How to make rear U-wrap seating more secure
 

I have a 232 Islander and when going across the lake at 40+ Mph the rear center section will keep hinging forward and the side sections will sometimes start walking open. I made up some straps with snaps to try to make them more secure but figured I would ask you guys if there is a better way to fix this before I start drilling holes?

So you got your 232? What are the specs on it? When you say seating, do you mean the cushions or other? I'm not super familiar with the 232 islander vs. perf maybe some photos would help?

Oh yeah sorry, I really wanted a 02 or newer with a 496 but ended up finding a 99 that is literally brand new. It has the little 454 but I love the boat, I think the rear seat is the same in the islander as it is in the performance, it has the wrap around rear seat and the middle section hinges forward and then opens towards the front of the boat and the side sections just lift out.

Interesting. My rear seat was just a bench. This sounds like a neat arrangement so please take a picture. I never had a problem with the rear seat opening on its own, but it would put you on the floor if you did not step on the very back of the seat when getting on and off the sunpad.

We love our 252 and wish you all the enjoyment possible on your 232. Congratulations.

Dan

My boat is on the lift and I am at work so can't take a picture but this boat has the same set-up, it was about the best picture I could find. http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/21361

Thats pretty neat Brod! I've never seen that configuration before. I did not even know Baja made something like that. There are serveral features about this that I really like. Thanks for sharing this with me.

Dan

Pretty much all the 232 Islanders I saw had this set up but now looking back my 232 Boss was just a straight bench, to be honest I wish it was just a bench but it is kind of cool.

I looked at a 232 before we got the 252. I probably should have bought it as I could have been boating a year earlier! It just had the typical straight bench seat in it however. I guess the U shaped seat gives you a little more storage and seating at the expense of cockpit space. We've removed the bench in ours partly for more cockpit space so I guess it is just a question of preference. Perhaps we would not have removed that seat if we had the U arrangement. On my next boat.....

Have fun,

Dan

brod - congrats on the 232, we've had our for about a month now and love it.

Ours is a performance with the straight bench and have not had a problem with the seat flipping forward, but it wedges under the motor lid in the outer corners. Is your motor lid all the way down? If your rear center section opens in the same way it is the 'double acting hinge' which seems to work pretty well.

On the side cushions look at adding small plastic blocks to the bottom of the cushions instead of straps on the outside, if you can 'squeeze' the side cusions between the motor lid this might provide enough resistance to prevent them rom walking forward.

Are there any new boat dealers in your area, take a look at SeaRays, Bayliners, Cobalts, etc for ideas to hold cushions down. They typically all use about the same methods with the plastic blocks to reduce movement.

It does have the plastic blocks to prevent it front coming forward on the sides but the problem is they are not hinged, they sit in there and the middle just hinges forward so you can hear the motor, obviously if someone is sitting on the seat it is not an issue, I think I am going to do the middle one tonight and see how I like it. The only issue is to open the middle seat now you will have to open the engine hatch to un-snap it, but if we put the cooler in there we could always just leave it unsnapped for the time being. I will post some pictures as soon as I quit procrastinating on being a paid member, but have to get some decent pictures anyway, it was basically get the boat home and get it on the lift, I love the boat so far.