Back Seat OPtions

Steelerguy · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 518

Question for You guys and gals who have direct drives with those removable cusions for a back seat,(older Models)

Other than putting a Phat sack back there has anyone made a some sort of bench. We would like to build a cooler holder in the middle with seats on the side that will have storage room underneath. Seems simple enough just looking for any pics or some ideas.

siuski · Posted: Mar 18, 2003 7:52 am Post subject:

I am also thinking about building a new rear seat to house my fat sac. I have a 93 nautique and don't have any room to add a ballast system under the floor, yet would like the weight out of the way. I like the cooler idea, and I was thinking I could also add foldable seat backs facing the rear so people wouldn't have to strain their neck to watch the riders. Any one have any other ideas? I would also like to see some pics.

SupremeWake · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 322

I just took mine out and put a fat seat in.

mainelaker · Posted: Mar 18, 2003 9:27 am Post subject:

I really like the seats on Malibu's that fit next to the engine box & face backwards. If I could find a cheap way to get those or make them I would in a heartbeat. I've thought of using the "cheapie" single seats you can buy from Barts or Overtons & stuffing a fat sack underneath it, that may work. You can also build your back seat higher & stuff a cooler in it but you may not have enough back support then. I'm thinking of building my rear seat up a little & stuffing some sacks underneath it.

SupremeWake · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 322

You can buy the 'fat seat' type of lounge seats that go on the sides of the engine box too. They face the rear.

mainelaker · Posted: Mar 18, 2003 1:12 pm Post subject:

I saw those as well but really wanted a "permanant" solution with a large vollume pump & auto switching.

Steelerguy · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 518

Im aware of fat seats..... basically im looking to make some storage options. Like a place to secure a cooler, and at least 5 inches of storage space under the bench seat. ( for anchore ropes, toe ropes, you know stuff) Seems usless to me to lay a seat flat on the floor of a boat.

SupremeWake · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 322

It seems useless to put a fat seat on the floor of a boat??? The purpose is weight gain. It also doubles as a place to sit. How does that qualify as useless... I would agree that it does not offer you any storage space, but I can't think of any other way that you could get that much weight in your boat AND create storage space. You could construct some sort of spacer to put a fat seat on, but it would have to be structurally sound, which might be hard. Thats alot of weight and stress.

Jay Dutton · Posted: Mar 18, 2003 2:41 pm Post subject:

He doesn't want to put a fat seat in the boat. His back seat consists of a back rest and a coushin that sits directly on the floor. I'm gong to do the same thing to my back seat. I have a little bit of storage space (4 inches) undereneath my seat, but I'm going to raise is about 5 inches. I'll maybe throw a sack or lead under it.

Maybe you could build a frame and use your exsisting coushin. Just put some hinges on it so you can flip it up to access stuff.

I had a fat seat, I hated it. It took up way too much room and I didn't like stepping all over it.

I'm using side sacks and I was thinking about maybe building a slanted box that they could be placed in. You could sit on them and not worry about stepping on them. Or you could get hard tanks.

da-man · Newbie Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Posts: 6

I had the Fat Seat in my boat and hated it. If you wanted a rear seat, you always had to have it filled and there were several times that I wanted room for people to sit but didn't want the extra weight. I think you can build something out of either treated plywod or or marine plywood and take it to an upolstry shop to have it covered. Keep in mind, a lot of custom offshore performance boats don't even come with interiors. So, there are shops out there that could make something like this for you. The only question is how much weight can you put under it. My boat is low profile, so I cant raise the seat up enough to get the kind of weight that I would want. For now, I'm sticking with lead.

orzech · Posted: Mar 18, 2003 4:25 pm Post subject:

i am thinking about buying a hard ballast tank to fit under my back seats in place of the plastic storage trays underneath the seats. This would save space and add weight

SupremeWake · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 322

The main problem with having a plywood design upholstered is the cost. To have a back seat completely upholstered I would guess might cost $500 or more. Thats just based on one estimate that I got on mine.

da-man.....if you wanted to sit on the fat seat without the extra water weight....why didn't you fill it with air?

The problem with lead/sand is that it constantly has to be removed and replaced to trailer or raise your boat in a boat lift. If you try to trailer your boat or raise it in a lift with 1000+ extra lbs. in it, you are asking for trouble. I've heard several horror stories. I used sand tubs last year and personally I'd rather save my back for wakeboarding.

jwat142 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 1009

Check this out guys. I did it this winter. I took the back seat out of my '93 MC Prostar 205 and made a locker/sundeck that holds two fatsacks. One is 750 lbs. and the other is 250 lbs. I did everything myself except for the vinyl part. It turned out great.

