Fairline Targa 27 Double Helmsman seat – Dismantling?

[moresparks]

Hi, I having all the cockpit upholstery recovered but I am having trouble dismantling the double helmsman seat. This is the reversible style seat and may be similar to the Sunfury. I have removed it from the plinth no problem.
There is a large “L” shape bracket on each end and is held in with 12 screws either side. The outside screws were self tapped into the base and upright and removed no problem but “all” the inside screws will not come out. They are all loose and just turn which makes me think they are bolted through with hidden nuts!
Has anybody removed the seat and if so how? I don’t want to use force as this may damage the framework. Some of the side panels were moulded GRP with hidden screws so I am wary.
Many thanks.

 

[BruceK]

No Targa specific knowledge, however, you are probably quite correct in assuming they will be hidden captive nuts. Unfortunately in all the boats I have taken the seating out they seem to universally fail by being mild steel and rusting onto the bolt and then stripping their fitting into the wood / grp. The only way I have been able to get them out without further damage is to cut /grind (careful of iron filings in grp though) off the bolt head and remove the bracket / seat whatever exposing a bit of stub left on the bolt. Use a electric drill chuck to grip the stub and drill out while pulling. Sometimes using the long nose pliers as a fork and lever using a penny washer to preserve the chuck helps if reach is awkward. This will best preserve the original hole allowing you to fit and glue in a brass hidden captive nut

Edit: If its a a captive nut (i.e. not hidden) on the rear of the board it can be knocked out backwards when the bolt head is removed.

 

[moresparks]

Excellent – superb information many thanks.
It looks like it’s out with the Dremel! I managed to loosen one about 3mm after about an hour with wedges etc. They are countersunk screws so I will have to be careful not to damage the special stainless steel brackets.
I have to dismantle on the boat as the seat is too big and heavy to move far.
Once again – many thanks.

 

[Kingruar]

How did the final product look?
I think I’m going to redo mine as the bracket has come away from the wood.
At the same time, I was thinking of sorting out the main driving position as I have to sit with my bum at the front (as if I had short legs). It’s all well and good on a clam day but it’s awkward on rough days.

 

[moresparks]

Hi, my seats are away at the upholsterers at the moment together with all the panels etc so it may be a couple of weeks or so before I get them back. I was delayed because of the Helmsman seat! I ground down the heads of the bolts with my Dremel and pushed them through only to find the cushions still stuck fast. My seats were stuck down with massive blobs of silicone sealant and removing them was a pain with hammer and long scrapers. The removal of the cushions caused damage to the plywood which had to be repaired before sending the seat off. I wrote up my findings on the project forum of the Fairline Owners Club portal which may help.

 

[Kingruar]

Cheers!

Thanks.