Helm seat

[Mark F]

I've been thinking about adding a helm seat (hump) for a while. With the typical strong spring/summer winds here in the Monterey Bay I've been doing a lot of sliding around at the helm. Hope to try it out this evening.

 

[Sven]

Looks nice !

Can you still open the aft lazarette or do you have to disassemble the hump first ?

It's on our list so I'm glad to see your solution.



-Sven

 

[Mark F]

Hey Sven,

The plan is to have a pin or two in the back of the seat and a hasp on the front. The seat pins will slide into holes in the transom and the hasp will hold the front of the hatch down and back. So to open the hatch all I will need to do is release the hasp (or latch) and slide the hatch forward.

The hump itself was easy to build. I had some more complicated designs in mind but I'm pleased with the look and simplicity of this setup.

We will see how affective it is soon .

 

[Mark F]

The pins and hasp work - easy access. I never had a latch on the aft lazarette and installing one was on my to-do list. I guess I get to check two things off of the list .

 

[Mark F]

Just to follow up on the functionality of the helm seat hump, it is wonderful. No more sore legs after an active afternoon of sailing . I added some rubber grommets in the holes that the pins slide into to make the holes less prone to leak. I really like this modification.

 

[Carefree Sailor]

Reviving an old thread

The pins and hasp work - easy access. I never had a latch on the aft lazarette and installing one was on my to-do list. I guess I get to check two things off of the list .

Hi Mark,

I'm intrigued by the helm seat you made. Would you mind sharing the dimensions, including the width and thickness of the slates?

Thanks,

 

[Randy Rutledge]

I made a helm seat that is held in place by three stainless steel tabs one back center and one on each side that just slip into the slot of the lazarette lid, therefore it can be lifted off. My hump seat is a little higher than the one pictured earlier than this post. I also made foot rest for the ends of the T cockpit that give me a level place to rest a foot when sitting on the side of the hump seat. Also when the boat is flat and height is needed there is a flat area on the foot rest that you can stand on. There is a double drink holder on starboard. I can get measurements if you would like.

This is something I did at the request of an 80 year old that helmed my boat often though I didn't think it needed. It takes a big man to admit when he is wrong. I was wrong, this is great comfort and keeps you seated when in heavy air with big gust.

DO IT

 

[Carefree Sailor]

Hi Randy,

Yes, I would appreciate it if you would get me the measurements. Like you, this idea has found traction because of an older gentlemen who frequent helms my boat!

My boat is an E35-3 so I believe that my lazarette lid is larger. However, info about your helm seat would provide me with something to work from. I like your idea of using tabs to hold the seat in place.

Thanks,

 

[Randy Rutledge]

George I think you will find the foot rest work well with the hump to give firm footing when heeled and sitting off center of the hump. My hump is a little higher than the one shown above. I fashioned my hump and foot rest after the helm area of a Seidelmann 30. The tabs are located center on the sides and center back on the hump, they extend about 1" down the sides of the lid and the hump is about 1/4 inch smaller than the lid causing the end tabs to pinch the lid (bend to adjust them snug). I also used 1'4" cutting board blocks for feet on the seat and the footrest (keeps them up out of the water and gives an area to grind down to make everything sit solid. The foot rest are held in place with Velcro.

 

[Carefree Sailor]

Randy, thank you for the schematic. I will do a mock-up to see how I need to modify it. Your foot rest is a possibility; however, I'm considering teak grating on the entire cockpit sole. I realize that the "rest" and grate are not mutually exclusive.