Wet/Damp Seat Backings-gctid814616

[FredK]

Recently I got caught in a heavy rain on the way back in. After the rain stopped and I cleaned up I flipped my storage locker seats and felt that the bottom plywood backing was more damp than usual. Well 3 days later under a 24 hr fan dry, they still appear to be somewhat damp but looks like I am winning the battle. There is no foul smell or mildew showing.

Should I be concerned?

Will drying it out only serve to warp the wood?

Is this normal?

[floatyerboat]

You have a much newer boat than my 1988 3218 but the bench seating on my flybridge was like sitting in a bean bag chair and I thought a couple of fat guys leaned back on the seat backing. I did see a few people grabbing the seat backing to pull their body weight up the ladder.

I finally opened up the seat backing only to find that the wooden frame inside the vinyl was totally rotten. I watched the wood disintegrate while taking the backing apart. The plywood base of the backing was real wet like you had mentioned but the rest of it was mush. Sealing the wood frame off with vinyl is not a good thing sometimes but this is a 28 year old boat. You should see if you could install some kind of vents to let the moisture escape. I rebuilt the frame with treated wood. The PO I bought the boat from had the bench seats recovered and they used the old frame. I don't know how they could have missed it. I don't know how Bayliner could have got away with using plain pine in the first place.

[FredK]

I am thinking of drilling a couple of relief holes on the seat bottom, thoughts?

[floatyerboat]

If it sits flat on the fiberglass drilling holes on the bottom might be like resealing itself or a way to introduce water into the seat.. Because of my boats age, (and my age) I just reupholstered the seat backing the way it was but if a easy option was available I'd consider it. If I were you I'd contact a upholsterer or check on youtube to see how you could introduce air into the seat from a nonvisible area from the sides or the back.