Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-06-2012, 12:05 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
mattkab's Avatar
 
City: Tacoma
Vessel Name: C:\[ESC]
Vessel Model: 2002 Bayliner 4788
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 285
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?
__________________
Thanks,
Matt B.
https://mvcesc.wordpress.com/
mattkab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2012, 09:38 PM   #2
Guru
 
Fotoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 649
An autopilot would solve most of these problems...
Fotoman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2012, 09:52 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Great Laker's Avatar
 
City: Spring Lake, MI
Vessel Name: Great Laker
Vessel Model: American Tug 34
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 346
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.
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_0976.jpg  
__________________
Larry
American Tug 34 - Great Laker, and Gold Looper
Home port on the vast unsalted Lake Michigan
adventuresofgreatlaker.blogspot.com
Great Laker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2012, 09:55 PM   #4
Guru
 
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
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
CPseudonym is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2012, 09:57 PM   #5
Guru
 
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
That's a comfortable helm Larry!
__________________
Craig

It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
CPseudonym is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2012, 10:21 PM   #6
Scraping Paint
 
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
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.

Click image for larger version

Name:	image-2293290170.jpg
Views:	142
Size:	82.4 KB
ID:	12823
Marin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2012, 11:54 PM   #7
Moderator Emeritus
 
ksanders's Avatar
 
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,267
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fotoman View Post
An autopilot would solve most of these problems...
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.
ksanders is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 05:13 AM   #8
Guru
 
ARoss's Avatar
 
City: Chocowinity NC
Vessel Name: My Yuki
Vessel Model: 1973 Marine Trader 34
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 637
Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders View Post
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.
On my boat, it's port and starboard.
ARoss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 05:58 AM   #9
Guru
 
Tom.B's Avatar
 
City: Cary, NC
Vessel Name: Skinny Dippin'
Vessel Model: Navigator 4200 Classic
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,841
Quote:
Originally Posted by ARoss View Post
On my boat, it's port and starboard.
ZING!
__________________
2000 Navigator 4200 Classic
(NOT a trawler)
Tom.B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 06:14 AM   #10
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
Quote:
Originally Posted by ARoss View Post
On my boat, it's port and starboard.

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....
psneeld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 06:17 AM   #11
Scraping Paint
 
City: Fort Lauderdale
Vessel Model: CHB 48 Zodiac YL 4.2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,804
Rudder commands are traditionally given as right and left.
RickB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 08:31 AM   #12
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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.
psneeld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 08:40 AM   #13
Moderator Emeritus
 
ksanders's Avatar
 
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,267
Quote:
Originally Posted by ARoss View Post
On my boat, it's port and starboard.

I am so busted.
ksanders is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 02:42 PM   #14
Guru
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 577
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
twiisted71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 02:47 PM   #15
Guru
 
skipperdude's Avatar
 
City: Whittier AK
Vessel Name: Apache II
Vessel Model: 1974 Donald Jones
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,147
Bazinga
__________________
If you can't repair it maybe it shouldn't be on the boat
skipperdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 02:54 PM   #16
Guru
 
Capn Chuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 897
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
__________________
Blogs
Beach House
Sea Trek
Capn Chuck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 03:42 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
mattkab's Avatar
 
City: Tacoma
Vessel Name: C:\[ESC]
Vessel Model: 2002 Bayliner 4788
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 285
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!
__________________
Thanks,
Matt B.
https://mvcesc.wordpress.com/
mattkab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 03:49 PM   #18
Guru
 
City: Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 951
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.
Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 04:26 PM   #19
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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....
Attached Images
 
psneeld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2012, 05:23 PM   #20
Guru
 
Sailor of Fortune's Avatar
 
City: St Augustine,Fl
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,798
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.
Sailor of Fortune is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012