Captain's Chair!

DonGargano

Early this spring I had re-secured the Captain's chair to the floor using 2.5 inch lag bolts through the pedestal base.  Seemed to be working fine (6 outings).  Saturday this past weekend we were out and my wife suggested I try to raise the seat "a bit".  While under way, (only about 13 knots) we hit a monster wave (Cruisers can be a pain in the rear) and next thing I knew I was in the stern, kissing the engine cover!

I don't think the floor has dry rot...but I'm no expert.  So trying this temporary fix.  Might get part of or whole floor replaced at end of season....depending on this groups' thoughts and/or recommendations.   I've bolted three steel plates from the underside of the floor, and secured the pedestal to the bolts with lock washers, locking nuts, and then epoxied around the nuts.  Also used a rubber (home made) gasket under the base, and epoxied this as well.   Would appreciate feedback.  

GMSLITHO

It dosent look like any dry rot .is the floor soft in spots 

LaRea

Good solution.  Through-bolts with backing plates definitely won't pull out.  

aero3113

Looks like a good permanent fix to me.

PickleRick

By epoxy you mean epoxy resin?  Epoxy glue?  I hope you used a good sealer like 4200 around the screws and where the rubber gasket meets the wood to keep water from getting to the wood. If you don't you will get rot from any water that gets in. It won't happen over night but once it starts it won't stop. That wood doesn't look like dark rotten wood. If it's not brittle/soft/squishy/pulling apart in splintered chunks then you're good.


Id have rather used one 12x12 or so aluminum backing plate, but what you used will likely give you plenty of strength.  

DonGargano

thanks gents.  Sealant was Marine Grade silicone.  

DonGargano

Would have preferred to use a large aluminum or stainless steel plate underneath the wood, but couldn't figure out how to get underneath without cutting a much larger hole. 

PickleRick

I hope it wasn't the Attwood Wal-Mart above the water line silicone at Wal-Mart.  It won't last long.  Get you some 4200 this off season and reseal it


Any water that gets to that plywood floor will soak up store water, spreading throughout the floor

DonGargano

PickleRick   Nope.  Some good stuff from Ottawa's top marine supply shop.  

BOATLIFE #1140, MARINE SILICONE RUBBER

PickleRick

Look like good stuff to me!   

I had to use the walmart stuff in a pinch around chain plates on a sailboat.

The next weekend I had to bail 3 inches of water out of the cabin after a tropical storm passed.

randy56

Great fix, you will stay in your seat.