Helm bench seat removal 1989 30' Sundancer

[andyr]

Time to reupholster the helm seat on my 1989 30' Sundancer. It is a large bench seat. Can the upholstered pieces be removed from the seat frame without removing or unbolting the seat frame?

Any tips on getting the back rest and captain's part of the seat off? The captain's section adjusts fore and aft.

Removing the seat assembly can't be done with the boat under cover and it is heavy.

 

[andyr]

The answer is no. The bolster pad on the top of the helm is attached to the seat back. Also, the helm seat has an accordion piece of vinyl which attaches to the sliding seat and seat back. That will be replaced with something detachable. Also, the helm seat slides forward and won't clear the dash. Have to slide the seat base aft to clear or detach the rails. Got the base off. It is heavy even after removing as much as possible.

 

[SCORPIO]

Unscrew the aluminum angles that hold the entire thing to the deck and slide back then tilt foreward. Once laying foreward, the screws that hold the drivers seat to the slides can be removed. The whole thing needs to go to the upholstery shop for recovering. Remove as much as you can to lighten the load then get a second person and take it over the transom. Us a couple of ladders to work it from the tansom to the ground. Getting it back on the boat will be a challenge, haven't done that yet.

 

[1956olds]

well by the time the upholsterer is done itll be warm outside and you can remove the shrink wrap .Then have the marina lower it in there with a boom or mast stepper.

 

[andyr]

Scorpio is right on. It all has to come off. No need to remove the slides. Just remove the lock knob and the whole seat slides forward and off after you cut the accordion and move the bench aft a little for the helm seat to slide.

Alone, I got seat balanced on the transom, then got on the ground thinking I could tilt and lower at an angle. Came down on top of me!!! It and I both landed in a snowbank so no harm done.

Putting it back, do you think two people and the bench seat on the swim platform is too much for the platform?

 

[SCORPIO]

I think the platform should handle it ok. I'm not going to replace that bellows on the drivers side, I'm going to cover the back of the seat and visable area of the seat frame. I've never moved the seat foreward so I didn't even notice that thing prior to removeing the seat.

 

[andyr]

I'll replace the bellows / accordion piece with velcro or snap attachments for easy removal. Heads up, the bottom and back of the sliding seat were rotted on mine. The upholsterer estimates $1100; marine vinyl, colored stripe (1 color not two as original), reuse foam. Not doing jump seats (they are excellent), not doing aft bench (I removed and replaced with lounge seats-work great)

 

[SCORPIO]

My wood seems OK, but I haven't heard from the upholstery guy lately so that could change. Don't have a price yet.