Adding Hinges

[carcrz]

We're wanting to add a set of stainless hinges to the side seat cushions with compartments under them so we don't have to take them off when trailering w/ the cover off. Any suggestions for where to get them and about how much they'll run me? I think the RZ's have what I'm wanting, but not sure.

[chpthril]

I think you would have to do with a couple of those double action hinges on the front edge so the seat opens to the inside. It would have to pull out a little from the seat back and then open up. These are not cheap, im sure.

IMO, not necessary. We towed ours for 3 years weekly and never felt like I was going to loose a seat bottom cushion.

[jrj701]

Curious why? are you worried they will come out of the boat? I trailer with the cover off all the time and the seats stay put.

[carcrz]

Curious why? are you worried they will come out of the boat? I trailer with the cover off all the time and the seats stay put.

That's exactly why I want to do it. Most of its road time will be at 70 mph. Though it will only see the road a few times a year, I don't want to have to order new seats. I've been there and done that before. A couple hinges would be much cheaper in the long run I would think just to not have the headaches or heartaches of damaged goods.

[jrj701]

That's exactly why I want to do it. Most of its road time will be at 70 mph. Though it will only see the road a few times a year, I don't want to have to order new seats. I've been there and done that before. A couple hinges would be much cheaper in the long run I would think just to not have the headaches or heartaches of damaged goods.

I agree it would be cheap insurance. I tow 3 hours to and 3 hours back from the lake every weekend running in the 70-80 range and have not so much as had one move, but since you've had it happen before i can understand your worry. Thankfully I bought some property at the lake recently, so no more long tows.

[chpthril]

I agree it would be cheap insurance. I tow 3 hours to and 3 hours back from the lake every weekend running in the 70-80 range and have not so much as had one move, but since you've had it happen before i can understand your worry. Thankfully I bought some property at the lake recently, so no more long tows.

Why not just tow with the cover on for those kind of distances and speeds?

[carcrz]

Why not just tow with the cover on for those kind of distances and speeds?

Lost the passenger side strap on the way home from the dealer. Didn't even know it until we got home since the ratchet on the back kept it pretty tight. It's being replaced, but another one of those things I'd rather avoid again.

[chadster2]

I've almost lost a one a few times.... I'm not one to use a cover because I think it might take off some of the shine. (Black boat that you can count the rocks in the pavement (by looking in the reflection). Are you sure you have enough movement like chpthril said.

[carcrz]

No idea actually. I just bought it, loaded up all of our gear from our old Crownline, and drove it straight to storage before the 2' of snow hit us. I know when I picked it up they recommended I either put the cover on it or take the cushions off while on the hwy, so I'd imagine they also have seen it happen. As for using a cover while towing - I've never had a decent cover in the past, so trailering has always been hard on them. I want this one to last a while if possible.

[embo]

Would some snaps placed in well (hiden as much as possible) do the trick? Just thinking of our last boat and the engine cover/sunpad was snapped securely in place to keep it down. Worked great. I know it isn't hiden perfectly but might be an easier fix then hinges and engineering the seats to pull away and up as chpthrl suggested might be needed. Two small, same color straps with snaps might be more than enough to keep them in place. Just an idea thrown out there. I know Tiges are several steps above this boat but maybe it would give you an idea that would work for your situation. When the snaps aren't being used they could be snapped up under the edge of the seat cushion hiden away while in use. Snaped down when traveling.

[lohe]

I agree I would add snaps to the seats instead of hinges.

[carcrz]

I was watching the videos on Tige Cinema, the RZ4 has the hinge that I'm thinking will work. I see no reason why it would be any different anyway. It pulls back & then folds up. Any idea of a part # or price?

[Iwndr]

Those are the hinges Chp mentioned to you

[Ewok]

Imo, I would go with snaps, not hinges. My boat has the hinges that flip out like the rz4 you saw on the video and they are a little bit of PITA when I'm trying to dry the boat out after a day on the water. I would rather have the ability to pull them out completely from the boat and put them on a shelf in my garage to help them drip dry if they need it. I also got hit with a sand storm one afternoon when coming off the lake. The boat launch had lots of sand nearby for a beach and I was trying to get off the water when a storm was coming. I got the boat on the trailer and started pulling it out of the water when the gust front hit. It picked up LOTS of sand and deposited lots of little red sand particles in all the nooks and crannies of the interior of the boat. It took me a full week to get most of the sand out. It would have been easier if I could have pulled all the cushions out and cleaned them separately and then cleaned the interior of the boat as well.

Just my , but replacing a cover is cheaper than recovering all the vinyl in XX # of years too since the sun will be beating down on the seats as your towing. The cover will keep most road dust and grime out of the boat and will let you tow with more stuff sitting in the boat without worrying about anything flying out. And if you hit a random rain shower on the way home you won't have to find a safe spot to pull over and quickly don the cover. Tht has a happened to me twice last fall too since my dealer told me it's ok to tow without the cover. I just personally prefer to tow with the cover on.

[Ewok]

Also, when you tow with the cover on remember to turn your drivers seat around so the back is against the steering wheel, otherwise the cover will rub and wear the top edge of the seat.