Protecting Your Boat Seat Hinges: A Diy Guide

Boat seat hinges are an essential component of marine seating, providing adjustability and flexibility to boat seats. They enable seat cushions to fold down when not in use and easily fold back up, enhancing the functionality of the vessel. This adjustability can be crucial for fishing or improving visibility for the captain. When it comes to replacing or upgrading boat seat hinges, several reputable brands offer a wide range of options, including Garelick, Wise, Swivl-Eze, and Springfield. Wise, in particular, offers a variety of hinge sets, such as the Premium No-Pinch Hinge Set and the Standard No-Pinch Seat Hinge Set, which are easy to install and provide a durable solution for boat seats. Additionally, boat seat hinges come in various materials, including aluminum and stainless steel, ensuring long-lasting performance even in challenging marine environments.

Using vinyl to cover the hinge

To cover a boat seat hinge, you will need the following materials:

• A replacement marine vinyl fabric such as Marine Vinyl Fabric, which is durable and easy to use.
• A staple gun and staples. The Arrow Fastener T50 Heavy Duty Staple Gun is a good option, and for staples, use stainless steel chisel-point staples that are 3/8" long.
• A flathead screwdriver or a staple remover to help remove the staples.
• Marine adhesive (optional).

Now, here is a step-by-step guide to covering the hinge with vinyl:

Step 1: Remove the Old Vinyl

Use a flathead screwdriver or a staple remover to gently pry out the staples that secure the old vinyl to the underside of the seat. Be careful not to damage the foam cushioning underneath. Depending on your seat, you may need to remove a strip of hidem, which is a decorative rim that hides the staples, and then remove the staples holding the backing material before you can access the vinyl.

Step 2: Inspect and Prepare the Seat

Once the old vinyl is removed, check the foam cushioning. If it's in good condition, proceed to the next step. If not, consider replacing it. You can also use a garment steamer to revive the foam cushions.

Step 3: Measure and Cut the New Vinyl

Place the old vinyl cover on top of the new marine vinyl fabric and use it as a template to cut the new cover. Leave several inches of extra fabric on all sides to allow for stretching and stapling.

Step 4: Attach the Hinge to the Seat

Follow the instructions provided with your boat seat. Typically, you will attach the included hinges to the bottom of the bench boat seat, making sure to use the vinyl piece to cover the hinge.

Step 5: Attach the Seat to the Boat

Determine the mounting location on your boat's seating platform. Screw the hinge with the vinyl piece to the boat, ensuring it matches the base colour of your seat.

Step 6: Staple the New Vinyl

Place the new vinyl over the seat, centring and smoothing it. Pull the vinyl taut and staple it to the underside of the seat, starting at one point and then moving to the opposite side. Continue stapling around the remaining sides, keeping the staples about an inch apart.

Step 7: Handle the Corners

Corners can be tricky, and you may need to make small pleats or folds to get the vinyl to lay flat. Using a hairdryer to heat the vinyl can make it more pliable and easier to work with.

Step 8: Inspect Your Work

Check that the vinyl is smooth and tight across the seat, with no wrinkles or loose areas.

Step 9: Trim Excess Vinyl

After securing the vinyl, trim any excess with sharp scissors or a razor blade. Be careful not to cut too close to the staple line to avoid the vinyl coming loose.

Step 10: Reinstall the Seat

Finally, reinstall the seat on your boat by following the specific procedure for your boat model.

Determining the mounting location

When determining the mounting location for your boat seat hinge, there are a few key factors to consider. Firstly, you need to identify the type of seat installation you will be performing. If you are installing a bench seat with a hinge-down mechanism, the process will be slightly different from installing a fold-down seat with a bolt-down mechanism.

For a bench seat hinge-down installation, you will need to attach the provided hinges to the bottom of the bench boat seat, ensuring that you use the vinyl piece to cover the hinge. This vinyl piece is crucial as it will help to create a seamless and aesthetically pleasing finish. Once the hinges are securely in place, you can proceed to determine the precise mounting location on your boat's seating platform. This step involves carefully selecting the optimal position for your seat, ensuring that it aligns with the hinge placement.

After marking the mounting location, you can proceed to securely screw the hinge with the vinyl piece to your boat. It is important to use the appropriate screws and hardware provided with your seat to ensure a sturdy and long-lasting installation. Once the hinge is securely attached to the boat, you can install the seat by attaching it to the hinge. The matching vinyl piece will effectively hide the hinge, creating a clean and cohesive look.

