Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

[a70eliminator]

How many of you sit up on the seat backrest while underway?
On my 20' Chaparral bowrider the drivers seat is totaly worn through the vinyl on the top backrest from sitting up on it. Also on my 16' MFG I find myself sitting on the backrest 90% of the time. The easy solution would be to yank the seat altogether. If anyone having the captain's chair like buckets could comment, have you ever found that you sit on the backrest also while underway? I'm looking for a solution, I've already swapped the backrest with seat part so it don't look so bad, but if there was just some sort of retractable seat incorporated into the backrest like a car headrest or something that I could easily pull on and off, then I would still have the back-to-back seats to match the rest of the interior and not loose the recliner options.
I know sometimes I come off with some far fetched ideas, but thats how all good things start out.

If it aint broke, fix it anyhow.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

my chris craft deck boat has a captains chair, that 1/2 the seat area lifts and moves back. this gives you area to either stand, or use the seat as a leaning post. little unconfortable to sit, you only have 1/2 of a seat.

i've always found sitting on top of the back to back seats much better for vision, and to me more comfortable. i also moved the drivers back to back seat, back 2-3 inches, makes getting under the wheel much easier.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

i used to sit on the top of my back to back seats. now adays i've takein to useing my throwable, square life cushon on the seat itself. a little elevation is all i needed. it's removable, throwable, and even uscg approved. i can sit it on the top of the seat or, just put it on the seat. i don't sit on the back of the seat anymore. just on my throwable, on the seat...... hopeing to make my vynil last a little longer that way too....

 

[steelespike]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

Not much help on a solution to sitting on the back rest but its not a new developement.I had a little 15ft circa 1939 15ft inboard split cockpit runabout. allways sat up on the engine hatch to drive as well as the passenger.Also had a 53 18 ft Chriscraft double cockpit forward runabout.
every one in the boat sat on the seat back or rear deck it just seemed to
be the way to ride.By the way these boats rode like a 50s sports car their broad relatively flat bottom got them up on the water easily but rode awful.
You had to slow in a chop or lose you kidneys. And the CC weighed close to a ton.

 

[vess]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

I agree with Zig- use a cushion if you need more height. I always sit in the seat when underway, and I can see fine when driving on plane. Sure, going from idle to plane will obstruct the view for a short time, but if you need to see over the windshield you can kneel on the seat for a bit. That will help preserve your seatback. I always chuckle when I see a boat speeding by with heads up above the windshield, as they always look to me like the puppy with its head outside the car window, taking in the wind.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

Well eliminator, today is your lucky day.

Attwood has been making marine accessories for 40 years that I know of. I have one of their catalogs and they have a seat by the name of AVENIR in their Seating Systems section. May be for sale here on iboats, otherwise they are at attwoodmarine.com.

First of all,the bottom of the seat is spring supported; spring support, like you see on a hide-a-bed couch/sofa for your living room at home; just a lot more per unit area for the added strength required. (This system is also currently used on top of the line bass boats where you don't have room for a thick cushiony seat to absorb the spine wrenching slams you get with bass boats.
This seat is called the CENTRIC SAS.)

Secondly, it has a flip up elevator that allows you to do just what you have been doing (sit up high in the seat so that you can see) when you want and when you don't just flip it down out of the way.

Really neat.

Or if you want foam for the buttox, they have MATRIX with the same kind of flip up hootus.

Since you said you need a new seat anyway, might check it out.

Mark

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

I myself am a short person. We have a "Bolster seat" for a drivers seat. Works out NICE !!!!!!! Maybe you could find one of those. (Kinda sounds like what Texasmark was describing)

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

Like Tashasdaddy, I have a flip up bolster at the helm (the front of the seat rotates back to form the bolster). I use it at least half the time, 100% of the time when towing tubes/skiers/wakeboarders.

Very nice. If you have worn out the backrest and need to replace the seat anyway, I'd look for one of these. Don't know who sells them though.

My friends without the bolsters usually just sit with one leg below them.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

I also use the throwable PFD for the extra elevation. The throwable seems to add the right amount of height to keep me off the seat back. I also like the idea of having the throwable PFD readily available for an emergency. Like you, I used to sit on the seat back, and the PFD was stowed in a storage compartment. You should have a throwable PFD on board, so give that a try before you start throwing money at the problem.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

here's a couple. "http://www.boatingseats.com/All-Boat-Seats/Bucket-Seats-1320-All-Boat-Seats.asp"

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

Wow as always you guys voice some well excepted advise, I'm going to try the throwable cushion as a booster and see how I like it, them hybrid buckets are functionally cool I like them too but not in my budget for this boat. I'm thinking about moving the jumpseats back just a couple inches too, thanks.

 

[DJ]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

I also use the throwable PFD for the extra elevation. The throwable seems to add the right amount of height to keep me off the seat back. I also like the idea of having the throwable PFD readily available for an emergency. Like you, I used to sit on the seat back, and the PFD was stowed in a storage compartment. You should have a throwable PFD on board, so give that a try before you start throwing money at the problem.

Same here. A throwable PFD (or ring) is a requirement.

I have also sat on the seatback in some boats.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

It is illegal to sit on top of the seat back here in WI.
Just as it is illegal to sit on the bow, engine cover, sundeck, or casting deck, while the boat is underway at greater than idle speed.

You must sit in a real seat, or face a ticket.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

Yup, Roscoe. Illegal here in Pa. too. Although I do it, --never while the lake gendarmes are on the prowl. BTW, here in Pa it is illegal to stand while running also, in anything less than 20 feet. Hmm! -- Just thought, What would they do with a, say, 17-18 foot CC with a standing pilot?

 

[jarata]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

Barts has an attachment you put on the seat back so you can sit up on the top of back to back seats without ruining them.

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

My boat is home made andnot to fancy soo I just got a swivel bar stool with a back rest on it. Cut 2" of the legs and it works great. It is narrow enough that you can stand between seat and helm when you want.

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

Illegal here in MN too. Sounds dangerous. If you must do this I recommend one of those kill switches that has a cable that goes around your wrist (sorry I don't know what they are called) Otherwise you could easily get thrown out of the boat and then it turns around and runs you over. The MN boat manual calls this the circle of death.

 

[DJ]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

Illegal here in MN too. Sounds dangerous. If you must do this I recommend one of those kill switches that has a cable that goes around your wrist

That's a given.

I did not say at what speed I have sat there.

I've commented to a MN watercop about him doing just that.

 

[acecv31]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

hi, im having the same problem, i liked the idear about the seat from barts, but i cannot find it, can yoyu post a link, thanks

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Sitting on backrest to see over windshield

acecv this thread is 3+ years old try posting a new thread....