Sitting or Standing when steering boat.

chuck1

chuck1

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Oct 3, 2006
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When you are steering your boat.
Do you
Sit (Fully in seat)
Sit on flip-up or bolster
Stand

Personally I'm sitting 95% of the time.
Only time I use the flip-up is to Stand/Lean against it when docking or in a tight/shallow area.
 
Usually sit on one leg or trowable, where I can see over the windshield. Only time I sit is when I am at the dock or at anchor.

Wesley
 
99% of the time on the flip up bolster or standing. Rare that I'm sitting in the seat way to many other boaters around here to worry about and sitting I feel my vision is obstructed.
 
Most of the time on the flip up bolster. I'm starting to enjoy the relaxation of sitting fully every now and then too.

I used to stand a lot, but don't as much anymore. In rough water I will because I can see and control myself better.

Since we boat some in Oklahoma, I started sitting fully more. In Oklahoma, it's not legal to stand while under way and the OHP who patrols the lakes will stop and remind you. They might even used the lights and siren. :grin: They are strict, but they're better at enforcing laws and safety than any other LEO I've seen on the water.
 
Im allways standing. its hard to look out of the windshield of the 07 185. I actually want to convert mine over to the 195 bolster seat.. i actually put up another thread on it.. but im allways standing.. over here in the gulf there are what we call (jet skiers) LMAO... they will get righ in front of your boat and cut you off and if i wasnt standing all the time i would definitly run one of them over..
 
Unless I'm docking or anchoring, I sit on the flip-up bolster. I do use a throwable cushion to make it more comfortable, but I don't feel I have adequate forward vision sitting fully in the seat and looking through the windshield. Gotta watch out for those :smt013 crab pots!

Jeff
 
Sitting on one leg or sitting on a throwble. Busy lake with a lot of tubers I need to see everything in front me and this seems to work best. The 185 seems to be to crowded to stand.
 
I prefer sitting on the bolster for better vision. I stand while docking.
 
Ergonomics at the Helm

My Admiral does not take a spin at the helm ... she's too accustomed to me doing all the work! :wink: , Seriously, she's a great mate, just isn't schooled on navigation and rules of the road and has no motivation to learn.

I can spend many hours at the helm sometimes the entire day. The bucket on the 460 is very comfortable, but it sits to low and I simply can not see well through the glass in any conditions, day or night. These swept back windscreens look very cool, but reflect glare off the dash directly into the eyes of the sitting helmsman.

This is a real design flaw in big EC/Dancer type boats. The glare day or night simply obscures mush of what must be seen. So 95% of the time I stand or lean on the bolster so I can see over the windscreen for unobstructed vision. If I'm sitting its because of rain and I'm flying on radar at slow speeds.

The bolster on the 460 is robust and a real godsend. I do have to pad it up after many hours at the helm due to compression of the padding.

On long stints at the helm, I take a ritualistic turn around the decks every two hours. I check breakers, generator status (not at the helm) and a look see into the ER with "Otto" my third mate on the helm. This keeps blood circulating and the mind more alert.

I don't watch TV at the helm and I don't listen to music underway because it gets warped by the roar of thundering horses.
 
Always standing. I am only comfortable when I can see everything. I won't even wear sunglasses if I am in unfamiliar waters.
 
charlg said:
Always standing. I am only comfortable when I can see everything. I won't even wear sunglasses if I am in unfamiliar waters.
Click to expand...

why no sunglasses? My sunglasses are polarized and help me see better. No glare, can see underwater objects.
 
why no sunglasses? My sunglasses are polarized and help me see better. No glare, can see underwater objects.
Click to expand...

I feel that I can see better without them. With them on, I can not see the 'thousands' of lobster markers that you have to dodge in MA waters.

Maybe, I'm using cheap glasses.....I've lost too many good pairs in the water. :cool:
 
I'm usually sitting while cruising and standing while coming into/out of dockage. The 480 seats raise up pretty high so I can see very well while I enjoy my 9 cocktails in the morning before docking.
 
Gotta calm those nerves somehow! :thumbsup:
 
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