On the other hand, if you are installing a fold-down seat with a bolt-down mechanism, the process differs slightly. In this case, you will need to begin by removing the stainless steel bolts located on the bottom of the bench seat. These bolts are typically pre-installed into t-nuts built into the plastic frame of the seat. After removing the bolts, you can place the folding boat seat in the desired mounting position. This step allows you to customise the seat location based on your preferences and the layout of your boat.

Once you have determined the ideal mounting location, you will need to pre-drill holes through your boat's lids. This step ensures a secure and precise fit for your seat. Finally, you can install the mounting bolts through the pre-drilled holes and into the t-nuts located on the bottom of the boat seat's plastic frame. This will securely anchor your fold-down seat in place.

Screwing the hinge to the boat

Prepare the Hinge and Boat Seat:

Before screwing the hinge to the boat, you'll need to attach the hinge to the boat seat. Start by placing the included vinyl piece over the hinge, providing a protective cover. Then, using the provided screws, typically stainless steel, secure the hinge to the bottom of the boat seat. Make sure the screws are tight and that the hinge is firmly attached.

Determine the Mounting Location:

Carefully decide where you want the boat seat to be positioned on your boat's seating platform. This will depend on the configuration of your boat and your personal preferences. Once you've determined the ideal location, mark the spots where you will drill the holes for the screws.

Drilling and Sealing:

Drill holes at the marked locations on the seating platform. Ensure the holes are slightly smaller than the screw size, as you want a tight fit. If you're working with wood, consider filling the holes with epoxy to create a stronger hold and prevent water ingress. You can use products like 4200 or 5200 for sealing, depending on your specific use case.

Screwing the Hinge to the Boat:

Now, it's time to attach the hinge to the boat. Place the hinge in the desired position, lining up the holes in the hinge with the drilled holes in the seating platform. Insert the screws and tighten them securely. Make sure to use stainless steel screws that are designed for marine environments to prevent corrosion.

Final Checks:

Once the hinge is screwed into place, inspect your work. Ensure that the hinge is secure and doesn't wobble. Test the movement of the hinge to confirm that it functions smoothly. If you're satisfied, you can proceed to install the matching vinyl piece to hide the hinge, completing the aesthetic look.

Remember, taking your time and following these steps carefully will ensure a sturdy and reliable installation of your boat seat hinge.

Hiding the hinge with matching vinyl

The following steps outline the process of covering boat seat hinges with matching vinyl:

• Attach the hinges to the seat: First, attach the included aluminium hinges to the bottom of the bench boat seat. Be sure to use the provided vinyl covering to hide the hinge. This will ensure that the hinge is not visible from the outside.
• Determine the mounting location: Decide where you want to place the seat on your boat's seating platform. This will help you identify the correct position for screwing the hinge into place.
• Screw the hinge to the boat: Once you have determined the mounting location, use the provided stainless steel screws to secure the hinge with the vinyl covering to your boat. This step is crucial as it attaches the seat to the boat.
• Hide the hinge with matching vinyl: After installing the seat, the matching vinyl piece will hide the hinge, ensuring a seamless and aesthetically pleasing finish. The vinyl provided should match the base colour of your seat.

By following these steps, you can effectively hide the boat seat hinge using matching vinyl, creating a neat and professional appearance.

Using a Wise No-Pinch Hinge Set

Upgrading your boat seat hinges to a Wise No-Pinch Hinge Set is a straightforward process that will improve the safety and functionality of your vessel. These hinges are designed to prevent finger-pinching and to allow boat seats to fold flat with ease.

The first step is to purchase the correct hinge set for your boat seats. The Wise No-Pinch Hinges are constructed from OEM grade aluminium and feature a powder-coated finish for superior durability. They are designed for standard seats and come with a stainless-steel pin and adjustment screw for easy installation. The hinge centre is 3.75 inches, and the overall dimensions of the hinge are 9.5 inches by 8 inches.

Once you have the correct hardware, you can begin the installation process. The first step is to attach the hinges to the bottom of your boat seat, ensuring that the vinyl piece covers the hinge. Typically, two hinges are required per seat. The next step is to determine the mounting location on your boat's seating platform. Mark the position and then screw the hinge and vinyl piece to the boat. The matching vinyl piece will hide the hinge once the seat is installed, so ensure that the colours match.

The Wise No-Pinch Hinge Set is a great choice for boat owners looking to improve the safety and functionality of their vessel. These hinges are easy to install and provide a quick and simple solution for folding down seat cushions when not in use, which can be vital for fishing or improving visibility for the captain.

Frequently asked questions