Anyone remove the helm seat from a 180 Sportsman?

[Recoil Rob]

It's held to the down by 4 bolts that go through curved washers, through the pipe and into the deck.

I want to know what happens when they enter the deck? Are there captive nuts? Does it just screw into the subdeck (read plywood)?

I'd like to flip the entire seat 180˚ around to be able to better access a storage locker under the seat. The frame has a crossbar that faces the stern and prevents access. Rotating the seat would put it facing the console and allow easy access to the space under the seat.

thanks,

Rob

 

[Recoil Rob]

No one? I know at least one of you has removed the seat, little help?

 

[DennisG01]

Well... what happens when you try removing the screws? It seems this is probably a pretty easy one to answer for yourself

I mean, if they unscrew you have your answer... if they just spin, you have your answer.

 

[Recoil Rob]

If I remove the screw and the nut drops off under the deck I'm screwed. Better to ask first.

 

[Greatty]

Have you tried reaching out to Grady? I would imagine they are 'captive nuts' but I've never attempted nor needed to remove mine. Is your 180 post 2006? My crossbar is forward (1999). I'm trying to remember what year they switched the crossbar orientation and why.

 

[Recoil Rob]

My 180 is 2004, crossbar is in the rear. I called Grady but they were no help, said they couldn't be sure on a 20 year old boat.

 

[DennisG01]

If I remove the screw and the nut drops off under the deck I'm screwed. Better to ask first.

Not really. You're taking the seat off regardless so it doesn't matter. Besides, it won't fall right off - it would loosen and then just spin and spin. Maybe eventually the nut would vibrate off, though. But it's still kind of a moot point since you're taking it off, you know? Go for it!

 

[Recoil Rob]

I am not taking it off regardless. It would be foolish to loosen without knowing the outcome first.

 

[DennisG01]

I am not taking it off regardless. It would be foolish to loosen without knowing the outcome first.

OK, we're on different pages here. Your first post made it sound like this was a project you were definitely going to do.

When I do simple things like this, I'm ready to go and will figure it out on the fly. This is one of those things that's really easy to "just do". It doesn't really need much thought. But as I said, we're on different pages - and that's fine.

 

[DennisG01]

On a related note... are there any access plates or anything else that can be removed to visually check?

 

[Fishtales]

I'd try to take it off. It is likely thru bolted with a backing plate, You'll prob have to put an access plate strategically placed to allow mounting of whatever else your going to install. Life on a GW is a risky game, I'm with Dennis. Go for it.

 

[Recoil Rob]

Here's where I m.
I called a GW dealer and talked to the Service Mgr. who told me it's either

1. a 1/4" sheet metal screw that's just screwed into the deck, or
2. a 1/4" bolt with an insert in the deck.

I tried removing one, would not budge ,was afraid I would snap the head.
At this point I contacted GW tech support again and got a call back from Caroline Ray, I believe she's the head of customer service and has answered some questions in the past.
She told me that she owns a 180 and these screws are not meant to be removed. They go through the deck and have some sort of locking nut on them, trying to remove them will break them and then they have to be drilled out and reinstalled with toggles.
I'll live with the seat as is.

 

[DennisG01]

She told me that she owns a 180 and these screws are not meant to be removed. They go through the deck and have some sort of locking nut on them, trying to remove them will break them and then they have to be drilled out and reinstalled with toggles.
I'll live with the seat as is.

Hmmm. That's strange. But, whatever - I guess it is what it is.

FYI, it seems more likely that if you just break the heads off that you can push the remaining stub down into the hole. Togglers are easy. Not pushing you to do it - just that it's not hard.

However, the old stubs are a moot point since you're not re-using the existing holes. So, really, that part doesn't matter at all - you're not worse/better off than before. The "fix" is still the same.

 

[Recoil Rob]

The whole point is I wanted to just take it off and turn it around, reuse bolts, holes everything. Can't be done.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Thanks for the info. At one time I tried removing the seat and like you found that the screws wouldn't budge. I didn't put an impact drill to it or anything. I too just decided to keep as is. Now I know that was the right thing for me. BTW my cross bar is in the rear too on a 2001. I don't mind it like that. Otherwise, you would have to put a bungee or something to keep stuff from sliding back.

 

[Recoil Rob]

I think I'm gonna design a box to fit in, accessible from the top for Plano boxes (lift the seat) and drawers that will slide out under the bar.

 

[Greatty]

Rob, thanks for sharing that information.