2004 Mainship 400 Lower Helm Bench Seat

[Bay Retriever]

I am gathering info for a spring upgrade to my lower helm station. Have been using a bar stool as a lower helm chair since 2019, which I hate for too many reasons to enumerate. Came across a unique lower helm bench seat design that I am getting quotes for fabricating and installing. Please take a look at the pics and let me know what you think. Also, if anyone knows who owns the boat in the picture, please put me in touch.. I’d like to ask some questions about the type of hinge that was used for the bottom cushion and how the back cushion was attached to the counter top.
Also looks like there are a couple of foot rest/utility boxes below the bench seat that would make sense. Another thing that needs to be worked out is how to modify the garbage door. Might have to remove the door or shorten it so the bench seat can fold.

 

[mml2112]

I thought about doing this with my 400. My first comment would be do you need it to go all the way across the cabinet to the door? I personally wouldn't put in the backrest and make it so that it doesn't interfere with the garbage door. Where did you get the photos on this post? I wonder if there are higher resolution versions available. Please keep us updated on your project as it will be valuable information for all 400 owners.

 

[Dougcole]

I saw this on the Mainship Owners Group on FB. It's an interesting project, but do you lose access to the garbage cabinet door? I wouldn't do that, but then I never use the lower helm, so it might be a good tradeoff for someone else.

 

[TrawlerAJ]

Oh man, when I look at pretty much any other boat, and they've got that nice, cushy seat at the helm, I'm so jealous. I mostly stand at the lower helm, and I appreciate the open space for me to go in and out the helm door, as well as my crew (wife and kids) to go in and out while we're docking. Most longer passages I'm sitting up on the flybridge, or moving around the boat on autopilot (with a watch, of course!). But, when the flies are swarming the boat, or it's cold, or whatever, sometimes I'm at the lower helm wishing I had someplace to sit! We have the original "mushroom seats", so sometimes I'll bring one of those up. Or, I'll sit on the counter behind me. A seat like this would be awesome, even if it was a one person seat, and didn't mess with the garbage door... But, there's other projects that are way higher on the "experience improvement" list. Following, though! Those pics show some sort of storage that covers the hatch to the space underneath. I personally store a toolbag on the diamond plate down there, so I go in there a good bit. Not sure I'd block that off...

 

[Bay Retriever]

I’m moving ahead with this lower helm remodel and will post pics once it’s complete.