Redoing flybridge seating

[CharlieO.]

We have the standard back to back seating at the upper helm. We would like to keep two forward facing seats, possibly pedestal mounted and two long benches, lounges, couch type seating going forward to aft.

I've already removed the current benches and it is all open now.

Suggestions on what to use to build the benches? I'd like to have them high enough to store five gallon buckets underneath hinged lids and probably propane storage in part of one. Probably thinking around 7 feet in length.

 

[psneeld]

When I removed the built in seating from my Albin, I just used folding deck chairs and moved them as needed.

I missed the lost storage and had dreams of using pontoon boat type seating or building nice storage boxes and mounting swivel captain's chairs on them near the helm and a long pre-made bench near the rear with a couple folding deck chairs as needed.

 

[mvweebles]

Just finishing up having a pair of benches. Mine are built of fiberglass; with a separate propane locker (barely out of view on left - note, this is admittedly not ABYC compliant because it has a side door vs a top door). Also note the [custom] stainless steel brackets that allow the seat backs to flop both directions. The bench boxes are larger than visible as the inner panel of the flybridge wall was cut away and the box slides in an additional 4-5 inches or so, then glassed-in.

One design mistake I made was beneath the cushions is just a lift-off top (two each side) - drainage could be better. A better design would be something like the second picture I have attached (random Google). Sailboat benches in cockpits use similar designs to make them watertight.


Probably more intense that what you're thinking but it's what I did. There are pre-molded dockboxes available - if you can find something roughly right, will save a ton of time and money. Or as Psneeld suggests - pontoon boat furniture if you can find something of suitable size and quality.

Peter

 

[Propnut]

I'm wanting to change my back to back as as well. I thought surely after all the boat that were destroyed In Florida, I'd be able to locate a boat that had L shape flybridge seating, but so far had no luck. I've considered pontoon seating , but the backs have to be supported somehow. I can split my back to back seating and make an L, but it would require several modifications and a lot of fiberglass work. I'll continue my search. If anyone runs across a L seating configuration, i'd be willing to pay top dollar for it.

 

[CharlieO.]

psneeld, that is where we are at now, using deck chairs and I keep my out for possibly pontoon furniture or dock boxes to repurpose.

Peter, did they construct your boxes using a mold? I like your setup and understand about cutting into the inner flybridge wall for more storage. I'd maybe like to have swivel seats mounted on the forward part.

I have been trying to learn a little about fiberglass work and fab through boatworks today on youtube

 

[jleonard]

We have the standard back to back seating at the upper helm. We would like to keep two forward facing seats, possibly pedestal mounted and two long benches, lounges, couch type seating going forward to aft.

I've already removed the current benches and it is all open now.

Suggestions on what to use to build the benches? I'd like to have them high enough to store five gallon buckets underneath hinged lids and probably propane storage in part of one. Probably thinking around 7 feet in length.

When I rebuilt the seating on my old Mainship, I built the benches out of wood (2x4 and plywood), then covered it with white vinyl. My wife covered the tops with dense foam and sunbrella to match the enclosure. The tops were removable for storage underneath. We also later made backing cushions so it was comfy to lean back.
No pictures available unfortunately.

 

[Gdavid]

The previous owner of my boat installed pontoon furniture on the flybridge. Two captain's chairs at the dash and a free-standing L further aft. I don't think it looks very good but it is very functional. It is comfortable, has decent storage for my travel set of dock lines and some large cupholders. My flybridge has canvas from the railing to the deck, so the furniture isn't visible from alongside the boat or most docks. There wasn't enough width on the flybridge to install all 3 sections which make up the "L", due to the location of my ladder so the longer section and corner were installed (through bolted to the deck) and the shorter straight section was installed in the cockpit. I didn't care for the fixed seating in the cockpit, so I promptly removed it.

 

[CharlieO.]

When I rebuilt the seating on my old Mainship, I built the benches out of wood (2x4 and plywood), then covered it with white vinyl. My wife covered the tops with dense foam and sunbrella to match the enclosure. The tops were removable for storage underneath. We also later made backing cushions so it was comfy to lean back.
No pictures available unfortunately.

I was thinking about building with wood, it's pretty simple construction but just wasn't sure what to cover it with. Vinyl is an interesting option that I hadn't considered.

 

[CharlieO.]

