Seats need replacing

Ariemoller

New Member
Feb 11, 2016
17
Jersey City
Boat Info
1988 Sea Ray Express Cruiser
Engines
2xMercruiser 8.1l Horizon
So got a 1988 390 Express Cruiser. The captains bench and passenger side benchs both need to be replaced as they are wood and falling apart. Have had little luck finding replacement units though since the benchs quite high. Anyone replace the benchs and found a good solution
 
My first boat was an 83 280 Sundancer with the bench seat facing forward with fold down seats facing aft. I removed the entire bench and installed a couple of swivel captains chairs in place of the bench and it really opened up the entire cockpit area. It was a long time ago but as I remember we really liked the improvement.
 
If the frame is still solid then just recover it you can get all the supplies from Sailrite and it only takes a sewing machine and a little sewing knowledge. They have videos on how to do things like that. I have a bench captains seat also and it needs recovering and I plan on doing it myself looks real easy. My boat is a 1977 Searay Sundancer 240 with twin 470's. It also had rear jumpseat but it was missing so I built one and put it where it belonged and now it is back to stock. This poor old girl has spent more time in front of the house in the last two years that in the water. There is always a project to do, all I have do is think about taking her to the lake and something breaks. Right now it is the trim control on the port side and the shift adjustment on the starboard side always something.
 
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So got a 1988 390 Express Cruiser. The captains bench and passenger side benchs both need to be replaced as they are wood and falling apart. Have had little luck finding replacement units though since the benchs quite high. Anyone replace the benchs and found a good solution


I have the 1986 390 EC , About 4 - 5 Years ago i did the Helm side box over . I was able to take the box apart and use each piece as a template for the new one. I got a pattern bit for my router and was able to fab the exact replacement. The Draws and there box i was able to re use. The port side box i just took out so i could replace the side walls on the boat also. Those i did in starboard ( They will never rot again ) its a good winter project !
 

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I have the 1986 390 EC , About 4 - 5 Years ago i did the Helm side box over . I was able to take the box apart and use each piece as a template for the new one. I got a pattern bit for my router and was able to fab the exact replacement. The Draws and there box i was able to re use. The port side box i just took out so i could replace the side walls on the boat also. Those i did in starboard ( They will never rot again ) its a good winter project !

Nice work. I did a partial rebuild on mine 9 years ago. Used MDO plywood good on 2 sides. Water resistant and sealed the end grains with West System epoxy. Will last forever.
 
I have a 86 390 just have it and the seats outside are in bad shape. The captains not so bad but the rest are terrible. I was going to just replace with pontoon boat sofas and seats. they seem nice and are ready to go. Any experience?
 
[QUOTE="Dave4562,
I have a 86 390 just have it and the seats outside are in bad shape. The captains not so bad but the rest are terrible. I was going to just replace with pontoon boat sofas and seats. they seem nice and are ready to go. Any experience?[/QUOTE]

I had a 390 for over ten years, but luckily mine was a 1989 , that's when searay upgraded the front seat pedestal boxes from plywood box to the 100% solid fiberglass version supports. I had seen so many older models with the rotted out boxes thru the years, until I came across a 1986 model that the owner had done exactly as you mentioned about the patio boat furniture. He had purchased four appropriate sized bench/ corner pieces and built to small boxes/supports to mount the two forward facing seats on, and then had the two rear facing setup so they removed with snap pins to access the huge engine hatch covers.
They had also replaced the rear bench seat with a couple of pontoon sections. They can be purchased in a lot of different configurations and were easily altered bases to access the hatches.

The pontoon furniture was almost luxurious compared to the original slab cushions and backrest. Made the boats cockpit look 20 years newer styling.
 
Nice idea about the engine hatches. I was thinking how to handle the engine hatches. currently of course they have an indention built into the frame so there is no interference so need to figure it out but the seats I have seen seem much nicer, newer and easily replaceable if need be.
I am having an upholsterer redo the inside cushions and just trying to find a nicer fabric that is not susceptible to mildew since it is warm most of the year here in Jacksonville area and we plan to take it south on cruises.
 
I redid my interior setee and aft cabin cushions with ultra leather like they use in the modern searays. Came out pretty good, if I can say so myself, I took each original piece/ cushion apart and used as patterns. Sew and reassemble, has been very comfortable for 4 years so far and still looks like it did when installed. Sorry I cant find any pics at the moment.
 
From my post above- Here is a pic of partially done. The bottom cushion is the original upholstery material, the backrest is my ultra-leather replacement cushions. Keep in mind that in pic they are just sitting there stacked,and had not been reattached to frame yet.
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looks very nice. I like the white walls better than my teak. Did they come that way or did you paint them?
 
The photo on my screen is blurred a little so looks like fabric. I do like the colors.
 
Boat is 1990 vintage, walls are original fabric, a kind of rough burlap looking heavy upholstery, sandy beige.


Since those pics I have also done the entire aft cabin area in the same ultra-leather. It ties the room together now having all matching fabrics. Makes the aft cabin area more part of the salon.
 
thanks for the pictures. It looks nice. I will redo the teak in mine it is too dark I like the lighter color and look. I guess paint it.
 
Looks like you are in New York .But Amish did mine great price all new wood and vinyl great price too. They are in Olivesberg Ohio if interested let me know I can send you his card no phones. The reason I say is because any good reupholster guy should be able to rebuild your boxes I know he can there.
Best luck Marty
 

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