I have a problem with the front buttseat on a 2000 Cobra 201. It appears that the plate which the front buttseat mounts through has broken loose somehow. I can see the form of the plate move under the carpet if anyone is sitting on it. Called a local dealer (obviously not a Cobra dealer) and he suggested that that we cut an access hole in the compartment directly behind the seat and check to see if the nuts had become loose. Did that and was confronted with a wall of foam and after that a 6" PVC pipe. Could not locate any securing nuts or devices. Is anyone familiar with this problem that could suggest a fix? How is the seat secured to the deck? What is the purpose of the PVC pipe? Any help would be greatly appreciated - other than telling the guy in the front of the boat to loss some weight.
First off, Welcome to the BBC Boards!! Sounds like your into the front floatation area and the tube is there to run any water that gets in the front bow area though the sealed foam. Could we get some pics? That would help us understand the problem.
Have you thought about a recess trolling tray? In my Basscat project once I cut the deck for the tray and removed all of the foam I was able to reach all the way to the front storage compartment. Re-glassed the foam chamber back off opened up the PVC tube to allow the water from the tray to drain. That way if you ever need to get to those bolts just pull the tray back out. All boats are made a little different, but just a thought.
It wqs a bit tough getting pics through the access hole and not really being able to see what I was shooting but here are a few (I hope) to give you an idea of what we are up against. I have also been advised by a more savvy forum member (my son) to post this on the Cobra forum. It appears that there is not really a typical nut but rather a metal piece imbedded in the fiberglass - not what I wanted to see. Any advise from anyone with knowledge or experience in this would be appreciated.
Must be a Missouri thing I guess because mine came loose also. I took a piece of steel and welded it to the existing plate off the front edge and screwed it through the front to give it some extra holding power. I didn't think of it when I was doping it because I'm old and forgetful but if I did it over again I would have epoxied the section that slips through the top. I remembered that it was loose all the way around where it should have been glassed in. The epoxy may have even held it in place without the added steel extension plate. If yours is loose around the top then try the epoxy first as I think that will hold it.
you might wanna check to see if that area around the pedestal hole is not delaminated!, because all the securing of the base is not going to solve the prob.,you will have to pull your carpet back.
Here is an update on our buttseat problem. We have cut back the carpet and found the metal pedestal mounting plate to be tight to the wooden insert but the whole thing was loose in the deck apparently due to the fiberglass delaminating. I have attached more pictures of what we found. We have actually removed all of the residual fiberglass (not pictured)from below where the wood insert previously was as well as from around the edges that appeared to be delaminated. We then removed enough foam to give us some working room underneath but are stuck now because the weather has not been warm enough to work with the fiberglass. It has been too cold for too long here in St. Louis. I will also attempt to attach a diagram of our plan to proceed to solve our problem. Neither of us are very knowledable on working with fiberglass, just one time before when we repaired the leaky livewell. Any suggestions or recommendations with regards to how to proceed would be appreciated. Need to get this done - Headed to Gunterville soon.
Nixa Man - take a look at the updated post on the buttseat problem and see if it was similar to what you experienced and if you think what we are planning in the last picture will work as a permanent fix or if you have any other suggestion.
That will work if you can get it in place. I would suggest getting some 1/4" Aluminum and welding nuts to it to run the bolts into to hold it in place. Get it all ready to go with the holes drilled through the deck then coat it with epoxy and and put it in and tighten the screws holding it in place. This plate will be in two pieces split in the middle so it can be slid into place. I would also put nuts welded in place for the top plate and have a spacer made to level the deck between it and the 1/4" aluminum plates. Screw everything down with epoxy in between everything and then fill the gap around the plate with epoxy also. Put new carpet down and wait until the weekend to give the epoxy time to dry and never worry again. I was in a hurry with mine because I needed the boat that weekend. Mine works fine but this way would be stronger and more permanent. I wouldn't have to worry about my fat butt knocking it loose. You idea would work I just don't like the idea of the wood because not matter what you do water will get to it and rot will set in. My way is rot proof and you only do it once.
