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09-06-2012, 12:05 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Tacoma
Vessel Name: C:\[ESC]
Vessel Model: 2002 Bayliner 4788
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 285
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Winter Project Planning Help: Helm Chair
We cruised our new-to-us 1983 CHB for about 200 hours this summer. Overall she is very comfortable on the water in all conditions that the protected waters of Puget Sound threw at us... but we found that sitting for a long time at the lower helm station got uncomfortable. Here is a picture of what we end up doing:
So we thought we'd put a new helm seat in this winter. The problem is what, exactly, to do.
We are not very tall people, so we can't reach the steering wheel while sitting on the built-in helm seat; it's a few inches too far away. So I was thinking of putting in a helm seat that slides forward. But if we mount it on the existing seat top, I'm concerned it will be too high.
If we put a pedestal in, we might be too close. Plus we would block the starboard entryway.
Ideas?
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09-06-2012, 09:38 PM
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#2
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Guru
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
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An autopilot would solve most of these problems...
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09-06-2012, 09:52 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
City: Spring Lake, MI
Vessel Name: Great Laker
Vessel Model: American Tug 34
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 346
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The American Tug has a helm seat that can slide forward. There are foot rests both under the seat and under the wheel depending on where it is positioned. When there is a need to cross through the pilot house, you can just slide the seat back.
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09-06-2012, 09:55 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
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You mentioned a sliding seat may be too tall. How about removing the existing seat top and making a longer one(closer to the helm) that folds down on a hinge? When not in use or door access is needed it would simply fold up out of the way. A well fastened piano hinge would help.
__________________
Craig
It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
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09-06-2012, 09:57 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
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That's a comfortable helm Larry!
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Craig
It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
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09-06-2012, 10:21 PM
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#6
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Scraping Paint
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
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We use a tall stand-alone swivel chair. This works great but then there's the problem of where to put it when we're not actually using it.
I saw the perfect chair for us a few months ago up the north end of Vancouver on the M/V Gikumi. Tall, folding teak chair with arms that folds flat. Jim told me where he bought it but the store no longer carries this type of chair. As for driving with one's feet, this is how Jin often drives the Gikumi.
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09-06-2012, 11:54 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,267
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fotoman
An autopilot would solve most of these problems...
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That is really the answer here.
I rarely use the wheel on our boat. The autopilot has left and right 1 and 10 degree buttons.
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09-07-2012, 05:13 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Chocowinity NC
Vessel Name: My Yuki
Vessel Model: 1973 Marine Trader 34
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 637
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders
That is really the answer here.
I rarely use the wheel on our boat. The autopilot has left and right 1 and 10 degree buttons.
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On my boat, it's port and starboard.
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09-07-2012, 05:58 AM
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#9
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Guru
City: Cary, NC
Vessel Name: Skinny Dippin'
Vessel Model: Navigator 4200 Classic
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,841
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ARoss
On my boat, it's port and starboard.
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ZING!
__________________
2000 Navigator 4200 Classic
(NOT a trawler)
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09-07-2012, 06:14 AM
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#10
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ARoss
On my boat, it's port and starboard.
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In the real world rudder commands are right or left... an autopilot is just an electronic helmsman...so right or left is more appropriate than port or starboard....
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09-07-2012, 06:17 AM
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#11
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Scraping Paint
City: Fort Lauderdale
Vessel Model: CHB 48 Zodiac YL 4.2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,804
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Rudder commands are traditionally given as right and left.
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09-07-2012, 08:31 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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If there's enough room, there are swinging arms that accept seat bases...look at some sailboat nav station seats...many swing out of the way for different reasons. That would be if there's too little room for a stool like folding chair as been suggested but enough room for one to be swung into a comfortable position to drive and out of the way when needed.
The one on my buddies Catalina 42 is only a tiny, round padded seat but any number of chairs could be mounted. Then it could be removed by lifting it and storing it out of the way. You could make something to fit on the current seat top.
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09-07-2012, 08:40 AM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,267
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ARoss
On my boat, it's port and starboard.
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I am so busted.
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09-07-2012, 02:42 PM
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#14
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Guru
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 577
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a lot of people rave about the comfort of Honda Odyssey mini van captain's chairs for helm use. They already have a slide mechanism! I like the all mesh office chairs my self and intend to try to concoct a lower helm seat with one at some point. As others have said you could make a hinged plate that would accept a swivel seat base. You could use some type of T-handle bolts so no tools needed to R/R.
__________________
TIME well wasted
1984 34' Mainship III
Arkan'tsaw
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09-07-2012, 02:47 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Whittier AK
Vessel Name: Apache II
Vessel Model: 1974 Donald Jones
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,147
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__________________
If you can't repair it maybe it shouldn't be on the boat
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09-07-2012, 02:54 PM
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#16
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Guru
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 897
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Matt, we're struggling with the same issue. Our recently installed Garmin autopilot might make it a moot point. Time will tell. We're considering a sliding seat and with the slider it will be too high. So it will require lowering the existing seat platform. Not too big task. Chuck
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09-07-2012, 03:42 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
City: Tacoma
Vessel Name: C:\[ESC]
Vessel Model: 2002 Bayliner 4788
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 285
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Thanks for the responses, all.
There is an older autopilot already on the boat. I spent all of 10 minutes trying it out this summer, but wasn't able to get it to hold a straight course. Probably worthwhile to investigate that. On a quick google search, it looks like a replacement would be on the order of $1000, which is.... unfortunate.
I saw an older thread here that mentioned using car seats for helm chairs too. I like the idea, just not sure if one would be too high.
I really like the idea of the swinging arm base, because I could then use it as a 5th seat at the dinette... definitely need to investigate that.
Once again, thanks for the suggestions!
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09-07-2012, 03:49 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 951
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mattkab :
It looks like you need a higher seatback, and a headrest, and a cup holder, and a place to set the remote, and a folding side table for the snacks, and.....
Have fun with your project.
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09-07-2012, 04:26 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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something like this...it could have a decent nav seat that could lift off to get totally out of the way and yet swing all the way into the cabin to be another seat like you said....
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09-07-2012, 05:23 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: St Augustine,Fl
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,798
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I second the Honda Odyssey seat. Someone on this forum suggested them a while ago. Ebay had brand new ones removed from new vehicles as part of after market customizations. I think they were around $ 150-250.
Hamilton marine has swing away aluminum bases that are used on lobster boats that may work for you.
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