Capt. Seat Replacement viewpoints

[Sunsetrider]

My lounge/sleepers sit on an 8-inch box and I find it impractical to sit in the seat while driving. It is fine for the passenger in the co-pilot position, because it is nice and quiet tucked like that under the windscreen, but for the driver, I have to sit up on the seat back in the wind. And let's face it, who actually needs all those seating positions with a bow section, 2 jump seats and 4 lounge positions?

So my thought is to replace the driver-side lounger with an adjustable-height, swivel captain's seat, which will also leave more deck space behind the captain's seat for a pop cooler etc.

A. I guess I am wondering whether anyone else has done the one-side only conversion. Will it look stupid? It seems to make sense because you retain the advantages of the lounge-sleeper, you elevate the captain into a properly superior position and it would seem to be an eminently simple procedure - screw out, screw in.

B. Has anyone out there in vacuum-land figured out the best seat-pedestal combo for this sort of replacement? You need to be able to duck down behind the screen as well as raising the seat when needed for good visibility. The flip-up bolster feature to allow comfy stand-up helmsmanship strikes me as a worthwhile feature as well.

Comments? Suggestions? Testimonials?

Here's a pic of the boat:

 

[Mark42]

Re: Capt. Seat Replacement viewpoints

I am thinking of doing the same thing in my boat. The captains chair needs to be raised a bit to get the proper view out the windshield now that the hard top is on. I picked up a Moeller roto-molded bucket seat, and will have it upholstered to match the lounge style seats in the passenger location. The seat behind the captains chair might just end up being a square base only with no back. Not only do I want to raise the captains seat, I want it to swivel, and slide fore and aft. It would be nice to slide it back 6 or 8 inches, and then stand behind the helm, or pull the seat forward, and sit.

I like your idea, and I think it would look fine. Have seen other boats with the "bucket and lounge" seating arrangements, and they look good to me.

Consider adding another piece of 12x12 1/2" ply to the deck, and then through bolt the seat pedestal. That way, it will never come loose.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Capt. Seat Replacement viewpoints

Consider adding another piece of 12x12 1/2" ply to the deck, and then through bolt the seat pedestal. That way, it will never come loose.

That's a good idea. Simple but effective.