forward facing seat question

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 4:42 pm Post subject: forward facing seat question

The factor and dealers list the forward facing seat option as $795 dollors. I know that a lot of you have done this your self. is it worth the $795 to have it done or can I do it easily my self for much less? I have looked at some of the photos and at a few of your boats and was wandering just how hard and how much it cost to do it my self.

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:27 am Post subject:

The first publiczied barber-chair was done by Mike Barber of the 22 foot Tyboo. (Now, Mike Barber of the 25 foot Tyboo.) Mike had and has at his disposal a lot of talent and tools at his place of enjoyment.
Pictures are on the tech site of his method of moving the seat aft and forward. Works great. I have done two conversions, one on Anna Leigh and one on Daydream as well as being responsible for Wade doing the same on Why Knot. I used a scissors hinge of which I had oftained four sets of and it does the job. The factories dilema was how to make this happen and have minimal or no liabliities for the unforseen. IE heavy seas and the seat moves by itself and causes bodily harm which comes back to them in the form of a lawsuit. Fair concern. With so many owners and potential owners clammering for their passengers to see what is in front of them and not what they just passed, they have come up with their rendition of the barbers chair. I am sure there will be some continual refinements, but it appears that they are selling a lot of 22's now with this option on it. I have not looked closely at how they construct theirs, but it looks llike the raised floor under the table now goes all the way forward to the bulkhead. ( which is what Mike and I did. ) The seat box is four sided with an interior floor (becomes a moving storage box) and slides forward and aft on two tracks made of starboard. Have not determined what keeps the box attached to the tracks. The rest involves cutting the table in two just forward of the support leg and hinging it. When folded down it becomes the back rest in the forward facing seating position. Also important is the position that the seat is in, in the aft seating position so that the table can be dropped and still be made into a bench seat or bed. I made a support that runs fore and aft under the table between the two seats, to support it because of the hinge. Just be carefull measuring and you will need a table saw and other tools and some decraguard or however that stuff is spelled.

So back to your question. Is worth $750? Probably is if you aren't comfortable with ripping out the pretty stuff that is there and fabricating something you hope will fit and work.

I am happy with what I have created. Knowing what I know now, I would have ordered it up front. But it was also fun to make. (Only because it worked out so well)

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:36 am Post subject:

thanks for the answer. I saw first hand what you did on day dream and i think i can repeat it if i can measure and photo graph it myself. it just seams a little high priced and i would rather spend the $795 on a arch or radar dome then on a seat i can make my self.

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 7:59 am Post subject:

That is what Wade did to do Why Knot. You are certainly welcome to come over to Guemes sometime and take pics. Passenger over $1.25 RT and I can pick you up on the Guemes side. The boat is at the factory until Fri getting some warranty stuff done. Let me know and I'll PM you my phone number.