Decking preventing bow chairs from fully extending.

[Jclima]

I installed Raptor decking on my C-302 earlier this year just to realize 6 months later that the decking prevents the chair from fully extending flush with the deck. Sitting on them would cause the hinges to break. Has anyone solved this problem? decking company offered to remove the foam from the top and behind the chair but I think it will make it look weird. I also thought about ways I could modify the hinges but it would likely cause alignment issues at the latch. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[OverTime]

I installed Raptor decking on my C-302 earlier this year just to realize 6 months later that the decking prevents the chair from fully extending flush with the deck. Sitting on them would cause the hinges to break. Has anyone solved this problem? decking company offered to remove the foam from the top and behind the chair but I think it will make it look weird. I also thought about ways I could modify the hinges but it would likely cause alignment issues at the latch. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

You might have to replace the hinges with those "dual action" types. They expand up and out as they hinge.

 

[Jclima]

You might have to replace the hinges with those "dual action" types. They expand up and out as they hinge.

I thought about that. Is that what they are called?

 

[PanaSeaAhToo]

Starboard shims under the hinge to raise the hinge the thickness of the EVA?

 

[Jclima]

Starboard shims under the hinge to raise the hinge the thickness of the EVA?

I think it is 6mm. wouldn't shims prevent it from closing and latching?

 

[Full_O_Fish]

Take the seat off the hinge, take it up to the shop and slice the hinge edge off about an inch back (to fully clear the depth of the hinge screws). Then take another slice off the edge of that, or use a planer/router to get a nice clean edge and create the necessary gap thickness for another piano hinge.

Cut a piano hinge to the width of the seat and screw it to both pieces in the same orientation as the original seat hinge. Then reattach the seat to the hinge still on the boat.

The seat dimensions won't have changed for latching/locking and since the edges are fully supported by the lip of the deck it won't compromise the structure so it can still be walked on while closed. Only difference will be a slightly sloped front edge when open, but it should hardly be noticable while seated.

 

[Full_O_Fish]

 

[Ralf H]

I think it is 6mm. wouldn't shims prevent it from closing and latching?

Yes, the seat would then sit high aft and the latch forward might no longer catch. Unfortunately I think the better idea is still to add a cutout to the EVA. To alleviate your concern of it looking a little odd, you could have a new panel designed for this, so it looks neater and more intentional.

Cheers,

Ralf

 

[Jclima]

Yes, the seat would then sit high aft and the latch forward might no longer catch. Unfortunately I think the better idea is still to add a cutout to the EVA. To alleviate your concern of it looking a little odd, you could have a new panel designed for this, so it looks neater and more intentional.

Cheers,

Ralf

Yeah, still debating if I do that or just give up on the seats and use it for storage.