Sternrail Seats Installed

[31seahorse]

Hello Members,

We took Breezin' Up, our 272LE out for the first sail today from Bokeelia. We had an exciting time and then put a reef in the main to make it a bit less exciting.

We had installed the sternrail seats before leaving the dock. Pictures are included. The wood is from a salvage shop. They were cut from one of those slotted covers that fit in the sole of a powerboat to cover the storage space for skis and such things. I copied the curve of each end along the centerline of the wood and then used a router to ease off the edges. Two coats of Cetol were applied.

The fittings were from ebay and the 1 inch ss tubing was from the same salvage shop as the wood. I need to adjust the length of the legs a bit, but we are generally pleased with the installation. The legs can be removed for storage in the fuel locker and then the seats can be flipped back behind the split backstays if the seats are not in use.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Nice job, that's a very clever way to install perch seats with only a single rail on the pulpit.

 

[31seahorse]

Hello Stu and other members,

Stu, thanks for the comment. The fittings were the most expensive part of the project.

Also, the routing of the stern line in the first picture is only used when we are loading the boat or working there. I'll need to come up with a better way to pull the boat close to the dock. We are also experimenting with ways to leave the spring lines and other dock lines at a spot on the piling where they can be easily grabbed when docking. We are on one side of a small dock and close to shore, so spring lines are essential.

 

[onecoolair]

Hello Stu and other members,
We are also experimenting with ways to leave the spring lines and other dock lines at a spot on the piling where they can be easily grabbed when docking. We are on one side of a small dock and close to shore, so spring lines are essential.

Bicycle hooks on the pilings.

 

[Panta Rei]

Great work!!! price looks right as well.

Hello Members,

We took Breezin' Up, our 272LE out for the first sail today from Bokeelia. We had an exciting time and then put a reef in the main to make it a bit less exciting.

We had installed the sternrail seats before leaving the dock. Pictures are included. The wood is from a salvage shop. They were cut from one of those slotted covers that fit in the sole of a powerboat to cover the storage space for skis and such things. I copied the curve of each end along the centerline of the wood and then used a router to ease off the edges. Two coats of Cetol were applied.

The fittings were from ebay and the 1 inch ss tubing was from the same salvage shop as the wood. I need to adjust the length of the legs a bit, but we are generally pleased with the installation. The legs can be removed for storage in the fuel locker and then the seats can be flipped back behind the split backstays if the seats are not in use.

31 Seahorse,
Great work on the stern rail seats.
I enjoyed reading your profile. Middle school teacher , so trying to douse a flogging out of control sail is nothing to you. I was the jerk in the back of the room with the hormones raging. I may not have been in your class but I bet you had your fill of my type. Anyway... I have a few questions.
My boat has a set of seats but they have a few issues.
First off I'll get the proper length bolts for the leg flange fitting and replace the aluminum tubing with Stainless.
I'm stumped on the the clips holding the seat to the horizontal rail. You see mine are cheap and flimsy. Something designed to hold a mop or broom. I see you found yours on E-bay. What are they called? How do I find them?
The Beckson cupholders were (poorly) caulked in place. Anyone care to offer a suggestion as to the type of caulk that will actually work on Starboard?
Your wooden seats look better than the starboard. I may have a new project.

 

[31seahorse]

Re: Great work!!! price looks right as well.

Hello Panta Rei,
Thanks for the reply. RE: Middle School....What a great age! I always said I enjoyed my job so much because I had an eighth grade mentality.

RE: starboard product. I think I read that very few (if any) glues or caulks really adhere well to starboard. I always connected that material using screws. I had made a set of seats for the Oday 34 we owned, but I had used starboard that was too thin and the seats flexed. Not a great feeling when we were heeling.

The white clamps are called rail clamps. They come with inserts that allow you to clamp things securely to several sizes of tubing. 7/8 to 1 1/4 I think. I left the inserts out because I wanted the seats to be easily movable not "clamped". They were pretty cheap...under $10 a pair if I remember correctly.

 

[cbourne200]

31SeaHorse - great looking seats! But I have always wondered whether they are more 'in the way' than they are functional. I like to sit at aft end of cockpit, facing bow with legs on seat. Seems the sternrail seats would 'get in the way' of my head. Do you actually use them for seats? What year is your 272LE? I have an '87 272 and have a single backstay...

Charles

 

[TENACITY CS36T]

Nice work!