ADAM B KENDALL · Outlaw Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 128 City: Smith Mountain

the guy i bought my 87 nautiqe had a custom tank the that cushion sat on.

jwat how much did the total cost. that is pretty tight

orzech · Posted: Mar 18, 2003 7:23 pm Post subject:

do you have any pics of this?

jwat142 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 1009

It cost me about $75-$100 for me to do everything except for the vinyl and padding. That's where it got kinda expensive. It cost me $300 to get it padded and covered. I had the guy use the best padding and weather resistant vinyl, so you may be able to get it a little cheaper. So all together, it was about $375-$400. I love it though, it works out great for hold the fat sacks and now everyone isn't walking all over them. The only downside is the loss of the back seating.

siuski · Posted: Mar 18, 2003 8:52 pm Post subject:

jwat142-

When full, do the fat sacs come all the way to the top of the bench? I would like to do exactly what you did, except have the top of the bench some what below the top of the gunnel. That way people can sit back there safely.

Steelerguy · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 518

Now thats what im talking about. Thanks for the pics... the gears are turning now. Although i Love the sundeck. Id rather have seating and a place for a cooler. But your installation looks clean. I have two fat saks for the side of the engine, and if i have some peeps i should be able to enjoy some decent wake...

da-man · Newbie Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Posts: 6

sunrise-

I guess I could have filled it with air, but knowing my luck it probably would have blown out when no one was sitting in it. For me it was the look of it, the comfort of sitting in it, and having to have it filled. As for the weight, i've got a strong back and a solid truck so it's not an issue. It takes only a couple of minutes to load and unload. I usually do it myself, but at 60 lbs each, my wife can even help.

jwat142 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 1009

Siuski,
I actually haven't been able to go out yet this year because the ice is just starting to thaw here in N. Indiana, but I know for a fact that the sacs will completely fill the openings up to the top because of the dimensions. The back of a DD boat is a lot smaller than it seems. It just depends on how much weight you want back there too. If you only want like maybe 400 lbs. total, you may be able to make something that people can sit on, but if you want at least 750 lbs. or more, you will probably have to make something that goes to the top of the gunnel.

NAW · Posted: Mar 19, 2003 7:51 am Post subject:

I hear ya Jwat, nice set up too....the lakes over here are thawing nicely!! It won't be long now Cool

SupremeWake · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 322

da-man....I've got a solid truck too, my point with trailering extra weight has very little to do with your towing vehicle and alot to do with your trailer. Your trailer was probably designed for your boat and its weight....not added ballast weight. Most trailer manuf. will tell you not to even trailer your boat loaded with equipment. The trailer is designed for a specific boat weight.

My next question: regarding your 60lb...how many 60 lb containers do you have to load to get to the 1200 lbs that a fat seat offers??? I don't care how strong your back is...thats alot of wasted energy that could go into your riding....

just my opinion da-man...no disrespect intended.

da-man · Newbie Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Posts: 6

That's pretty simple math. It's 20! I don't need near that much weight since I usually bring several people with me and I have an older d-drive model (supra comp ts6m) that doesn't have that kind of power. I use 720 lbs in the rear. Here's what I do... I leave 300 lbs under the seat. The other 7 (420 lbs) is carpeted and is placed in front of the rear seat. I take these 7 out and put them into the bed of the truck. It takes no time, and for me at least it's very little effort. So, there is only 300 extra lbs on my trailer. Which, to me, isn't very much extra. It's way under the weight limit. All trailers have the max weight stamped on them and it's usually much higher than the weight of the boat. Mine gets trailered for about 2 miles to the lake. Trust me, I used the fat sac and sold it on ebay. I had much better luck last year with lead. 1200 lbs (if that is how much it holds) was too much for me. My wake wasn't much bigger. It was just messier, and my riding wasn't any better with the fat seat. Hopefully next year I can get rid of the ddrive and get a V drive with ballast tanks and forget all this! Laughing

SupremeWake · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 322

Ok. And thanks for finishing that math for me. Of course being a teacher, I had no idea how to do that math. Good luck with the lead.

west coast boarder · Addict Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 558 City: Nor Cal

Jwat that looks sick bro. Good job