Tilting Helm Seat

[Tahoe Jack]

Take a look at the new 4JAN06 posting for a cool wood tilt-up helm seat...on a 26X. May also work on M. Tried a PM to author Tom Chapman, but not getting thru. Tom, expecting some others on the board would be interested in more details. How did you fasten the member to the seat back? Assuming you used wood screws on the piano hinge? Assume the seat elements were butt-glued w/waterproof? Any other details or 'if I did it again' thoughts? Anyhow, creative mod Tom.
Tahoe Jack

[Dannie]

I agree with Jack, very nice Mod but I too am curius on how you mounted the seat to the vertical back. Possibly filled the hole with solid timber and glassed it in for support.

[Frank C]

WOW - I was scanning MacMods today to find Jack's SeaChamp install (good work, Jack) and saw that folding helm seat too, a very interesting mod~!

I'd think one could just put a 24-inch 1x2 inside the seat as a backing strip, then screw an external hinge right through the fiberglass - clamping style. The fold-down wooden seat rests on the existing cockpit seat flanges, port & starbd, very stable/secure. Great mod idea!

I'd want the seat to be as light-weight as possible - also need high-quality, corrosion resistant hardware. Last attempt, I simply could not find a good stainless piano hinge, so I had to use individual SS hinges, instead.

[Night Sailor]

The tilt idea is a good one. I think since my main complaint is not enough room leg room to step back from end of boom while motoring. So now I have a new project for next year sometime. (Amazing how those projects just pop up out of the blue!) I'd cut the seat off, remove a few inches from the rear portion then reattach with s.s. piano hinge. That way it retains the looks and low maintenance outdoor durability but leaves more leg room for standing at the helm.

[Tahoe Jack]

Understand the tilt-mod originator is new to the board and has had some log-in issues. Still am interested in his comments. Also, I think switching the helm seat hinge from port to starboard would be a great idea, paired with the tilt. Another option is to do a mod I posted that protects the motor linkage from foot traffic on the port side where I normally enter-exit when not at a dock.
Five degrees F early this morning...so, good day to monitor the board....and tackle more computer time on my day job... Looks like I need to snag another boat tarp since the damn wind ripped my boat cover from end to end....sustained 60-70mph a few days ago. Jack

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

actually...i like this one best.



this is the mod link:

seat cut away mod

Bob T.
"DaBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[T Chapman]

Hello
Here is some more info on the helm seat.
Because of a rounded angle where the original seat joins the the seat back when you cut the seat off flush there will not anything to attach the new seat to. So I took a cedar 2by4 and traced an outline of the now open bottom of the seatback on it and cut it out using a jigsaw. apply lots of 3M5200 and insert it up inside the back and screw it in place with stainless screws.
Then another 2by4 is glued and screwed to the bottom of the first 2by4. this is the peice you see that the seat is attached to. The seat is coated with clear West System Epoxy UV resistant topcoat
I used cedar because it is light weight,water resistant,rot proof,looks good and I got a lot of it on hand.
I hope this helps. sorry I took so long to reply.
Tom

[rockman]

I got sick of the fuel line on the cockpit floor - so rang it through the back of the fuel area - through the inside of the cockpit and out the engine well.

I did replace the fuel line so that it is one long piece of tubing - with no breaks or joins in the cabin.

This worked well - next step will be to reroute the engine control lines through the other side - so all trip hazards are reduced.

I will take some pics this weekend.

Cheers
Simon