methods: transom, floor or board?
There are three main ways to fix a chair in an inflatable boat, and each has its advantages and disadvantages: the choice of method depends on the design of your boat, the presence of a hard floor and personal preferences. The wrong choice of mounting point can lead to instability of the vessel on the water.
Fixing to granule It's a popular option for anglers who have to sit with their backs to the motor and control gear that's thrown overboard, but it's a way to shift the center of gravity of the stern downwards, and if the boat is small, it can cause the transom to bury in the wave and slow down.
Floor mounting (on floorboard or inflatable floor) is the most common. In this case, the load is distributed more evenly. For inflatable floor boats (BBBs), the use of a rigid platform is mandatory, since the soft bottom will not withstand the point load from the leg of the chair. In hard floor boats (flat or book) the platform is laid directly on the floorboards.
The only way to attach to the sides is if the boat is designed to have a profile, so that the chair can be installed anywhere in the cockpit and even moved around, but these systems are usually more expensive and require a profile around the perimeter of the boat.
| Type of attachment | Pluses | Cons | Recommended application |
|---|---|---|---|
| On the transom. | Does not take place in the cockpit, convenient for catching in the plumb | Displaces the center of gravity, the risk of overloading feed | Boats from 3.6 m long with a powerful transcension |
| On the floor (platform) | Equal weight distribution, stability | It takes up useful space, it is more difficult to stand up. | A universal option for all types of boats |
| To the tarmac. | Mobility, ability to adjust the position | High cost, special profile required | Premium class boats with an installation profile |
Nyuances of NDLD anchorages
In low-pressure inflatable boats, you should not place the chair leg directly on the cylinder. The pressure at the point of contact will exceed the permissible, and the bottom may burst. Always use a wide plywood distribution platform with a thickness of at least 10 mm, covered with anti-slip material.
Step-by-step instruction: installation of a rotary chair
Consider the process of placing a classic rotary chair on a removable platform mounted on the floor of the boat, which is the safest and most versatile method. Before starting work, unpack the chair and study the manufacturer's instructions to understand the principle of operation of the rotary mechanism.
The platform must be cut exactly along the width of the cockpit at the installation site, but it must not rest on the cylinders with force. It is optimal to leave a gap of 1-2 cm around the perimeter. The surface of the platform is grinded and coated with paint or pasted with anti-slip tape.
Then you're going to drill and mark it, and you're going to apply the base of the chair to the platform, and you're going to mark the anchor holes, and you're going to use the core to keep the drill from slipping, and you're going to drill holes that are strictly perpendicular to the surface, and then you're going to drill the hole so that the bolt caps don't interfere with the seat.
Sequence of action:1. Mark the holes' centers.
Drill through holes with a smaller diameter drill.
3. drill to the desired diameter (usually 6-8 mm).
4. Treat the edges of the holes with varnish or paint.
The final step is assembly. Bolts are sealed, then they are inserted into the platform holes. On the bottom of the platform (which will contact the bottom of the boat), it is also recommended to apply a layer of sealant or glue a strip of rubber to protect PVC. The chair is screwed with a wide puck nuts. The nuts are tightened with a key, but without fanaticism, so as not to push through the tree.
Use growers under the nuts of the seat mount, and the vibration from the motor and the wave can gradually unwind the normal joint, leading to a backlash.
Boat bottom protection and load distribution
One of the main problems with the installation of additional equipment is the risk of damage to the bottom of the boat. PVC is a durable material, but it is not designed for point loads and friction against rigid objects, especially for boats with inflatable bottoms, where there is no rigid partition between the cylinders and the water.
To protect the bottom, you need to put a special material under the chair platform, which could be a piece of linoleum, thick rubber, carpet, or specialized fabric for boats, which not only protects against rubbing, but also prevents the platform from sliding along the smooth bottom of the boat while driving.
If you use a boat with a hard aluminum or plywood floor, the risk of damage is less, but still there. Small pebbles or sand caught between the platform and the floor can work as an abrasive. Regularly clean the bottom of the boat and the bottom of the platform before installation.
⚠️ Warning: Never use a chair with sharp metal legs without wide support plates. When rolling a boat or abrupt movement, such a leg can become a dangerous battering ram for the cylinder.
If there are several people and heavy equipment in the boat, installing a massive chair can be the "last straw." Always check. loading capacity Do not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended limits.
Maintenance and care of the installed chair
After a successful seat installation, it is important to remember to maintain it. The marine environment is aggressive: salt water, sun and temperature changes quickly destroy materials. Regular care will prolong the life of your comfortable place and preserve the appearance of the boat.
After each release, especially if it was salt water, the chair and platform should be rinsed with fresh water. This will wash away the salt, which causes corrosion of metal parts and tissue destruction. Metal elements (bolts, rotating mechanism) are recommended to be periodically lubricated with silicone lubrication.
In the off-season, it is better to dismantle the chair and store it in a dry room. If this is not possible, cover it with a protective case. The fabric of the seat can be treated with special water-repellent impregnations for textiles, so that it absorbs less moisture and dirt.
Regularly checking the tightening of the mount bolts is a guarantee of safety. Vibration and dynamic loads weaken the connections, so check the fastener before each season and after long transitions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I install a chair on a boat without a hard floor?
Yes, you can, but only with a wide distribution platform that falls on the bottom inflatable tubes, and it is important that the platform is large enough to distribute the weight and has a soft bottom coating so that PVC does not damage.
How much weight can a standard PVC boat seat withstand?
Most high-quality fishing seats are designed for a load of 100 to 130 kg. However, when choosing, you should take into account the dynamic load (pulls when pitching), so it is better to take a model with a margin of safety.
Do I need to drill a transom to fasten the chair?
Most of the time, no. There are brackets that are attached to the top of the transom using rods or transom-clamp bolts, and transom drilling is rarely required, and only for stationary solutions on large boats.
How to prevent the platform from slipping on the bottom of the boat?
Use anti-slip mats, rubber pads or Velcro straps glued to the bottom of the boat and platform, and it also helps to properly distribute the load in the boat so that the platform is pressed to the bottom.