The previous owner of my boat installed pontoon furniture on the flybridge. Two captain's chairs at the dash and a free-standing L further aft. I don't think it looks very good but it is very functional. It is comfortable, has decent storage for my travel set of dock lines and some large cupholders. My flybridge has canvas from the railing to the deck, so the furniture isn't visible from alongside the boat or most docks. There wasn't enough width on the flybridge to install all 3 sections which make up the "L", due to the location of my ladder so the longer section and corner were installed (through bolted to the deck) and the shorter straight section was installed in the cockpit. I didn't care for the fixed seating in the cockpit, so I promptly removed it.

I'd have to get a real good deal on the pontoon furniture to go with it. It really doesn't go with the lines of our boat and is bulky as you noted.

 

[Bacchus]

I was thinking about building with wood, it's pretty simple construction but just wasn't sure what to cover it with. Vinyl is an interesting option that I hadn't considered.

Big box stores carry sheet PVC in a couple thicknesses. You might be able to use it as flat section with wood framing. You could coat framing w poly / epoxy resin and screw sheet PVC to that.
Or just build w wood and coat w resin + epoxy paint.

 

[mvweebles]

Peter, did they construct your boxes using a mold? I like your setup and understand about cutting into the inner flybridge wall for more storage. I'd maybe like to have swivel seats mounted on the forward part

Yes, mold was built in plywood. The sides of my flybridge are not parallel - they are narrower at front than back, so the boxes are slightly trapezoid shaped to keep the lines clean. Had to play with it a bit, but it means the mold had to be reversed for the second bench to mirror the trapezoid. Because my deck is fiberglass (yours is likely teak?), the open 'top' of the molded box was turned upside down and fiberglass to the deck so it's now an integral, structural piece of the boat which in my case is good because the seating I removed was integral and provided some strength.

I've been hanging around this boatyard in Ensenada with this crew for almost 1.5 years. I am amazed at how quickly they can fabricate fiberglass items. The finish work is pretty labor intensive though, but the structure itself goes fairly quickly, at least for people familiar with the work. It is beyond my skill level however.

I'll be back at the boat later today and snap a picture without the cushions.

Peter

 

[CharlieO.]

Peter, my decks are all fiberglass, someone previously removed the teak I suppose. I don't see any hint anywhere that there were teak decks so someone must have done a good job. Definitely nothing square or parallel on my flybridge. I am trying to pick up what I can about working with fiberglass, I'm thinking my best approach might be to build in place but am looking at all the different options.

I'm looking forward to seeing your refit completed.

 

[jleonard]

I was thinking about building with wood, it's pretty simple construction but just wasn't sure what to cover it with. Vinyl is an interesting option that I hadn't considered.

Vinyl is so easy. Wrap it around and staple inside.

 

[mvweebles]

Peter, my decks are all fiberglass, someone previously removed the teak I suppose. I don't see any hint anywhere that there were teak decks so someone must have done a good job. Definitely nothing square or parallel on my flybridge. I am trying to pick up what I can about working with fiberglass, I'm thinking my best approach might be to build in place but am looking at all the different options.

I'm looking forward to seeing your refit completed.

Me too. Next week is finalization of work on interior/exterior, then next Friday is "Pencil's down" day on work. Following week is final paint touch-up where the boat will be tented for spraying. She will be splashed (hopefully) two weeks from today and the next phase will begin - sea trials, fixing stuff that breaks, configuring nav system, solar/power system and controls, comms systems (Starlink + IridiumGO + Wifi/Cell).

The part of fiberglass work that scares me most is getting the mold to release. If I were to build the boxes myself, I would probably use 3/8" plywood (maybe even 1/4") as a skin around a frame, fiberglass the outside, then remove the frame and fiberglass the interior. Then the visible surfaces faired which is a bit painstaking. Takes a lot of patience to do work like that (polishing stainless steel is another task that I simply do not have the patience for).

As mentioned, while my boxes were fiberglass into the deck and flybridge skirt, they could just be glued in with 3M 4200 (UV). When mine were fiberglassed-in, a 6" wide by 1/8" deep strip of the surrounding fiberglass was removed. This allowed the fillets of fiberglass to be laid-down and faired flush. I would think that by the time it's done, if I did the work, would be 60-100 hours. In the hands of an experienced person, half that (or better). I forget, but I think I paid around $3k in Mexico for the benches including paint and install. That is a bit deceiving because I was already having the boat painted so the add-on work could be incorporated easily.

Peter