176 back seat

[rwfjr]

Just bought a 1996 Nautique176. It did not have the back seat /sundeck option. I have searched for one but no luck. Looking for advice on how to build something similar. Knowing the original specifications would be most helpful.

[James]

I owned a 1998 SN 176 with the sundeck option. The seat bottom (not the seat back) was used to make the sundeck. The seat bottom sat directly on the floor and was not fastened down. There were 2 angle steel pieces mounted to the underside of the seat bottom running a few inches short on each end of the length of the underside of the seat so the seat bottom would not buckle under load when in the sundeck position. Those steel pieces were intensionally left short so the actual seat bottom could rest on the side mounts when in the sundeck position. As I recall the side mount was an approximately 2 or 3" right angle piece of aluminum or steel that was about 12" long bolted to each side and covered with a piece of flimsy molded plastic that honestly was very unattractive and prone to yellowing and cracking due to UV exposure. I actually removed the mounts and took them to a vinyl upholstery shop and had them both covered with some foam and vinyl to match the interior. they looked much better than the original and actually functioned as armrests. The right angle piece/armrest was mounted 4-5" below the gunwale so when the seat bottom cushion was in the sundeck position and resting on the mounts/armrests the cushion was flush with the top of the seat back across the back of the boat and the gunwale to the side. I hope this helps

[rwfjr]

James, thanks so much. Do you have any pictures? Do you know where I can get the specs for the back seat. Would love to find one but my gut tells me that is probably not going to happen. I will build one but would obviously like to have the real thing. Thanks again.

[James]

I no longer own the boat and have no pictures of the back seat. I can help you with ideas to make it work. PM me if you want to talk. Jim