Seat placement?

[Mr. Asa]

At the point in my '59 Lonestar Flamingo where I get to figure out where to put the seats. Front seats are easy, but I've got a lot of leeway with the rear.

My thoughts on it were roughly these two options (greatly exaggerated):

The top one would have the cooler and any fishing gear up front, and you'd have the seat fold down in order to get to the gas tank and any storage stuff in the back.

Bottom one would allow for a cooler to be in back and more open storage, seat would fold down in order to get back there to everything.


My concern is with the weight balance for the boat. Normally I won't have people with me, but if I do I'm not sure which would be best for seating. I feel like I might need to mock everything up.

Anyone have any insight into what might be best?

 

[Chris1956]

How big a boat is this? What kind of power.

Generally, people weight the most, and putting them at the stern can cause weight distribution issues.

Back to back seats are plentiful and cheap.

 

[Mr. Asa]

She is a 16 footer, from the end of the bowcap/steering wheel to the transom is 9.5 feet. Going to have a 40HP Lark III powering her for now. Max HP is 70HP I think?

 

[gm280]

She is a 16 footer, from the end of the bowcap/steering wheel to the transom is 9.5 feet. Going to have a 40HP Lark III powering her for now. Max HP is 70HP I think?

Are you looking for a fishing setup or a mere cruiser setup. If fishing, the cooler in the middle makes more sense. But if you are merely looking for a cruiser, then either option would work. A center cooler allows two people to put fish in without

 

[Mr. Asa]

Probably more cruiser than fisher. I'd have to get a motor I don't care about as much to take her on the salt here in Tampa, and I'm not one who likes fishing fresh water.

 

[Chris1956]

OK, with the normal fuel on board and the engine not running, get two usual size people and sit them in the stern and see how much the stern sinks into the water. If she is close to swamping, it would be best to move the seats forward to help the boat float higher.