One of the rear seats in my Pro-V seems to be stuck. I have tried WD-40 and other lubricants to try and loosen the seat so I can take it out, but nothing seems to work. Any tips, suggestions or recommendations? It’s a pretty standard seat with the release at the base, but I just can’t get it out.
tap around the base of the pedestal with a plastic mallet,while spraying where the pedestal meets the base with penetrating oil,that should shock it loose.
if not,and you can be very careful,pour some boiling water on the base,the heat should expand the base enough to allow easy removal,please dont burn yourself!!!
if you can unbolt the base and take it out. You will then want to cut the plastic nipple that extends down into the base off. I had to do that on my lund.
I just had the same problem on my little 16’Lund river boat. Tried tapping with wd40 and hot water with no luck. Ended up removing the entire base, post and seat from the floor and using a 2×4 scrap to press it out of the base. Flipped the assembly up side down and put the small plastic knob that stuck out the bottom of the base in the center of the scrap lumber and put 2 heavy duty screws (bolts that are long enough might work better) thru the holes in the base and into the 2×4 and tightened until the whole base came off the wedge on the bottom of the post. Cleaned up the base and bottom of the seat post with soap and water and a bit of steel wool. This method won’t work on my newer Pro V as nothing sticks thru the bottom of the base. So can’t be sure this would work without knowing what style seat base you have.
you guys have my curiosity up with this many reports of stuck seats.
any idea of whats causing it?? sitting in the same hole too long and corrosion locking the plastic and aluminum together??
I understand that its a wedge fit and constant pounding on the water with weight in the seat only pounds it deeper into the socket making it tighter.
I wonder if a good coat of contact grease would help alleviate this??
I only ask as I havent had too many problems with my boats seat sticking,but I move them around a lot also.
I’ve found that sand is a culprit in my dealings with this issue in the past.
Clean off the sand around the base and inside the shaft housing, run a thin layer of vasoline around the inside rim and base and it will help big time.
That’s of course based on you getting the shaft in stuck from the base.
Been there, done that more than once unfortunately 
I bought a used boat and bought it with the stuck pedestal. It is what I believe they call a Springfield widget style with the little tab you have to pull back that acts as a barb to hold the plastic wedge in the base. I think it is relatively common for this style to get stuck as the not on the pedestal says remove frequently as they will stick into the base. I would guess it has to do with heating and cooling and the plastic vs aluminum expanding and contracting differently as a prime source and add in some sand, water, fish slime, and sitting at an off angle position and I would guess it is easy to get stuck. I would think some grease, Teflon lubricant and removing somewhat regularly should be a big help in keeping them from sticking.
Candle wax works good to help keep it freed up after you get it apart. Just rub the spindle down with an old candle.
if not,and you can be very careful,pour some boiling water on the base,the heat should expand the base enough to allow easy removal,please dont burn yourself!!!
I’ve tried most of these ideas without any luck, except the heat option. Would a blowtorch heating the base serve a similar purpose? I’d like to stay away from taking the whole base and seat out if at all possible. This is also so my buddy’s have more room, so my investment in success is minimal… 
I had the same thing happen once and for me the key to popping it loose was to make sure that I was actually applying force at the correct location in the and making sure that you’re not imposing any lateral force (ie… Your pulling straight up at the center of the seat). I had the advantage of all of the equipment at my dad’s farm so I grabbed a few blocks and bottle jack and was able to get it very close to the center of the seat and it popped out easily. Another option would be to try and use a couple 2×4’s as levers to pry it up but you will just need to make sure that whatever you’re using to brace them against is at the same height as the base of your seat which will ensure that the force is applied in the vertical direction. Having a 2×4 on each side of the seat post will also help to ensure all force is applied in the vertical direction.
Will
I had the advantage of all of the equipment at my dad’s farm so I grabbed a few blocks and bottle jack and was able to get it very close to the center of the seat and it popped out easily. Another option would be to try and use a couple 2×4’s as levers to pry it up but you will just need to make sure that whatever you’re using to brace them against is at the same height as the base of your seat which will ensure that the force is applied in the vertical direction. Having a 2×4 on each side of the seat post will also help to ensure all force is applied in the vertical direction.
I did the same thing on my dad’s boat. I used 2 bottle jacks and a small level on the seat pedestal to make sure I was evenly applying force on both sides. I alternated pumping the jacks to “rock” it free and it popped out pretty quickly.
No reason the low tech 2×4 method wouldn’t work if you have 2 guys to pry from opposite sides.
Oh, and take care that the seat is camped on firmly!
Grouse
Roseburg and Grouse used the same method I have used. Bottle jacks did the trick for me. Then I rubbed the post down with a product called Froglube paste. It is an environmentally friends gun lube that smells like wintergreen…Haven’t had a stuck seat since!
I like the wax idea the best..
I replaced the plastic slightly coned fitting with the bottom center nipple (Taper lock bushing), I’ll see it it helps mine.
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