Made my own Stern Rail Seats

[McIntoshUSA]

Our boat did not have stern rail seats so I decided to make my own. The actual seat is small, for only 1 person. I also added 2 cup holders. One for large drink and one with a plastic can holder. I used a piece of cardboard to make a pattern that fit in the section. (You can see the cardboard in one of the photos). I also picked up a piece of stainless steel 1" tubing at a Mariners trading post and deck mount cheap. I used the tubing for support. I used pine, stained it and applied 7 coats of marine spar varnish. I had debated if I should use the star board (like fiberglass board) or pine. I decided with pine since the only wood our boat has in the cockpit is the folding table. I guess only time will tell if I made the correct choice.

 

[Ken Cross]

Well done! Thanks for sharing.
Ken

 

[Rob19574]

nice job.

 

[sail_MN]

Very nice job indeed. My H28.5 has a similar transom with the split backstays also. I was curious how the stern seats would work so post back and let us know how you like them.

 

[caguy]

Nice McIntosh. Do you leave them out when not sailing? I so I would make covers for them or throw a towel over them to protect them from the weather. One of the nice things about using wood is that it floats and they are much lighter than starboard. I notice that you have the split backstays. I took mine out to make room for the seats.
I like to use mine when I solo sail. I have a remote control to the autopilot so I can just kick back and enjoy the view.

 

[31seahorse]

Very nice seats. They appear to slant outward a bit.....that should be comfortable while motoring and will keep your butt in the seat when you are sitting on the high side when the boat heels.

Charlotte Harbor was very calm most of yesterday, but we had a nice sail near Bokeelia from 3:30 to 4:45.

 

[McIntoshUSA]

Very nice seats. They appear to slant outward a bit.....that should be comfortable while motoring and will keep your butt in the seat when you are sitting on the high side when the boat heels.

Charlotte Harbor was very calm most of yesterday, but we had a nice sail near Bokeelia from 3:30 to 4:45.

They are actually level. I think the camera is playing tricks on me.

 

[McIntoshUSA]

Nice McIntosh. Do you leave them out when not sailing? I so I would make covers for them or throw a towel over them to protect them from the weather. One of the nice things about using wood is that it floats and they are much lighter than starboard. I notice that you have the split backstays. I took mine out to make room for the seats.
I like to use mine when I solo sail. I have a remote control to the autopilot so I can just kick back and enjoy the view.

Yes i leave them out. I might have to come up with something to cover them with.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I would agree with covering it. On my last boat I fabricated a cover for every ounce of wood, except for the eyebrow strips. I hate doing wood so I cover it and only let it out when I want it to look nice!

 

[njlarry]

well done. How did you clamp them to the stern rails?

 

[McIntoshUSA]

well done. How did you clamp them to the stern rails?

Take a look at the picture that had them in pieces on my seahorses. You can see the brackets I made that screw in under the seat. The go on from the outside so that it goes around the rubbing. Take s look at the seat installed and can can see the brackets. Then I added another ss Stantion under the seat to support it from under it.

 

[algee]

I really like your seats, but I am a little confused as to the brackets at the ends of the seat.

PS I also sail in Charlotte Harbor.

 

[McIntoshUSA]

I really like your seats, but I am a little confused as to the brackets at the ends of the seat.

PS I also sail in Charlotte Harbor.

I made small wood brackets with cutouts in them that slide around the side stanchions. You can see them in the photo that is unassembled. These small pieces slide around the stanchions on the end from the underneath side. I then screwed them into the seat board from the bottom with stainless steel screws. The stanchion I added under the seat holds the weight. The end pieces basically holds the seat in place not the weight.

 

[Kper]

I like that a lot!
I was contemplating how I would go about doing this after seeing a pair of factory seats on a friend's Precision.

Well done!

 

[McIntoshUSA]

I really like your seats, but I am a little confused as to the brackets at the ends of the seat.

PS I also sail in Charlotte Harbor.

Here are some pictures of the brackets underneath the seats. Hopefully this helps.

 

[rgranger]

Here are some pictures of the brackets underneath the seats. Hopefully this helps.

Inspiring.... thnx

r

 

[Willie G]

Does anyone know where I can get a hinged bracket that the support pole would fit into that would attach to the bottom of a stern rail seat so that when the seat is raised vertical I can fold the support pole down parallel to the vertical seat.

 

[PaulK]

It might be cheaper and easier to simply get a hinge and screw a wooden support to it instead of using metal tubing for support in this instance. Teak would not need maintenance.

 

[Ron20324]

i FOUND IT AS EASY TO GET A 90 degree socket for a SS tube. Bolt it to the bottom of the seat, install or remove the tube support as needed. Maybe even put a clevis pin through it to hold the leg. Put a rubber cap on the bottom of the leg to protect the deck.