Suspension helm chair

[Billfletcher]

Has anyone ever used a seat like this in some weather?

Or, any input on the single pedestal seat made by Seaspension?

i don't plan on crossing the English Channel in the near future. But the Pacific can get rolly almost every afternoon, and I am looking for some relief for my cranky lower back.

 

[fwebster]

Yes. I delivered a Boston Whaler 32 Outrage 45 miles in the open Gulf a couple of years ago that had a pedestal suspension seat at the helm. 3-4 ft seas are still 3-4 ft seas, but at the other end I actually felt like doing something other than crawling into a Lazy Boy. The fatigue factor was a fraction of what you'd experience on the same trip using a rigid seat.

 

[IanBat]

I think My Brother in Laws Riviera 58' runs two up in the flybridge, after a long run of bringing it down the queensland coast, with the first run being 28hours straight. Yes I would love a set

 

[Billfletcher]

Thanks for the input Gents.

 

[IanBat]

Thanks for the input Gents.

Bill, just reread your original post,,,,,,,,cranky lower back...........yep forgot to mention, L5 Lamenectomy, and port and polish on two discs in my neck..............anything that improves my comfort....The trip in the Riv, felt great.
When we bought the mates Luhrs down the coast, we ended up doing a long run on the last day, 6am - 10pm, with the first 8 hours punching into a 3M swell with a 25Kn - 35kn wind......the seats in that boat were #$$****! too far away from the helm, no foot pedestal, too high, base cushion was loose...................over a week to feel human again.

 

[Billfletcher]

Ian, glad to hear you are still in the game, with all of those past surgeries to contend with.

I will measure the helm area this weekend, and see if this beast will fit in there, so thanks again for the feedback.

Cheers.

 

[IanBat]

Ian, glad to hear you are still in the game, with all of those past surgeries to contend with.

I will measure the helm area this weekend, and see if this beast will fit in there, so thanks again for the feedback.

Cheers.

Pictures, if it does and when you finish

 

[ziekman@cox.net]

Ian, glad to hear you are still in the game, with all of those past surgeries to contend with.

I will measure the helm area this weekend, and see if this beast will fit in there, so thanks again for the feedback.

Cheers.

What are you looking at, to put these in. I couldn't find pricing online. I'm intrigued.

 

[Billfletcher]

Project done. A few photos..

 

[HUMPH]

Bill, can you describe what all had to be done to accomplish this?

 

[Gimme Time]

Bill,

I might be interested in your old seats depending on condition and cost so let me know as soon as you can

John

 

[Billfletcher]

Ken,

I first took measurements of the helm area, which on my boat is fairly tight.

Most of these larger helm seats are large, but I did find a seat that fits in the space. The pictured is a Lubrock, Tradewinds, slim line version.

I did some simple cardboard mock ups of the seat to ensure it would work in the space.

Shock pedestals are not vertically adjustable, so measure carefully. I knew the final dim I needed from the deck, to the top of the seat cushion. This was very important to me since my boat is similar to the new 400 DA. It has mullions along the sides that block vis, and I am tall, so I wanted the seat to be 3 in lower than the OEM seat.

The manufacturer of the seat actually adjusted the shock, by placing the pedestal lower to hit the target height I needed. See the drawing of the shock, and on the right it has been adjusted.

The seat was shipped freight, across country, so another reason to measure carefully, since I had a custom order and I doubt they would have taken it back.

I found a good fiberglass guy in my area. It looks straight forward, but it was actually a complex job to get this right. He had to cut the side also, and work from underneath the area, in the aft state room.

Overall, it is probably best upgrade project I have done on our boat.

 

[HUMPH]

Very cool Bill! Nice pre-planning and looks like good execution. How much did the have to raise the fiberglass base and how did they brace it to handle the weight and dynamic forces?

 

[IanBat]

Looks good Bill, enjoy the comfort


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Billfletcher]

Very cool Bill! Nice pre-planning and looks like good execution. How much did the have to raise the fiberglass base and how did they brace it to handle the weight and dynamic forces?

the fb base was actually cut down, to accommodate the taller seat and pedestal.

i only put the ball on the 5 yard line. I had a great fb person who ran the other 95 yards.

I was was at work, when he was working so I don't have the exact layup. I know he put a lot of layers of glass in there, and support pieces. The base where the holes were drilled also has a 1/2 in layer of wood.