The art of glueing a seat into the kayak

[JonasJFL]

Hello everyone
My seat is loose. I've tried using epoxy-glue....twice, and I gave it heaps of time to dry, I even used "super-epoxy", 15 € pr. 100g . However, still it won't glue properly.
Furthermore, if you look at the attached drawing(excuse my drawing skills), the edges on the "falp-thing"(as I chose to call it :rolleyes: ) rub against the kayak, which means that it slowly, but certainly, gnaws through the kevlar.
The problem is that the "flap-thing" doesn't bend easily, which makes it even harder to glue that part of the seat.
I was thinking I might glue in a piece of 1mm thick plywood under the "flap-thing" just to prevent it from gnawing the kevlar.
A couple of days ago I bought something called "Pattex Kraftkleber" (Pattex Powerglue), thinking that this might get the seat to stay where it is supposed to, but I thought I'd better ask on the forum first before using it.
So, does anyone of you know the perfect solution to my problem? Any similar experiences?
Another thing is that I need to find a solution fast, as I'm playing in Amsterdam next week.
Any help would be appreciated. :thumbup:
Regards,
JonasJFL

[Ze German]

In the past I have used a glass fiber repair kit (from a car assecories shop)... that worked ok... but I have no idea whether it is the best method and probably not the lightest either... ??? but here you go:

First you pull up the seat a little bit so that you have a big enough gap between the seat and the bottom end of the boat. Roughen up the surface of the boat and the seat, if possible so that the kevlar fibers are exposed... not much but a bit to give a better bond. Roughen the inside of the boat beneath the flap and a few cm in front of the seat. roughen the flap from above and beneath.

Next you need your fiber glass strips... cut pieces of the size of the flap to go between the flap and the boat... if the flap is straigth and the boat is round, then cut a couple of extra strips to fill the gap... Secondly, cut some strips that are a bit bigger... they are to go on top of the flap and a few cm further...

First we glue the bottom of the seat to the boat. put the strips in the right place and put on the resin... use a brush to "mess it all up" i.e. get the fibers to be all over the place... Put the seat down and move it about a little bit to create a bond between the boat and the flap. Now put on the strips that cover the flap from the top and use the resin and again mess it all up... Let it dry properly and it should last a while... :thumbup: daumen druecken...

And good luck in Amsterdam!

if you want extra info, please ask... :)

[JonasJFL]

Thanks a lot.
Any other suggestions? So I've got a couple to choose from?
Has anyone tried the thing with the plywood? Would it be a good idea?
Cheers,
Jonas

[Helping Hand]

I know a guy who used a bolt to hold the seat in place, not the best idea. To be honest Ze German has advised the best, and only way to glue a seat in. If you go to your nearest manufacture and purchase the correct material, the seat should not come lose for a long time. I wouldn't advise using Plywood, any hits on your boat at the edges of the plywood will cause damage to the boat. You are better off following Ze Germans route. It will take longer to carry out, but it is the best.

[JonasJFL]

Ok, I think I'll do that then.
Thanks a lot. :thumbup:
Cheers,
Jonas

[BAS]

If you use low expansion polyurethane foam, you can stick your sit into your boat. It will hold for a very long time. I did it more than once when we had to repair a boat. Just enough foam under the seat, hold the seat until the foam dried (30 min.) and you can play again. Use small bolts and connect it to the side of the cockpit. Together the sit can't move no longer. It's a lot easier than using fibers.

Don't use normal expansion foam or your sit will by outside your boat!

grtz,

BAS

[mike1982]

If you bolt it to your cockpit rim any small movement of the seat pull on the cockpit and over a season you end up pulling the cockpit away from the rim and it leaks - the most annoying part it finding that leak and getting silicon up and under ther is a pain in the butt - my:twocents:

as for the flap I suggest cutting it off - if the seat comes all the way out then take to it with a hacksaw or angle grinder, it its loose in the boat I suggest pulling it all the way out anyway and starting again rather than putting repair on a repair on a repair

try this - rough up all areas to be glued with a very rough and paper then cross cut with a box cutter to get some big grooves in it - remember to do the same to the seat wher you are going to resin it

small amount of fibre glass chop strand under the seat where it rests on the boat, then fibreglass matting or weave in 4cm by 10cm bits soaked and placed in L shapes either side of the seat and behind each butt cheak - lastly 2 more strips over the front of the seat where your thighs sit

the last bit dosent look nice as it comes over the seat but all it takes is a bit of foam on top and its comfy to sit on

[JonasJFL]

Hey everyone
Thanks a lot for your help. My seat doesn't move a mm anymore. I used fiberglass to glue it on. I hope it'll last for a long time. :D ...filled up the gap between the boat and the flap with it as well. Looks really nice actually....
Anyways, thanks a lot.
Cheers,
Jonas