 

[31seahorse]

Hello Charles,

As a matter of fact........We do use the seats as a good vantage point to see over the dodger rather than through it. Sometimes I like to sit on the leeward side for induced heel in light winds. Sitting on the windward side can sometimes be a challenge when heeled. Best seats on the boat for motoring.

We were out today for our second sail on our new boat. Learned some things: (1) On the first sail I had forgotten to release the topping lift. No wonder sail shape was odd! (2) I need to service the winch on the cabin top for the halyards and the mainsheet. It is loose. I think it is the drum being loose because the Allen head bolt is loose. (3) I need to go up the mast to fix the windex and to install the lazy jacks I plan to make. (4) The sailcover Eileen made fits very well.

Our boat is a 1988 with split backstays that I think you noticed in the pictures. We are thinking of adding a helm seat of a smaller size than the sternrail seats. I cannot see out very well if i sit on the transom, so I thought a seat above the storage area might help. I'll experiment with that using left over parts from the first seat project.

Also, onecoolair & ODay e-pod, thanks for the comments.

Phil

 

[cbourne200]

How are you 'going up the mast'? I bought a 'Mast Climber' from Sailrite, and it works great. Send some pics once you get lazyjacks installed. I definitely need to do same since wife winds up dousing main and getting it ready for Sail Cover. She won't steer the boat when under power - not really sure why...

Charles

 

[31seahorse]

Hi Charles,
I have a climbing harness and ascenders (hopefully not ass-enders!) that I have used. Put the safety line and other parts together buying on ebay. I guess it is a cheap version of the Top Climber. I like it much better than the nylon ladder I used in my younger days and I liked that better than being hauled up while clinging to the mast. I use a lineman's belt for added connection to the mast when I am at the level where I need to work.

I've considered putting the upper end of the lazyjacks out a short distance on the spreaders. Any thoughts on that plan? I will copy one of the lazyjack illustrations on the internet. I have some of the parts, but might not get to that task for a week or so. I did buy some parts for the helm seat but having friends here from NJ will require some sailing time. That's a good thing!
Phil

 

[dennisv]

31 Seahorse,
Thanks for sending in this message and pictures. I had asked about installing perch seat on a single rail, stern rails last month. Your design was pretty much what I thought I'd have to do, but was concern about the clamps on the stern rail, not the seat. My concerns was that they might slip down the rails once weight was applied. Is there any "positive" lock on the clamps, such as a "set screw" to lock the clamp to the rail?

 

[caguy]

31 Seahorse,
Great work on the stern rail seats.
I enjoyed reading your profile. Middle school teacher , so trying to douse a flogging out of control sail is nothing to you. I was the jerk in the back of the room with the hormones raging. I may not have been in your class but I bet you had your fill of my type. Anyway... I have a few questions.
My boat has a set of seats but they have a few issues.
First off I'll get the proper length bolts for the leg flange fitting and replace the aluminum tubing with Stainless.
I'm stumped on the the clips holding the seat to the horizontal rail. You see mine are cheap and flimsy. Something designed to hold a mop or broom. I see you found yours on E-bay. What are they called? How do I find them?
The Beckson cupholders were (poorly) caulked in place. Anyone care to offer a suggestion as to the type of caulk that will actually work on Starboard?
Your wooden seats look better than the starboard. I may have a new project.

I would fill the cup holder holes with cup holders.

http://www.boatoutfitters.com/4.3-black-plastic-cup-holder?gclid=CODQgN3hzLUCFW3ZQgoddW8A8A

When I made mine I didn't want to leave them in the weather so they snap on with fishing pole clamps. The seats are made of laminated aluminum honeycomb panels, edged with split pvc tubing. Flanges came from Minney's. Best part is that they float, oh yeah and they cost less than $25.

 

[31seahorse]

Hello dennisv,
The clamps on the sternrail rely on the clamping action of the hinged clamp to hold the new rail in place. With the leg under the seat not all the weight is borne by the horizontal tail you would add. I considered drilling the clamp to insert a screw or a bold, but I fif not do that yet. Tested by several of my friends who would never be accused of being small!

 

[31seahorse]

Hello caguy,

I like the professional and "clean" look of your seats. The clips you used are a great choice. Probably less expensive than the clamps and allow for easy removal. The seats may have an added benefit over the wooden or starboard ones..........You can "toast your buns" while you are at the helm. I like the shaped effect you could get with the aluminum. Nice job.