Modify flybridge helm seating ...?

[Hurricane]

That helm bench seat was one of the things that put me off the AZ66 when we were looking 17 years ago.

The Princess ones weren't much better but they were MUCH more comfortable.
These were the old Princess ones.



The old ones were permanently fixed on runners/sliders.
As a result they were difficult to keep clean so I replaced them with these that I found at a boat show:-



Whilst fitting them, I removed the sliders (which were pretty useless anyway) and made it easy to remove them into the cockpit for the winter months.
Much easier to keep them clean now and more comfortable.

 

[Hurricane]

When at d speed for any distance I rarely sit n the helm seat.
Usually feet up in the fly dinette with drinks and snacks!

I disagree, M.
Yes, it is nice to sit at the dinette with drinks etc but, under way, I usually have one person as the "lookout" and they sit at the helm seat.
It is also somewhere comfortable to sit and play wit th electronics - there isn't usually much else to do on a long passage!!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

When at d speed for any distance I rarely sit n the helm seat.
Usually feet up in the fly dinette with drinks and snacks!

I’d do that if there weren’t so many lobster pots on that route. This trip I was solo so felt unable to take my eyes off the route for long.

 

[rafiki_]

I’d do that if there weren’t so many lobster pots on that route. This trip I was solo so felt unable to take my eyes off the route for long.

Very wise!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

This was Thursday morning just after 10am. My friends in his very nice Triana Tanterella just going out of shot (he was back on his berth at East Cowes at 12.30) and me just coming into view.
View attachment 192905

Is that Phil Clabburn in the Triana? Saw them come in.

 

[colhel]

Is that Phil Clabburn in the Triana? Saw them come in.

Yes.

 

[Elessar]

I disagree, M.
Yes, it is nice to sit at the dinette with drinks etc but, under way, I usually have one person as the "lookout" and they sit at the helm seat.
It is also somewhere comfortable to sit and play wit th electronics - there isn't usually much else to do on a long passage!!

Each to their own. I lookout from the dinette or wherever I choose to sit. Often not the helm seat.

 

[jfm]

StickyFingers I think this is a very worthwile upgrade. I have modded the helms (or got the builder to mod in the build) in my last 4 boats.

Looks to me like your seat base moulding needs modding to remove all the lumps and create a simple flat GRP top. Perfectly do-able job for a good grp guy.

Other than that, it's easier than you think. Normally the seats have something like 4 tapped M6 holes on the bottom. So you get a piece of 4mm aluminium plate in a 500 x 500 square or whatever the bottom of the seat is, paint it white, drill it so it bolts to the bottom of the seat frame, then drill/bolt the plate to the GRP box that you already have, ideally on a catalogue slider mechanism. Sometimes the seat manufacturer will supply the slide mechanism (check not mild steel of course). Really very easy and well worthwhile.

I like those Recaros a lot and used them several times. In the simple shape - the Recaro atlantic or pacific. You can choose whether to have armrests etc. They can be covered in your choice of silvertex. Not cheap but worth it imho. On current boat I'm using Besenzoni P243, again made to order in any silvertex you choose and with diamond stitch and other options if you want, but I think your project would look better with non high back seats, like the Recaro atlantic. Perhaps with a s/s hoop instead of a headrest.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

StickyFingers I think this is a very worthwile upgrade. I have modded the helms (or got the builder to mod in the build) in my last 4 boats.

Looks to me like your seat base moulding needs modding to remove all the lumps and create a simple flat GRP top. Perfectly do-able job for a good grp guy.

Other than that, it's easier than you think. Normally the seats have something like 4 tapped M6 holes on the bottom. So you get a piece of 4mm aluminium plate in a 500 x 500 square or whatever the bottom of the seat is, paint it white, drill it so it bolts to the bottom of the seat frame, then drill/bolt the plate to the GRP box that you already have, ideally on a catalogue slider mechanism. Sometimes the seat manufacturer will supply the slide mechanism (check not mild steel of course). Really very easy and well worthwhile.

I like those Recaros a lot and used them several times. In the simple shape - the Recaro atlantic or pacific. You can choose whether to have armrests etc. They can be covered in your choice of silvertex. Not cheap but worth it imho. On current boat I'm using Besenzoni P243, again made to order in any silvertex you choose and with diamond stitch and other options if you want, but I think your project would look better with non high back seats, like the Recaro atlantic. Perhaps with a s/s hoop instead of a headrest.

