Looking for a kit or ideas for a raised helmsman bench seat. Saw a nice fiberglass raised bench with teak overlay on another Morgan but having trouble finding anything. Would consider fabrication too depending on costs.
Raised Helmsman Seat
- Thread starter slomotion
- Start date
Hello slomotion and welcome to the SBO forum.
Personally, I do not like the large helm seats that are like armchairs. We often sit on an extra boat cushion for an added 2 inches of height. I did make a helm seat for one of our boats. On our Oday 272 the seat mounted on the lower rail of the stern rail bars. It attached using two of the rail clamps like hold things in place on the binnacle guard. For a third leg I cut a small piece of ss tubing and mounted it in an angled ss rail base. That leg did not need to go to the cockpit sole. It fit into a coaming shelf that is molded into the transom of the boat. The seat was made of starboard from a second hand shop and my wife made a foam pad and a cover for it. It was secure and pretty much out of the way because we could stand forward of it and aft of the wheel. It was not a work of art, but serviceable.
For a bench seat I like the look of a wooden curved seat that can be secured onto the aft seat in some way. The curve can account for heel of the boat and the helmsman can slide across the seat as needed to remain comfortable. That should be reasonable to make with some power tools.
For ideas check this site under parts and maybe classified. West Marine might have some examples as well as some on Defender.
31seahorse
Personally, I do not like the large helm seats that are like armchairs. We often sit on an extra boat cushion for an added 2 inches of height. I did make a helm seat for one of our boats. On our Oday 272 the seat mounted on the lower rail of the stern rail bars. It attached using two of the rail clamps like hold things in place on the binnacle guard. For a third leg I cut a small piece of ss tubing and mounted it in an angled ss rail base. That leg did not need to go to the cockpit sole. It fit into a coaming shelf that is molded into the transom of the boat. The seat was made of starboard from a second hand shop and my wife made a foam pad and a cover for it. It was secure and pretty much out of the way because we could stand forward of it and aft of the wheel. It was not a work of art, but serviceable.
For a bench seat I like the look of a wooden curved seat that can be secured onto the aft seat in some way. The curve can account for heel of the boat and the helmsman can slide across the seat as needed to remain comfortable. That should be reasonable to make with some power tools.
For ideas check this site under parts and maybe classified. West Marine might have some examples as well as some on Defender.
31seahorse
Thanks Seahorse! We have tried a few extra cushions and looked at ordering a raised helmsman cushion, but then saw a picture of a Morgan like ours with a raised fiberglass hump (see below) but instead of the cushion below it had teak planking over it. Also just found a Teak Hump Kit that we are looking into, but we have to see how it will be anchored.
Your method with the railing clamps sounds like an idea. We were just talking about some clamp type idea and how you described it really might work. Thanks!!! (I'm showing pics of the ideas we had when we first posted.)
Your method with the railing clamps sounds like an idea. We were just talking about some clamp type idea and how you described it really might work. Thanks!!! (I'm showing pics of the ideas we had when we first posted.)
Good Morning slomotion,
Both pictures look like the helm area is well done. The second picture is more classic in my opinion. If you are using a kit it could probably be secured to the fiberglass using thru bolts. That would sacrifice the use of that locker (if yours is like the one shown in the second picture). You would need to get a bit more fancy to make it removable. Perhaps hooks, latches, barrel bolts, or similar onto the front of the seat and the locker lid? Maybe barrel bolts into the sides of the wooden seat in the aft most part of the fiberglass seat in the picture? I might be able to find a picture of our seat that was on the 272.
Both pictures look like the helm area is well done. The second picture is more classic in my opinion. If you are using a kit it could probably be secured to the fiberglass using thru bolts. That would sacrifice the use of that locker (if yours is like the one shown in the second picture). You would need to get a bit more fancy to make it removable. Perhaps hooks, latches, barrel bolts, or similar onto the front of the seat and the locker lid? Maybe barrel bolts into the sides of the wooden seat in the aft most part of the fiberglass seat in the picture? I might be able to find a picture of our seat that was on the 272.
The picture of the 272 shows the helm seat and the stern rail seats which were all secured to the rail using the rail clamps under the seat. Easily removable when necessary. 31seahorse
Attachments
This is mine in fabrication. It is for a 272. It is made from 5mm ply which I will fiberglass. I will build a small storage compartment in the lower stalk part. My wife is already making me a nice pad for it.
Hey 31Seahorse... I really like that seat!
Hey 31Seahorse... I really like that seat!
