Trying to remove old pedestall Helm Seat?

Question

I am trying to remove my old pedestal base for a Helm seat. Finally got the screws loose but they will not back out. and I can't see a way to access the underside if they are through bolted. The boat is a 1994 Sunbird Neptune 201 with a fiberglass inner-liner.

Answer 1

Wedge the base up as far as it will go and use a "saws-all" to cut off the head of the screws.  Remove the base and put a vise grips on the remainder of the screws and remove them..  Try and cut the screws at the highest point possible so that you will have something to crab onto.  If not, knock them down into the floor and reposition the base towards new wood in the floor.

Answer 2

Try wedging the base up as you loosen the screws.

I suspect bolts, and the wedge method will sometimes apply enough friction to hold the nuts in place as you back out the bolts.

You may have to drill out the heads to remove the base and then  with the screws exposed figure out a way to remove them then.