Inflatable dinghy - replacing fixed thwart by removable type

[Poignard]

Most modern inflatable dinghies have removable thwarts, usually made of aluminium, which obviously makes them lighter and easier to roll up into a small size when deflated.

Mine has a fixed thwart made of 3/4" marine ply.

I am wondering if this could be removed and replaced by a removable, lighter thwart made of aluminium or grp.

Suitable brackets would have to be attached to the side tubes for the new thwart to hook into.

The material is Hypalon.

Has anyone here made this modification or had it done?

 

[Graham376]

Easy enough if you want to spend money, Polymarine do Hypalon seat patches but a pair of those with adhesive will cost about £70 and then you need the seat.

Seat Patch - Hypalon - Polymarine RIB Inflatable boat repair

 

[Poignard]

Thanks for that Graham.

I doubt the dinghy is worth the expense.

 

[TernVI]

Why not just rout some of the weight out of the ply?
You could even take most of the ply away leaving just a frame and make it a grp/foam sandwich.

 

[Poignard]

Why not just rout some of the weight out of the ply?
You could even take most of the ply away leaving just a frame and make it a grp/foam sandwich.

That's a possibility. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[greeny]

When my grp thwart broke on the dinghy I used a large fender I had and inflated it hard. Very comfortable. Jammed between the tubes it didn't move.
Size needs to be correct though. Just like the old Avons.