Sea keeping ability.

[Adam Brimage]

I have a zodiac pro 550 open, with the swivle seats for the helm. I find these seats useless when the weather get rough ! because when the going gets rough i am standing up, would it have any effect getting rid of the helm seat and just stand. We only go out for a few hours at a time.

[Bam Bam]

Originally Posted by Adam Brimage

I have a zodiac pro 550 open, with the swivle seats for the helm. I find these seats useless when the weather get rough ! because when the going gets rough i am standing up, would it have any effect getting rid of the helm seat and just stand. We only go out for a few hours at a time.

Hi Adam, you may find it difficult in a rough sea if you remove the seat and dont have anything to stop you from going backwards when you hit the lumpy stuff or pile on the throttle. I'm sure that having a seat is handy at times so cant you find some way of locking the seat in a forward position maybe by drilling a hole through the section where the seat connects to the support and using a pin or bolt?? Only an idea, maybe a picture of the seat swivle may give us a better idea. There is always the option of replacing the seats with a back bolster as fitted to some of the 550's or if you have space a jocky seat.

[Adam Brimage]

Originally Posted by Bam Bam

Hi Adam, you may find it difficult in a rough sea if you remove the seat and dont have anything to stop you from going backwards when you hit the lumpy stuff or pile on the throttle. I'm sure that having a seat is handy at times so cant you find some way of locking the seat in a forward position maybe by drilling a hole through the section where the seat connects to the support and using a pin or bolt?? Only an idea, maybe a picture of the seat swivle may give us a better idea. There is always the option of replacing the seats with a back bolster as fitted to some of the 550's or if you have space a jocky seat.

Yes sorry i didnt explain properly. The seat is locked in position, it is just very low down and doesnt really support your legs in anyway. I am goin to try and raise the seat a few inches to try and get the support higher up your legs. And i have looked at alternative seats and for a single jockey seat it is around £500.

[Adam Brimage]

Originally Posted by Bam Bam

Hi Adam, you may find it difficult in a rough sea if you remove the seat and dont have anything to stop you from going backwards when you hit the lumpy stuff or pile on the throttle. I'm sure that having a seat is handy at times so cant you find some way of locking the seat in a forward position maybe by drilling a hole through the section where the seat connects to the support and using a pin or bolt?? Only an idea, maybe a picture of the seat swivle may give us a better idea. There is always the option of replacing the seats with a back bolster as fitted to some of the 550's or if you have space a jocky seat.

Here are some pictures of the seats on the boat.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by Adam Brimage

have looked at alternative seats and for a single jockey seat it is around £500.

you could do it much cheaper with a DIY option.

[chewy]

Can you not just raise the base plate the seat is mounted on?

[Adam Brimage]

Originally Posted by chewy

Can you not just raise the base plate the seat is mounted on?

I have decided that tomorrow in work i will take the seat post in with me, and weld in a 6" section into the post. hopefully this will raise the seat enough.

[chewy]

I was thinking more or rasing all of it 6" so you don't put any extra strain on the post and seat itself?

[Adam Brimage]

Originally Posted by chewy

I was thinking more or rasing all of it 6" so you don't put any extra strain on the post and seat itself?

If you raise the base and put something under the base, the strain will be on the bolts and deck, the shear stress on the bolts will cause them to bend and maybe crack or split the fibreglass.

[Mollers]

Rather than spend money trying to turn it into something that it's not, why don't you flog it and buy something a little more 'hardcore'.