Rear Bench Seat

Recently acquired my first natique. 87 barefoot! Very exciting. Missing rear bench seat. Any suggestions on where to purchase one and any other accessories?

Ok, I was not going to respond, because I tought someone else with better knowledge of your specific boat would chime in. Since no one has responded so far...like 80nauts said, build your own. But, maybe I can give you some guidance on building it. My guidance is based on my '77 Martinique. My '93 SN is different.

My '77M's rear bench is simply a large piece of foam rubber on top of a plywood platform. This assembly is covered in vinyl. The platform or box is about 3-4" tall and I am guessing about 18" deep (adjust to suit your preference). The foam cushion is rather thick (maybe 6") and tapered from front (higher) to back (lower). It is held in place by friction. The seat back is simply foam rubber (about 2" thick) on a piece of 3/4" plywood cut to shape. My seat back is held in place at the top with two screws through the backboard (tank cover) and into the seat back.

Biggest piece of advice: Use treated plywood, but only after you have left it out in the sun for a couple weeks. If you use regular plywood, you will be rebuilding the seat in a few years EVEN if you paint it well.

David F wrote: Ok, I was not going to respond, because I tought someone else with better knowledge of your specific boat would chime in. Since no one has responded so far...like 80nauts said, build your own. But, maybe I can give you some guidance on building it. My guidance is based on my '77 Martinique. My '93 SN is different. My '77M's rear bench is simply a large piece of foam rubber on top of a plywood platform. This assembly is covered in vinyl. The platform or box is about 3-4" tall and I am guessing about 18" deep (adjust to suit your preference). The foam cushion is rather thick (maybe 6") and tapered from front (higher) to back (lower). It is held in place by friction. The seat back is simply foam rubber (about 2" thick) on a piece of 3/4" plywood cut to shape. My seat back is held in place at the top with two screws through the backboard (tank cover) and into the seat back. Biggest piece of advice: Use treated plywood, but only after you have left it out in the sun for a couple weeks. If you use regular plywood, you will be rebuilding the seat in a few years EVEN if you paint it well.

Will the escaping chemicals rot the vinyl/foam? What's the deal?

I will get some pics of the one that I built for my 80. It hides my fat sac too, and it kicks ass.

Advice is to build a 2x4 wood frame then screw decent thickness plywood down to the frame. Next get 3" foam and cut it to size with a bandsaw (best) or electric turkey carver. then wrap it in vinyl using staples to secure the underside. I'll elaborate better later, but you put the new bench on 2x4 frame that you epoxy to the side of the boat. Then carpet the little frame. The seat I made looks good, covers the fatsac, and can hold up to 3 fat asses at the same time (really I have only tested it with 2 fat asses and 1 thin one).

I'm planing to rebuild the rear seats also. Do you really need to use 3/4" plywood? I know most of you wake board types don't mind a little extra weight in the back of the boat but I like to pass jet skies and lighter seats are just easier to move. The previous owner rebuilt the loveseat using 3/4" untreated plywood and it's really heavy. Not to mention the foam soaks up water and makes it even heavier.
I was thinking about 1/2" marine plywood, wrapped in a layer of epoxy and fiberglass. Has anybody tried this?

If you are going to epoxy and glass everything there is no need to use pressure treated wood and regular or cabnet grade plywood is fine.

Hope this explains my previous post. Remember that it is 2.5 fat ass tested. Notice that there isn't a cross beam (by not having the beam it helps to fit the fat sack); I think that the beam isn't really needed unless you have 4 fat asses. It is nearly impossible to have 4 fat asses in the back of almost any nautique.


The last pic is my hot chick, She and I redid the interior and seating. We still have a lot more to do to the boat, but what can I say other than it is fun to do.

Too long (I would say 50+ hours)due to not having an industrial sewing machine, and due to the top design. We used a bernina home machine, and it had to sew slowly in order to keep a good regular stitch for the topstiching of the black vinyl onto the white. If you didn't do the top stitching it would take maybe 10+.   

It should only take about 2+ to do a back seat without a design on top of the vinyl. These times don't include making the base or laying the carpet, but that took about 10 hours.

NAUTI84 - I saw that before in the diaries and copied the pics because that's what I'd like to do with my 78 American Skier. Do you have more pics of the rear seat that you could email, or even the one that shows it open that's bigger than in the diaries?

I can see now, you've got clips and pins. Good Idea, just like the ones on the engine cover.

Sorry guys, I am a few days late....

New here, so very excited to find this. 80Nauts, I am very impressed with the work you did, and would be interested in more pics of your interior, if you dont mind. I just picked up an 80, and it has no interior, and I have already rebuilt the motor. I really like these boats, and am anxious to get this one out there.

What is that round plate on the floor of New86owner's boat?

Man, I need one of those in my '68. Where do you get them?