My aching back...seat advice needed

[tmcalavy]

Hey guys,
Photos of my boat the Belle Star are attached. Need to add 2 seats to her...my aching back can't take the rear bench seat any longer. Two questions:
1.) Where and how would you mount 2 folding, swivel seats in the BStar? I'm thinking clamp on bases with folding seats. Is it best to center them on the bench seats, or offset them...rear seat to the right, front seat to the left?
Power is a 58 Johnson 18 hp. Typical load includes 2 BOBS (big ole boys), 6 gallon tank, anchor up front, and 75+ pound of gear...close to 650 lbs. I'm a rightie so it seems unnatural to run the throttle and steer with my left.
2.) She's bow light without a fishing buddy, so I trim the Johnson all the way in/down and put the gear up front. With all the gear and buddy up front, she wants to plow and I get a good bath. Should I trim out? Where should the buddy be...middle seat or front seat?
Love the Belle Star, but I need the seats and a dry helm while underway.

 

[jtexas]

Re: My aching back...seat advice needed

with the tiller on the port side it's less trouble to steer left handed - give it a try.

solo, move the gas tank to the middle of the boat, maybe even forward of the middle seat.

with BOB, put him on the middle seat & trim the motor out a hole, maybe two - ya might end up getting 3 seats so he can move up front for fishing.

I had a pair of stadium seats back in the day, for aluminium flatbottom jon boat, but I was younger then.....

check this out:

Aluminum mounting bracket allows swivel and seat to be securely fastened to a leading edge across tank seat. Can be moved side-to-side in boat. Tilt seat forward at 90? angle for easy removal. Choose from 2 sizes: 15" wide with 7" of movement or 33" wide with 25" of movement.

from www dot basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_948_200004009_200000000_200004000_200-4-9

 

[rndn]

Re: My aching back...seat advice needed

I mounted an older John deere lawn tractor seat to my aluminum boat and it worked great. I've had three back surgeries so I was unable to use any of the store bought ones for an aluminum boat. I was able to fish for hours with the JD seat with very little discomfort.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: My aching back...seat advice needed

Thanks for the replies/ideas. I especially like the JD seat idea.

 

[new_boater]

Re: My aching back...seat advice needed

with the tiller on the port side it's less trouble to steer left handed - give it a try.

solo, move the gas tank to the middle of the boat, maybe even forward of the middle seat.

with BOB, put him on the middle seat & trim the motor out a hole, maybe two - ya might end up getting 3 seats so he can move up front for fishing.

I had a pair of stadium seats back in the day, for aluminium flatbottom jon boat, but I was younger then.....

check this out:

from www dot basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_948_200004009_200000000_200004000_200-4-9

i have one of these in my 14' sears with old scotty 12hp and i love it i think they are

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: My aching back...seat advice needed

Is it best to center the seats on the existing bench seats?

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: My aching back...seat advice needed

Okay, I put two camo swivel fold-down seats on clamp bases in the Belle Star. The attached image shows the approximate locations for now. Maybe with a BOB in each seat and some gear up front, I can trim the Johnson FD-11 out a bit, get on plane and stay dry to boot. Any further suggestions are welcome, the seats are entirely movable.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: My aching back...seat advice needed

Bump.