Help with Vantage seat fabric replacement

I have a 2013 PA 12 that the bottom seat fabric ripped. Hobie provided a replacement seat cover (thank you).

I'm having trouble removing the old seat cover as the rear of the seat is "looped" around the metal U shaped seat frame; meaning I'd have to disassemble the seat frame to remove / replace the fabric.

There is an acorn nut on what appears to be a screw bolt where the seat pivots that seems like the only "disassembly" point; but the slotted bolt head wants to strip before turning. Turning the acorn nut just spins the entire bolt.

Separately, there are two rivets on each side that hold the metal U shaped frame of the seat into a plastic receiver. I suppose I could drill out the rivets, but would prefer not too.

Anyone know how to replace the fabric?

The replacement is built differently to deal with that. It has a buckle.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Matt:

The seat bottom section I received from Hobie has buckles toward the front/non-mesh portion of the seat, bottom left in your picture. The opposite end of the seat has straps that loop with no buckles. Those are the straps that looped around the frame. Did Hobie change those straps? Your picture that does show buckles on those.

Don

I'll ask Jacques Bernier to comment. He knows more about this than I.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

You cut the old one off - and then 'buckle' the new one in it's place.... shouldn't need to remove the pivot acorn nut (red loctight in place) You will need to drill off the plastci line guides on the sides of the bottom frame - but you can use self taping screws in place of rivets on the replacement if you don't have rivets or a tool. any 3/16: stainless sheet-metal screw should work fine.

Thank you.