Should I change seats?and how?

[footbrake]

Hi, I'm thinking about changing the back to back seat in my 18' Renken to a pedestal seat. I hear a lot of pros and cons about this. I'm a pretty big guy and I've seen so many of the pedestal seats are loose in boats and don't want it to happen to me. I really want the seat higher that's why I'm considering a pedestal seat. My other alternative is to build a riser for my back to back seat to raise it up a 5-6 inches. Is this the better way to go, since I really don't want to get into reinforcing the floor and everything for the pedestal seat. Thanks for any insight-Russ

 

[Bondo]

Re: Should I change seats?and how?

Hi, I'm thinking about changing the back to back seat in my 18' Renken to a pedestal seat. I hear a lot of pros and cons about this. I'm a pretty big guy and I've seen so many of the pedestal seats are loose in boats and don't want it to happen to me. I really want the seat higher that's why I'm considering a pedestal seat. My other alternative is to build a riser for my back to back seat to raise it up a 5-6 inches. Is this the better way to go, since I really don't want to get into reinforcing the floor and everything for the pedestal seat. Thanks for any insight-Russ

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard Russ,.... Will there be enough room for yer legs to clear the wheel, if ya raise the seat that far,..??

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Should I change seats?and how?

I changed from a back to back lounger this year when I rebuilt my deck. The back to back was pretty useless for more than one adult because you'd crack your heads together if two of you sat down back to back. I just sat in one direction or the other as I needed to move around my cockpit. Well, you can do the same with a pedestal just by using its swivel function. And to avoid the knee problem I further suggest you get a back and forth mount for the seat on top of the pedestal.

I tied my pedestal into the floor with marine toggle bolts. Very sturdy though nobody ever accused them of being cheap.

 

[HenryB]

Re: Should I change seats?and how?

I'm a big man myself and the sturdiness of the seat is important. I've manages to break all the seats I've tried so far and have gone to extreme lengths to reinforce them so they stand up to my weight, 250 pounds (I'm talking seats like around $150 for the seat alone. I have not gone for the $500 ones yet but they may be the ticket). I am going to start a thread thread on sturdy pedistal seats for big people like me.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Should I change seats?and how?

I changed from a back to back lounger this year when I rebuilt my deck. The back to back was pretty useless for more than one adult because you'd crack your heads together if two of you sat down back to back. I just sat in one direction or the other as I needed to move around my cockpit. Well, you can do the same with a pedestal just by using its swivel function. And to avoid the knee problem I further suggest you get a back and forth mount for the seat on top of the pedestal.

I tied my pedestal into the floor with marine toggle bolts. Very sturdy though nobody ever accused them of being cheap.

What did you do to prevent water intrusion J?... toggle bolt holes are big and so is the hole for the center of the base plate.

What kind of bilge drainage do you have?

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Should I change seats?and how?

Have you big guys considered four post bolster seats instead of pedestal seats?

Like this only less expensive, possibly used?

 

[tazrig]

Re: Should I change seats?and how?

Hi, I'm thinking about changing the back to back seat in my 18' Renken to a pedestal seat. I hear a lot of pros and cons about this. I'm a pretty big guy and I've seen so many of the pedestal seats are loose in boats and don't want it to happen to me. I really want the seat higher that's why I'm considering a pedestal seat. My other alternative is to build a riser for my back to back seat to raise it up a 5-6 inches. Is this the better way to go, since I really don't want to get into reinforcing the floor and everything for the pedestal seat. Thanks for any insight-Russ

If you have a solid floor and use good quality stainless togle bolts you shouldn't have a problem. I put a pedestal in my Formula in place of the back to back seats and never had a problem with it.