Swivel for helm seat

[Alyssa Jean]

Has anyone installed or know anything about a swivel base mount that could be installed under the helm seat allowing the seat to swivel 90º facing the aisle? It would need to lock in both positions. Not sure if there would be room for the corners to clear both the throttle and/or the counter behind. Maybe one that could slide forward several inches and also turn.

If nothing else I am going to install the 25's seat on slide apart hinges at the forward edge enabling the quick removal of the seat. More counter space when at anchor or at the dock.

[Helen O]

Do the new 25's come with a fixed position seat? My 25 came from the factory with a swivel seat. You might want to check with C-Dory on this one.

[TyBoo]

Good morning, David -

I stuck a slider with a swivel base under the helm seat on the TyBoo. The slider is one of these things.



Les gave me the slider, and I stuck a standard swivel spider between it and the seat. It will pivot 90º if I lay the seat back down while it makes the turn. Then it will stand back up for use.

I used the whole works instead of just the swivel because I wanted to sit higher and closer to the wheel to facilitate looking out the bottom part of my glasses at the electronic displays and to better see out the front window. It makes it a little tricky to get into the seat because my legs are pretty close to the wheel, but it works good to swivel the seat about 45º toward the aisle, plop my butt on it, and then swivel back straight. It is real comfortable when I am sitting at the helm, and the visibility is much better.

I don't really use the slide adjustment. It is moved ahead just far enough to allow the seat corner to clear the galley counter when pivoting. I took the locking rod with the big knob off and replaced it with a bolt that is locked down tight. If all you want is a swivel, you can make a fixed mount wherever it works the best and put a swivel on top of it. Plus, I have one of those swivel bases that will attach to the four hole pattern that should already be on the bottom of the standard seat. You can have it, and if nothing else use it to experiment with for free until you find the ideal configuration for the seat. I can sure bring it to Cathlamet with me and send it on its way north.

One of the projects I didn't get done yet is to remove the slide base and replace it with a raised wooden contraption, with the swivel on top, that would have a 3/4" board that pulled out into the aisle to give Kay a little more counter space when cooking at the dock. Kinda like a bread board in in a kitchen counter. With your talents in the wood shop, and your propensity to trim things in teak, that would be a fun project for you. But then, you haven't even sat in your own helm seat yet, so maybe we're getting a little ahead of the game. Anxious, are we?

[Alyssa Jean]