AR195 Bench Seat

[Hawksr30]

Hi all. Newb here. Bought an AR195 yesterday after much deliberation about the pros and cons of the bench seat versus the captains chair. My wife wanted the captains chair but we wanted the tower more and like the openness of the bench layout. I've seen a lot of discussion already about swapping one for the other but my questions is can the bench seat simply be modified to be removable? Visually it looks like a no-brainer, the support bar underneath is removable, and the seat tips up as if you could simply pull it out. However, it seems to be attached somehow toward the rear of the seat. I was determined to get it out but didn't think it wise to destroy the seat on the boat show model.

I'm sure once I take possession, I can figure it out but I just thought I'd throw it out there in advance. Just looking for a little extra wander room when fishing.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

[haknslash]

I'm pretty sure there are bolts holding it. Making it removable I could see being possible. You would need some pins instead of bolts or something to that effect.

 

[KyleP]

Following

 

[njmr2fan]

I was sure I wanted to swap out our bench seat for a matching captains chair in our AR190. After using the boat as it was and spending some time on an SX190, I'm glad we have a bench. I think we've all laid down on the bench at some time already, we've stretched out on it, we've packed under it, and after spending time on an SX my wife even said that our boat has no wasted space, where the SX didn't allow the storage that we had.

 

[AboveTheBest]

My boat just has the bar in the front and U-shaped mounts in the rear. It's held down by gravity and nothing else.
The bench just lifts out of the pockets and I've done it accidentally a few times while putting larger bags under the seat.

I generally fold my mooring cover up and leave it under the bench while I'm underway, but as mentioned earlier, it's a great place to lay out.

Enjoy the boat.

 

[Hawksr30]

Thanks for the input all. Can't wait to take possesion and get on the water

...once the ice is gone.

 

[haknslash]

Yea I'm so ready for this winter to be over! We don't have ice on our lakes but it's freaking cold!

Hmm I didn't know it just pulls out. I could have sworn someone with a new boat who did the captains seat conversion said there were some bolts holding it in near the gunwale side. I've tried in the past to pull on mine but stopped as it felt pretty snug and I didn't want to destroy my bench seat lol.

 

[Hawksr30]

That was me at the show. I was determined to get it out as I see no reason why it wouldn't but it sure felt like something had it held pretty firmly in place and even though I was buying, I didn't want to have to buy a broken one.

...over a foot of ice on the lake to the left.

 

[B_Mutter]

If you crawl into the compartment just aft of this with a flash light you will see the nuts that are holding it down. You might have to access the front one though the console door area. It absolutely is bolted down.

 

[Hawksr30]

Thank you!

 

[haknslash]

Makes sense @B_Mutter that's what I thought I had read before. Maybe the older models didn't have nuts holding them in or maybe @AboveTheBest is missing theirs? Maybe it was a redesign over the years for a more secure fit. I wouldn't want my bench loose.

 

[haknslash]

It's cold as hell but I went to the garage to take a pic.

Here's the nut holds the bench seat in place if looking towards the bow from the rear storage area. If you look close you can see the other one back in the shadows.

 

[OperationROL]

@Hawksr30 glad to hear it worked out with the 195. It was great meeting you at the show! Welcome to the family!

 

[Hawksr30]

It's cold as hell but I went to the garage to take a pic.

Here's the nut holds the bench seat in place if looking towards the bow from the rear storage area...

View attachment 67547

I'm not going to crawl through my helm storage to take a pic of the other one lol but but it's there.

Thanks! Didn't expect you do that but appreciate the confirmation. If it makes you feel any better, it's a balmy 17 degrees here which is basically T-shirt weather compared to what we've had over the last few weeks.

 

[haknslash]

I don't mind. It's one of the advantages to having your boat in the garage.

Congrats on the new boat BTW!

 

[AboveTheBest]

That’s bizarre, I wonder what happened to mine?

Maybe my boat was built on a Friday.

 

[SCP1]

Makes sense @B_Mutter that's what I thought I had read before. Maybe the older models didn't have nuts holding them in or maybe @AboveTheBest is missing theirs? Maybe it was a redesign over the years for a more secure fit. I wouldn't want my bench loose.

With no bolts it is extremely unsafe, trust me.

 

[viper15]

It is bolted down ... but I changed that. I removed the bolts and made up 4 straps with snaps on either end. I then mounted snaps on the bottom of the seat, and the hull. The straps are snapped in place and hold the seat down. I did this so I can easily remove the seat. I also made up a portable livewell out of a large cooler. When we go fishing, I put the cooler in the place of the removed seat.

 

[Hawksr30]

With no bolts it is extremely unsafe, trust me.

Sounds like a man with experience...and possibly an angry wife.

 

[Hawksr30]

It is bolted down ... but I changed that. I removed the bolts and made up 4 straps with snaps on either end. I then mounted snaps on the bottom of the seat, and the hull. The straps are snapped in place and hold the seat down. I did this so I can easily remove the seat. I also made up a portable livewell out of a large cooler. When we go fishing, I put the cooler in the place of the removed seat.

Thanks. That's along the lines of what I'm thinking.