Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

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steve1313
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Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#1 Post by steve1313 » Wed Sep 07, 2022 3:01 am

I've got a couple of fishing chair style seats on my back bar and I want to shorten the pedestals. I think I'm going to have to cut them while they are still mounted to the floor of the boat because I'm guessing they mount with nuts and bolts which would be inaccesible from under the deck because of the underskin. I'll remove one mounting screw/bolt and if the seat bases just happen to be screwed in without nuts, then I can remove the mount and just cut them on a chop saw.

If I have to cut them while they are still mounted on the boat, does anybody have any tips or ideas on what the best saw to use? I've got a jig saw, sawzall (reciprocating), multi-tool, angle grinder, and of course a manual hacksaw. I just want to make sure that whatever I use, that I can have good control of the saw so I can do a straight cut that is parallel to the floor, otherwise the seats won't be level or sit properly.
Steve
"Serendipity" - 2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tritoon w/ 150HP Yamaha
Slipped at Lake Anna, Virginia
Primary Residence: Richmond, Virgina
Lake House: Lake Anna, Virginia

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Marc K
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Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#2 Post by Marc K » Wed Sep 07, 2022 5:59 am

My first reaction would be a wheel type pipe cutter? I would see if you can borrow/rent one made for thin wall steel, for a nice straight and clean cut.
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115

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Marc K
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Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#3 Post by Marc K » Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:44 pm

Wrap a piece of heavy tape around the post as a guide and go to town with your Sawzall using a fine toothed blade. Clean up the edges with an angle grinder or rat tail file. This will make a mess compared to a pipe cutter.
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115

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steve1313
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Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#4 Post by steve1313 » Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:17 am

Marc K-
Thanks for your suggestions. I never even thought of a pipe cutter. That certainly would be a cleaner solution than using a sawzall, etc. I need to measure the diameter of the pedestal pipe because most of the less expensive pipe cutters I see handle up to 2" pipes. I'm pretty sure the pedestal is 2" so I'd be fine.
Steve
"Serendipity" - 2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tritoon w/ 150HP Yamaha
Slipped at Lake Anna, Virginia
Primary Residence: Richmond, Virgina
Lake House: Lake Anna, Virginia

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Rick McC.
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Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#5 Post by Rick McC. » Mon Nov 07, 2022 7:55 pm

steve1313 wrote:
Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:17 am
Marc K-
Thanks for your suggestions. I never even thought of a pipe cutter. That certainly would be a cleaner solution than using a sawzall, etc. I need to measure the diameter of the pedestal pipe because most of the less expensive pipe cutters I see handle up to 2" pipes. I'm pretty sure the pedestal is 2" so I'd be fine.

So how did it work out?
Rick

Sights are for the unenlightened.

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steve1313
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Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#6 Post by steve1313 » Wed Nov 09, 2022 3:53 am

Life got busy so I never got around to doing it! But I certainly will let you know how it goes when I finally get it done. But despite being busy, I did take some time to order a new toy for next season!!
seadoo.jpeg
seadoo.jpeg (75.87 KiB) Viewed 18597 times
Steve
"Serendipity" - 2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tritoon w/ 150HP Yamaha
Slipped at Lake Anna, Virginia
Primary Residence: Richmond, Virgina
Lake House: Lake Anna, Virginia

Steiner
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Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#7 Post by Steiner » Wed Nov 09, 2022 6:25 am

Joining the ranks of the lake lice?
2019 G3 SunCatcher V322 SS tritoon, Yamaha F200
2019 F-150 XLT SuperCrew FX4, 3.5L EcoBoost Max Trailer Tow Package

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Marc K
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Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#8 Post by Marc K » Wed Nov 09, 2022 11:42 am

Steiner wrote:
Wed Nov 09, 2022 6:25 am
Joining the ranks of the lake lice?

:lol3 :biggrin2
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115

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Rick McC.
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Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#9 Post by Rick McC. » Thu Nov 10, 2022 6:43 pm

steve1313 wrote:
Wed Nov 09, 2022 3:53 am
Life got busy so I never got around to doing it! But I certainly will let you know how it goes when I finally get it done. But despite being busy, I did take some time to order a new toy for next season!!

seadoo.jpeg
Well congrats on that! 👍
Rick

Sights are for the unenlightened.

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steve1313
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Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?

#10 Post by steve1313 » Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:23 pm

Steiner wrote:
Wed Nov 09, 2022 6:25 am
Joining the ranks of the lake lice?
If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em! :biggrin2 And I think if you have a boat and a PWC, you aren't considered lake lice. LOL

We'll use it mostly on weekday evenings or early mornings for a cruise on the calm lake.
Steve
"Serendipity" - 2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tritoon w/ 150HP Yamaha
Slipped at Lake Anna, Virginia
Primary Residence: Richmond, Virgina
Lake House: Lake Anna, Virginia

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