Sea Ray 215 Helm Seat Change

Sheppy

Sheppy

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Just bought a new to me Sea Ray 215 Express. She has the normal static helm seat which I'd like to change to a swivel. I do like swivel seats, just feel they offer more flexibility in the cockpit. It's an easy job to remove the current helm seat but there's no access to the underfloor area where I'd need to mount a new swivel stand. Does anyone know specifically what's under the floor? I'm looking to create an access panel in the side wall of the storage area located centrally under the cockpit floor. All seems straight forward enough but I'd like to get a better idea of what's in the area, just and empty sealed void or foam?
Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Have you done this? I am interested in buying your port side original seat (entire thing, including base) if you are interested in selling it. I live in the USA so I'm not sure what shipping would be but for a fair price, I'd be interested.
 
No, I never got any info from anyone, even Searay when I emailed them. And haven't had a chance to investigate on my own yet. Even if I do, I'm really not sure sending the seat to the US would be viable? There must be someone there who can fabricate one for you?
 
In answer to your original question, can't you just use a swivel plate between the existing pedestal and the seat?

$_35.JPG
 
Thanks Nick. Originally I didn't think the current set-up would allow for that, plus I wanted to lower the seat as I'm quite tall. The seat is like a mini bench made up within a stainless steel frame. A picture would offer a better idea. But I've had a another look and actually I think it might be possible. I was transfixed on changing the whole lot by adding a pedestal pole but if I removed the seat and the supporting framework, then I would be just left with the storage box. Whether the box is strong enough in its own right is another question but I imagine it is and it's mounted with four large floor bolts. Also the height isn't quite as bad as I thought, I've even found myself stretching up a little to see forward clearly. So thanks for the simple idea - it might just work :) And the extra storage is proving quite useful.
 
When I removed / replaced the seat post on my SeaRay 380 Sundancer, the base plate is bolted through the helm floor.

This required removing the headliner in the mid stateroom, directly below the helm. Once that headliner was removed it was "easy" to unbolt, then replace the seat post base.

It is likely your seat post is also bolted in-place, so getting below the helm is probably required.
 
Thanks wingless, I'm glad you had so few problem's, but my setup is quite different. I'm keen to understand what's in the void under the helm seat before I start cutting any access panels in there. I know there'll be four nuts allowing me to remove the seat box but not knowing why the section appears sealed makes me very hesitant - and rightly so I feel. I was hoping someone with the same boat might be able to offer some advice. Anyway, it's not that urgent although I'd still like to know why this section appears sealed. I assume it's for buoyancy but is it empty or full of foam is the question.
 
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Be careful. One of the attractions of the 215 Express is it's nice wide helm that could (at a push) seat 2.....

If you change it to a single swivel helm you may take away one of the things that makes it attractive to buyers (The 215 Express does command a decent premium over a lot of other 20' cuddies - and it's nice cockpit layout is one of the reasons for this) - alter at your resale peril.....
 
Thanks ontheplane, and a fair point indeed, but things can always go back to how they were if done properly :)
 
Yup true.

If the box was empty, and you put a single swivel in, you could use the box for storage / outdoor fridge / coolbox etc.?

I always think the pedestal is a massive waste of space below the helm / navigator - and why don't they put the seat on a big storage box......
 
Well I'm coming to that way of thinking now, as my earlier thread says. I really wanted to also reduce the overall height as I'm quite tall, but in reality, the seat seems fairly low anyway. So yes, I'll probably stick with what I have but may just look to adapt the top of the storage with a swivel as mentioned by Nick_H but while keeping any bits I remove so they can be re-added. So thanks.
I'd still like to know what's in the sealed area under the floor though.....
 
Interesting, the earlier pre 2000 boats are quite different as they only weigh approx 1720kg but look identical, and the layout seems identical too - go figure.
Also, I'm not sure where you're seeing that info from the brochure?
 
What year is your boat?

My guess is the line on the floor behind the helm in the brochure shows where the engine room opens. Where does it open? Can you post any pictures of the forward end of the open engine room?
 
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