Seats & Bolder zodiac pro 530

[Bertus]

Hello tech people,
I bought a set nice looking chairs for mij rib but now the question or better, please give me a good advice: whats the best way to install them? but I would like to make them removable because I also want to use a Bolder.

I have a Zodiac pro 530 with a straight deck and no holes to get under the deck. I would also make a hatch for storage but I'm afraid to weaken the structure to much.
Dos anyone have some nice ideas, pictures or instructions?

I will see to get some pictures for u all.

Thanks guy's. finally a good forum.

[Bertus]

Can no body help me with some tips?

Maybe some one nows how its looks beneath the deck.

[Nos4r2]

Would it upset the balance of the boat if you've got a lot of gear stowed in the bow? It doesn't look like you've got a lot of room in the hull anywhere other than the bow.

I think if you're going to open holes in the deck you'll probably have to use proper watertight hatches and install a bilge pump down there just in case.

Personally I'd reinforce the area around the hatch on the inside(if possible) with glassed in and flo-coated marine ply.Round off any sharp angles when cutting or you'll get cracks appearing in the angle. (found that out from personal experience!)

I think it's probably a bad idea to start cutting holes out without pushing a cheap USB camera up through the drain hole and having a look around inside first though. You may that any possible hatch locations are impractical.

[Bertus]

Do you have some examples of those hatches? I had the same ideas but to take a look with a usb camera is a very good idea.
At the rear deck there is a hole +/- 7cm dia. for what I have seen that the hul has a kind of air chamber at the center. ?????? thats why I want to know if there is somebody hoe has took that kind of boat apart or did some repair at the rear engine braked. bilge pump is also a must because sometimes there is mucho water inside after a day in the water and sometimes its dry??? It needs some gel coat repairs
My idea was in the bow a storage compartment and in the center port side a hatch for stowing water ski's and some other stuff. also a under deck tank or fuel blader. If you look at my photos with tube and console I was thinking of a Zodiac pro open 550 kind of setup.

take a look and tel me what you think

[Stoo]

Hi Bertus,

Somewhere on this forum there is discussion about deck mounting things. Many folks use reverse thread inserts that can be epoxied into the deck and then these inserts receive a 3/8" s/s bolt. My deck has many of these... they are used to hold in the console, seats, a locker and sometimes I just screw in an eye-bolt to tie stuff down.

I would be extremely cautious about sawing hatches into your deck until you are certain of the implications to the structural integrity of the deck. It would be a shame to have that hull fold on you. I'm no engineer, but my guess is that the deck does a lot more than just provide a flat service to stand on. I don't imagine Zodiac would supply drawings of the hull reinforcements, but it never hurts to ask I suppose...

[Bertus]

Stoo, thanks. I'm not a professor but I now some things about structures. so before sawing I will sure check where and how. I will search for the discussions about reverse thread inserts.
Zodiac was quite helpfully but plans of this type of boat is Out of the question. and it seems that the boat owners of this type aren't that active on the www.
I didn't spoke to 1 yet but sure searching for them.

Btw, I just remember that zodiac offers a kit for installing treads including drill and instruction. I did see them on the zodiac site with part number

[Bertus]

Here they are with insert kit