I would like to raise the aft thwart seat for comfort and to give me some room in the future to mount a backrest under the seat. As it sits now as original from the factory on the hull rail, there is no clearance above the gas tank. In the picture [now inseted below--jmh] you can see how I would like it to sit, however, the side risers are bowed out and there is about 1/4-inch gap on each side. I am trying to decide what to do to get thwart sit right.
Does fixing the seat to the riser do anything negative to the hull?
For instance, will this keep the hull from flexing and put pressure on the wood and screws into the hull creating problems down the road? Or is the hull solid and doesn't flex?
How should I attach the seat as it is about 1/2-inch to short to sit squarely?
I was thinking I could add rails underneath one side to support it, and leave the other side lined up.
Or, trim the seat down shorter length wise so it fits flush between the side risers and mount with two rails underneath on each side so that the top of the seat it level with top of riser. This may be more work, but look nicer.