Stand, sit, or kneel?

Steve OD

Member
Oct 26, 2017
70
West Yarmouth, MA
Boat Info
Sol Searchin'
1996 330 Sundancer
Engines
7.4 L V Drives
I just completed my first "road trip" with the boat. Left Hyannis, through the Cape Cod canal, up to Boston and down the Charles River to the Watertown Yacht club, where I'll be for the summer. This was a trip I have been dreaming about since I purchased the boat in the fall

Conditions were great, the boat ran awesome and my five crew members and I had a ball. It took about 5 1/2 hours overall, with a stop in Sandwich for a little reserve fuel to get up to Boston.

I drove the whole way and I found that standing after a while was uncomfortable, not because I was on my feet but the way the seat, steering wheel and my calves interacted. It wasn't a natural standing position. I would have to stand in the center of the helm and use my right hand on the wheel, but then I was bumping into my "navigator"

So I sat for a while, but I found that looking out for things, mainly lobster bouys was difficult, so then I tried kneeling on one knee but that didn't last too long.
I know the seat moves a bit , but I have mine all the way back.

Can't wait to make the trip back down, I doubt I'll get an almost flat sea like I did Sunday though!

Any thoughts, suggestions?
Thanks
Steve
 
I usually "standit" (or is it "sitand") on my flip-up bolster, but have found that one of those velcro'ed back-braces helps a lot. Otherwise it gets real uncomfortable on the back, several hours on. It also helps to get your control freak off and let someone else drive for a while. Just sayin' :)
 
I usually "standit" (or is it "sitand") on my flip-up bolster, but have found that one of those velcro'ed back-braces helps a lot. Otherwise it gets real uncomfortable on the back, several hours on. It also helps to get your control freak off and let someone else drive for a while. Just sayin' :)
Ever since my wife completed the US Power Squadron's Skipper Saver Course we fight over who gets to drive. On long trips I "let" her take the helm. (Don't tell her I said that) To me honest she looks kinda sexy at the helm in her bikini top, sunglasses on and hair blown back by the wind. Mmmm, mmmm….
 
Ever since my wife completed the US Power Squadron's Skipper Saver Course we fight over who gets to drive. On long trips I "let" her take the helm. (Don't tell her I said that) To me honest she looks kinda sexy at the helm in her bikini top, sunglasses on and hair blown back by the wind. Mmmm, mmmm….

lol. sounds like such a sacrifice.
 
Ever since my wife completed the US Power Squadron's Skipper Saver Course we fight over who gets to drive. On long trips I "let" her take the helm. (Don't tell her I said that) To me honest she looks kinda sexy at the helm in her bikini top, sunglasses on and hair blown back by the wind. Mmmm, mmmm….
Ya gotta know that statements like that need photo proof or it just didn't happen.
 
I hear you!!! I stood in the center on my old 330 and used my right hand, standing by the wheel was exactly as you described. I could do about 3 1/2 hrs standing in the center. Sitting was an issue with visibility and crab pots. If you get a throw-able seat cushion and stack two if needed you should be better sitting. I used one and it was OK when running where I knew I was in the clear of crab traps....

The flip up bolster is a nice change on my current boat. I find that is a perfect height to sit on and still be able to see.

Enjoy the 330!!
 
I agree with sitting on a cushion or something similar as Alegria mentioned. That seat was a pain.
 
Ya gotta know that statements like that need photo proof or it just didn't happen.
Mike I'm afraid that picture is only in my head. I might have one of her at the helm of our old '88 S-24 Sorrento. She was in a t-shirt that day and we were heading from Long Beach to Catalina Island. I'll have to search some old files. I suck at taking pictures. I mean I know how, I just never think to do it.
 
You'd best get on that task so you don't get banished to Davy Jones' Locker.
Now, lest you think I'm just a sexist, dirty old man, here's a photo of the two of us that was taken in Germany last month. It ain't on a boat but we were on a Viking River Cruise at the time.
IMG_0765a.jpg
 
I just completed my first "road trip" with the boat. Left Hyannis, through the Cape Cod canal, up to Boston and down the Charles River to the Watertown Yacht club, where I'll be for the summer. This was a trip I have been dreaming about since I purchased the boat in the fall

Conditions were great, the boat ran awesome and my five crew members and I had a ball. It took about 5 1/2 hours overall, with a stop in Sandwich for a little reserve fuel to get up to Boston.

I drove the whole way and I found that standing after a while was uncomfortable, not because I was on my feet but the way the seat, steering wheel and my calves interacted. It wasn't a natural standing position. I would have to stand in the center of the helm and use my right hand on the wheel, but then I was bumping into my "navigator"

So I sat for a while, but I found that looking out for things, mainly lobster bouys was difficult, so then I tried kneeling on one knee but that didn't last too long.
I know the seat moves a bit , but I have mine all the way back.

Can't wait to make the trip back down, I doubt I'll get an almost flat sea like I did Sunday though!

Any thoughts, suggestions?
Thanks
Steve
Don't know if your boat has an auto pilot, but they significantly reduce the fatigue factor. I sit down most of the time looking out the windows and also scanning gauges and watching the radar. As targets materialize, I do stand to make sure I'm not missing anything especially when range gets down to under a half a mile. Adding a pilot is a nice upgrade if you don't have one. Produces good fuel saving as well since you are alway following the route you plot.
 
Love Germany! A Viking River Cruise is on the bucket list for sure. How was it?
Alegria, I simply cannot say enough good things about the Viking cruise. We flew into Zurich, spent 2 days, bussed to Basel, boarded the ship, went down the Rhine, up the Mosel River to Luxembourg, bussed to Paris where we spent 4 days.

My weight hasn't changed in 15+ years but I gained 6 pounds on that trip. Need I say more?

P.S. I lost that 6 pounds in 4 days after we got home.
 
Don't know if your boat has an auto pilot, but they significantly reduce the fatigue factor. I sit down most of the time looking out the windows and also scanning gauges and watching the radar. As targets materialize, I do stand to make sure I'm not missing anything especially when range gets down to under a half a mile. Adding a pilot is a nice upgrade if you don't have one. Produces good fuel saving as well since you are alway following the route you plot.
I have been thinking about that, anyone done that on a 330? Easy to do? Cost?

Viking River Cruise is definitely on my bucket list too!

Thanks for everyones help
 
Having a flip bolster is probaly the best scenario for driving. My inlaw's 98 270 DA has it and its nice to drive. I have the lower-height back to back seating option in my 270 AJ, so for sitting I need to use a flotation cushion.

I do like to stand for visibility but up to last year that made me feet go numb on longer trips. I think it was a combination of the hard deck, vibration, and angle when running. My kids gave me an anti-fatigue mat from Snap In Carpet (with a Sea Ray logo) and it have totally solved the issue. I mostly stood for about 3 hours running down the Long Island Sound without a problem.

He're a pic of my 1st mate practicing his driving. Standing is his only option for now!
IMG_6452.JPG
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,865
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top