Helm seat replace

J

jkswor

New member
The original seat in my 22 ft cruiser is very un comfortable. Anyone ever replace the helm seat with a better one. If so with what?
Jim swor
 
Jim,
The shop that made my top took care of this issue for me, by installing new contoured foam into my original seat and the even used the existing Sunbrella to cover the seat, once the new contoured foam was installed. It cost me $50 and I had it done after buying the boat. To this day, it is still more comfortable then any aftermarket seat.
 
I replaced mine with a "suspension" type of seat that fit right on the existing swivel holes (on the CD 16). Pictures are in my photo album under Modifications. Although they cost $250 each, it is still the single best modification that I have made on my boat. My back and butt used to hurt every time I went out. I don't even think about that anymore and have had quite a few 10 hour days on the motor and probably more time in the seat. Now when crossing a wake I worry about spilling coffee, not jamming my back.

I did make canvas covers for the seats. Sunbrella is great for a bimini, but cotton canvas is more comfortable to sit on.

Mark
 
I've considered replacing the helm seat in my '22. However, replacing it will reduce the C-Dory aesthetic. The Admiral has mentioned that the dinette seats are not comfortable for long periods. I have noticed this as well.

The helm seat could easily be replaced with a useful substitute. I'm not sure about the dinette.
 
I hated mine too, plus it was not very comfortable. I did replace it with more of a molded seat, but can't remember the manufacturer. I'm away from the boat right now, but I'll try to remember to see if I can find the manufacturer and model. This newer seat isn't perfect, but still much better than the original. Colby
 
I replaced the helm seat in our 25 with one I bought at Bass Pro - definitely more comfortable and supportive. Nice side bolsters that held you in better than the original. Bass Pro had a great selection. It and the original went with the boat when we sold it (almost two years now).
 
I upgraded the helm seat in my tomcat with one from Cabelas. It's much more comfortable than what was there. The only problem is that I haven't yet redone the dinette cushions so while I'm comfortable in rough water, I'm often banging my passengers around more than they might wish on their crappy seats.

NewHelmSeat.sized.jpg
 
Actually that Cabella's seat looks a lot like the one I purchased. When I said mine was moulded, it is the plastic frame. But the seat it self has the cushion material. Colby
 
ssobol":1iifhja3 said:
I've considered replacing the helm seat in my '22. However, replacing it will reduce the C-Dory aesthetic.
Click to expand...

One option is to just keep the stock seat and store it for possible future replacement. Mine was just held in by four fasteners, easily accessible in the locker under the helm seat (that is, if you don't mind the changed aesthetic while you are enjoying the comfort of the new seat).

I couldn't take the stock helm seat - even with an annoying collection of pads and etc. to try to help it out. So I exchanged it for something else (which I haven't completely run through its paces yet) and have the stock seat stored away indoors just in case I or someone else ever wants it.

Another idea is to cover (or have covered) a new seat in the matching Sunbrella to the original upholstery. I once bought some replacement Sunbrella for canvaswork that was ten years old and had spent time in Mexican sun. It matched almost perfectly, which amazed me. So I can only think that new Sunbrella of the same color would easily match the existing indoor canvaswork on the C-Dory.
 
Another option I haven't seen mentioned yet, is that you can order new seats from the factory. The current factory seats are a bit different (higher quality) than the older ones, and have the C-dory logo embroidered on the back, and they can be made to match the rest of the cushions in your boat if you want. For an extra fee they can also "upgrade" the seat to the even more plush Sea Sport style, while still putting the C-Dory logo on for you (I believe Greg had this done for his 19 earlier this year - search the forums for details).

Here's the back of the "standard" 2016 C-dory factory seat on Big C(sorry I don't have any photos showing the dark grey trim on the other side that matches the rest of the boat).
Maiden_Voyage_13.jpg

-Mike
 
ssobol":2xzp5hil said:
I've considered replacing the helm seat in my '22. However, replacing it will reduce the C-Dory aesthetic. The Admiral has mentioned that the dinette seats are not comfortable for long periods. I have noticed this as well.

The helm seat could easily be replaced with a useful substitute. I'm not sure about the dinette.
Click to expand...

The dinette seats (and helm) are not at all ergonomic! I noted that the Dinette seats in the 25 "Cruise ship" are much better. The back has about a 15* slant, and the same for the lower cushion--plywood, with flat seats. The plywood slides to make a level bunk. This could be done on the 22, with either plywood backs, (if you want to keep the original flat cushions). Or, if you want, it is fairly easy to cut foam to be ergonomic, especially if you don't use the dinette as a bunk. You can use different densities of foam, use memory foam, and use dacron batting, to make all of the seats more comfortable. Many towns will have good foam shops, and foam is easily cut with an electric carving knife. New seat covers, are some of the easiest canvas projects, and can be as elaborate as you wish. Probably pay to save the original cushions, in case some one wanted to use the dinette as a bunk down the line.
 
Oh my, look at at that shiny new C-Dory! Gorgeous :D

Agree that right-angled, low-density foam dinette seats leave a lot to be desired. I don't use the dinette as a bunk,* so I've been thinking about putting more comfortable seats on top of the current "flats," a-la Marinaut (those had room for improvement too, just being basically like the stock 22 helm seat, but there are other seats). Or perhaps as Thataway mentions, simply sloping the backs of the current seats 15º or so. Or, only go boating with stick figures, for whom a 90º box is ergonomic :mrgreen:

*If I need another bunk, both guests and I have preferred to put a Thermarest type pad on the floor. It just fits, is comfy all out of proportion to its thinness, and you don't have that feeling of falling off a narrow bunk. Plus you can leave the dinette set up, which gives places to put stuff and a table that is still up. Not for everyone, I'm quite sure; but it has worked great for my 22.
 
Sunbeam":1gj99c2l said:
sloping the backs of the current seats 15º or so. Or, only go boating with stick figures, for whom a 90º box is ergonomic :mrgreen
Click to expand...

My rant in another thread about boat ramps being the wrong angle made me think of a book I had when building my house. Architectural Graphic Standards. Expensive book, but it states the required angle for a comfortable bench seat (which I recall is greater than 20 degrees). It even has things like the turning radius required for a vehicle towing a 22' trailer, etc. Nice to have this info before building the bench or driveway. I'm sure that similar information is available on the web. Maybe even for building a boat launch.

Consumer reviews of my aftermarket seat were that it was too upright. It was in the "attentive driver" position whereas most boaters end up spending enough time in the seat that they prefer a more laid back "trolling" position. It's only the change of a few degrees (2-3 degrees in the case of my adding composite window shims per photo album). A couple of degrees makes a difference after a few hours at the helm. Sitting up straight in a seat with an angle is more comfortable than trying to lay back a little in an upright seat.

The CD 16 seat back angle is limited by the room available when the seat rotates 180. Might not be a concern for other CDs.

Mark
 
I'm eager to try out my "new" helm seat, which is a re-purposed mini-van seat. I've sat in in for a few minutes with the boat on the trailer, but of course that's nothing like spending a day underway. Being a car seat, it slides forward and aft, plus the back angle is adjustable via lever. I'll likely post up after using it for awhile to say how it worked out. Who knows, it may be a total failure (although it won't be hard to improve on stock).

It is slightly heavy, and does have some steel parts, being as it's from a car. But I won't be taking the C-Dory to Tahiti, so it may be fine.
 
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