Thanks for this, that’s encouraging! The seat base will definitely need modding, that’s right. If I go ahead with this I will also have to modify my flybridge cover, the current one is shaped to fit around the top hoop of the backrest. So this isn’t a quick or cheap job but I’m going to look into it for next winter assuming I’ve got the budget.

 

[benjenbav]

Thanks for this, that’s encouraging! The seat base will definitely need modding, that’s right. If I go ahead with this I will also have to modify my flybridge cover, the current one is shaped to fit around the top hoop of the backrest. So this isn’t a quick or cheap job but I’m going to look into it for next winter assuming I’ve got the budget.

Meantime… some nice scatter cushions?

 

[Mr Googler]

Meantime… some nice scatter cushions?

I’ve often wondered if benjenbav is JFM’s alt account……I think this confirms it

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I have the pleasure of knowing both gentlemen and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them together, so whilst this might be an amusing conjecture, I think not

 

[Mr Googler]

I have the pleasure of knowing both gentlemen and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them together, so whilst this might be an amusing conjecture, I think not

Have you seen them online together though

 

[Hurricane]

Thanks for this, that’s encouraging! The seat base will definitely need modding, that’s right. If I go ahead with this I will also have to modify my flybridge cover, the current one is shaped to fit around the top hoop of the backrest. So this isn’t a quick or cheap job but I’m going to look into it for next winter assuming I’ve got the budget.

I know what you mean.
After replacing our helm seats, I had to make a new cover for our BBQ/helm module so that the cover fits over the new helm seat tops.

If you are into DIY, you could go down the path of making your own covers.
Thats what I've done.
I bought a Sailrite sewing machine - really great bit of kit.
Suitable for virtually any canvas material.
I started using cheap canvas which was a mistake and didn't last in the sun.
I've used lots of different canvas materials but I now use a PVC which is dead cheap but, more importantly, it is really easy to use.
It is the same white PVC that Princess use for their covers so it lasts well.
I use it for all kinds of jobs.

EDIT
This is the sewing machine

I've had mine a number of years now - I upgraded it last year to the new Worker B motor.
The machine is mostly mechanical so any maintenance etc can be done yourself.
Sailrite has a huge number of Youtube videos that show you how to make all kinds of stuff.
Making covers is just one of the jobs that they explain.
See all the videos on their website.
Sailrite: Fabric and Sewing Supply Store
They even have videos on how to change all the components of the machine.

Once you get into it, you can even tackle the bigger jobs.
For example, I made these cockpit covers.


A new set of cockpit covers for a Princess 67 can set you back £2500/£3000.
I made these for a little over £100.
It takes time to learn but it can be a great hobby as well as saving costs.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

That’s impressive!

 

[roa312]

A new set of cockpit covers for a Princess 67 can set you back £2500/£3000.
I made these for a little over £100.
It takes time to learn but it can be a great hobby as well as saving costs.

May I ask approx. how much time it took you to make the cockpit covers from start to finish?

 

[Hurricane]

May I ask approx. how much time it took you to make the cockpit covers from start to finish?

Yep - it DOES take me a long time.
I'm retired and I have space at home so I can set it all up - do a bit - leave it - do a bit - leave it etc.
But in answer to your question - a couple of weeks of evenings.
The hardest bit is getting the size correct - the boat is 1000 miles from home - no "popping down" to check the sizes.
Old covers can't really be used as a template - they will have shrunk.
It is amazing how much the old covers shrink.
Old covers are useful to get the overall shape though.

There are other methods of getting the templates right.
For some jobs, I use plastic template material to make panels to get the shapes.
The panels are stuck together on-site using double sided sticky tape (special tape that the industry uses - called Venture Tape)
Like this


To get something like this - flybridge console cover


That technique works quite well - detailed on the Sailrite website.

These ones are made from the same material but a different colour.
I adapted them from the original Princess covers - mine have zipped sections so that we can get to the flybridge coolbox for drinks etc.
I

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Also impressive! I don’t have the skills or patience for this so I’d be having work done professionally, but good to see what’s possible.

 

[Hurricane]

Also impressive! I don’t have the skills or patience for this so I’d be having work done professionally, but good to see what’s possible.

It isn't so much skills as patience and an attitude of "bloody mindedness".

 

[jfm]

@Hurricane very impressive as ever . Would you be so kind as to give the name, supplier or a link to the white pvc cover material that you’re buying please?

My boat has similar on the OEM covers and I need to do a bit of diy. I also have a sailrite as you know but it doesn’t have as skilled or active a driver as yours . By the way did the new motor help? Was it an upgrade or just a service replacement? I never found the old motor lacking.