Seats

[Justbass11]

Ok I own a 2003 Triton TR185 with a 150 Mercury, when I bought it the seats were in need of replacing. I order new seats not thinking of just reupholster the old ones. My problem is the center seat, after removing the back of the seat the sign says not to drill holes because of the gas tank. I would like to put in the center seat but not sure how much room I would have to drill holes for the screws. Any thoughts on this...I wished I had just reupholster the old seats

[Ski213]

I don't about your specific boat but on my boat there's not a ton of space between the piece that the seat back attaches to and the tank. There is some space though.

 

My suggestion would be to mark the hole locations, remove the section where the seats attach, then drill it. Put it back in place and put a piece of wire or something through the drilled hole to see how much space you have. I think you'll probably have enough room. 

[Fishing Rhino]

I'm going to make a suggestion.  Leave the center seat out.  

 

I have a Nitro Z-8, bought new.  After five years, I finally pulled the seat out, and made a step to the rear deck.  There are two small step pads between the seats for doing this, but not very compatible with older fellows, such as me.  The new Nitros do not come with center seats, though they may be an option.

 

If I need it, I can put the throwable pfd on the step.

 

The non-skid strips are peel and stick.  Available at Home Depot in the paint department.  They are two feet long, six inches wide, and come with a durable grit, and the yellow stripes.  I cut one in half, and rounded the cut corners to match the radius of the existing corners. 

 

Any holes which show can be filled with these.  Available at most hardware stores.

 

 

Makes access to the rear deck a breeze.

 

 

 

[Jig Man]

When I owned a Champion I had to do some seat work.  I checked the distance to the gas tank and found less than 1" of clearance.  So my advice is be careful.  You might also call the mfg and ask your question.

[Jm526]

I like the idea of removing it

[Justbass11]

@Fishing Rhino I like your idea and have decided to leave the seat out and make that a step. Thanks for the input

[Fishing Rhino]

You're welcome.  Hope it works out as well for you as it has for me.  

 

It actually works better for those who fish with you, since you'll spend most of your fishing time on the bow.  They are the ones who have to get up to and down from the rear deck.

 

One suggestion.  Use the thin layered birch plywood, 3/8 or 1/2 inch thick that you can get at Home Depot, and probably Lowes as well.  Apply a few coats of polyurethane varnish to provide a good seal from the elements.

 

Then spray it the color you want, or leave it clear.  The final step is to apply the non-skid strips.  I used Phillips Pan Head SS screws to secure it.  The access to the fuel tank fittings is beneath the step on my boat.  I would have preferred SS piano hinge, but it would have cost about a hundred dollars.  

 

For the few times I may have to get at them, I'll remove the four screws and keep the hundred bucks in my pocket.

[Ghostshad]

I need seats to , i'm looking at Overton ProElite 2 seats $ 500.00 or Just fix my own i know they will fit but they sure look Sharp.

[S. Sass]

On 1/20/2017 at 4:39 AM, Justbass11 said:

@Fishing Rhino I like your idea and have decided to leave the seat out and make that a step. Thanks for the input

I don't have a Triton TR185 or a Nitro Z-8 but my SeaArk ZX180 had the 3rd seat as well. I did the same thing. I think I took it out after the first trip out in my boat. Also someone once said that the 3rd seat made it a Crappie boat and I wasn't gonna have that.  Guess they didn't know so many boats came with 3 seats. And that the fish couldn't count seats.

 

To me it's much better/safer access to and from the rear deck with it gone. You can still see where the 4 screws marked where the seat was and it's been off for over a year.  I just want some nicer seats as well but I won't be plunking $500 on any as I don't sit in my boat as much as I stand.