i ve broke my base 3 times, and all 3 times i welded it. if you weld them, chances are it will break again in a year or 2. i would (and did) find a good seat base and replace it. i also fixed a bunch of the stringers that go across the base as well. and while i was at it, another member found a passengers cushion for me (mine was also in really bad shape, even worse then i thought when i pulled it apart) because they are the same from passengers to divers side. when i put it all back together, it was a night and day difference