Bench seat option

[Patrick McClure]

I have a 280 Sundancer DA. the folding seat in the back is always a pain at best, and in the way more often. I was thinking about taking it out and putting a storage bench in there instead, but... it really can only be 20 inches or so tall else would need a back that would look funny. Needs to be around 60 inches wide but only 20 deep as well because i do use the table a lot. I found a taylor made fiberglass box that is close, but it says no sitting. worse, it weighs 50 pounds empty. I'm thinking a resin product (conveniently in the classic sea ray desert sand color) would be better suited, but everything I find is either 25 inches tall, or only 36 wide. Anybody know a manufacturer who uses different specs?

 

[KevinC]

I have a 280 Sundancer DA. the folding seat in the back is always a pain at best, and in the way more often. I was thinking about taking it out and putting a storage bench in there instead, but... it really can only be 20 inches or so tall else would need a back that would look funny. Needs to be around 60 inches wide but only 20 deep as well because i do use the table a lot. I found a taylor made fiberglass box that is close, but it says no sitting. worse, it weighs 50 pounds empty. I'm thinking a resin product (conveniently in the classic sea ray desert sand color) would be better suited, but everything I find is either 25 inches tall, or only 36 wide. Anybody know a manufacturer who uses different specs?

When I had my 260DA I would frequently fold the seat up and use two coolers in the back for seats. They served a double purpose. Just watch out for the engine compartment hatch access. You would not want anything too heavy or too big. IIRC your hatch hinges just in front of the aft storage area like my 260DA did - so if you put something there it would need to be easily moveable - especially if you needed to get to the engine quickly.

-Kevin

 

[Patrick McClure]

When I had my 260DA I would frequently fold the seat up and use two coolers in the back for seats. They served a double purpose. Just watch out for the engine compartment hatch access. You would not want anything too heavy or too big. IIRC your hatch hinges just in front of the aft storage area like my 260DA did - so if you put something there it would need to be easily moveable - especially if you needed to get to the engine quickly.

-Kevin

I’ve been using various types of coolers for a little bit. Yes the problem with anything too heavy is the engine hatch is right there. I didn’t specify that in the post but that’s why I’m thinking resin over fiberglass.

 

[Angus]

I have a 280 Sundancer DA. the folding seat in the back is always a pain at best, and in the way more often. I was thinking about taking it out and putting a storage bench in there instead, but... it really can only be 20 inches or so tall else would need a back that would look funny. Needs to be around 60 inches wide but only 20 deep as well because i do use the table a lot. I found a taylor made fiberglass box that is close, but it says no sitting. worse, it weighs 50 pounds empty. I'm thinking a resin product (conveniently in the classic sea ray desert sand color) would be better suited, but everything I find is either 25 inches tall, or only 36 wide. Anybody know a manufacturer who uses different specs?

On our other boat, which is a 250 Sundancer, we removed the rear bench seat entirely. Replaced it with 2 director chairs that have fold up cup holders. They work great, don’t take up any room, and it’s not like you’re sitting right on the floor. Plus you can fold them up when not in use.

 

[royalpiper]

Yes, that back seat can be a real pain and it's heavy as can be. Thinking of converting to lightweight camping chairs as an alternative and leaving it folded up.