Love my new c-dory 25 seat

bcarli · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 11:56 am Post subject: Love my new c-dory 25 seat

Hi
I just installed a new seat on my C-Dory 25 Soulmate and do I love it!!!
I bought the seat off of Craiglsit for $100 and spent an afternoon installing it.( A few trips to the hardware store to figure it out...but definitely worth it). I believe the seat is from a newer Honda. I posted three pictures on the Interior photo site. Two pictures are on the bottom on page 7 the last is on page 8.
Wish I did it years ago.
Best

Sunbeam · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 12:37 pm Post subject:

bcarli,

Is your seat by any chance the "mystery seat" from this thread?

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=18022&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

It looks like there is a bench seat behind the helm seat... not sure it that precludes it from being your boat (?)

It sure looks comfortable. Would you be able to elaborate a bit on how you did the mount, what you like or dislike about it, etc.? I take it you still fit behind the wheel comfortably? (No comment on your shape; just that it seems many replacement seats that look like they would be great end up being too high or too close to the wheel or etc..)

Any other clues as to which actual seat it is?

I am pretty sure a different or modified helm seat is in my future, so I'm really interested in yours.

Glad you started this thread!

Sunbeam Hot

mcc272 · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 2:21 pm Post subject:

Yes, the mystery regarding the seat is finally resolved as this is indeed the seat that we have all been wondering about. Now, it will be very interesting to get the details and in particular, any specifics that we can get that will allow us to perhaps find seats like it as this looks like a great addition.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 2:32 pm Post subject:

Let's post those photos right here so we all can see what we're talking about:

Joe.

Sunbeam · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 2:37 pm Post subject:

I realize this is asking for a lot, but I would be very appreciative if we could see a photo of someone sitting in that seat with hands on the wheel, as if underway. For some reason in the photos I can't quite visualize how it could work, and yet obviously it does, since you love it Thumbs Up

.

And the seat itself looks so comfortable and functional. After all in general, just about any car seat is miles ahead of the "typical" boat seat, comfort wise (Stidd chairs and the like excepted, but they would have a hard time fitting on a C-Dory and they are quite expensive).

Thank you,
Sunbeam Hot

colobear · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 2:58 pm Post subject:

This looks very interesting. Would you please post the width of the seat and the back at their widest points. And if possible the length of the seat bottom from its longest point. I know from having replaced seats before that those dimensions are important for fitting in my 22. Thanks very much.

Dreamer · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 3:06 pm Post subject:

Bill showed us his new helm seat at Friday Harbor, where he lives and runs a Whale Watching business. The bench seat is due to his business use of the boat. I believe he said the new seat was from a Honda.

Adeline · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 6:11 pm Post subject:

bcarli · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 10:53 pm Post subject:

Hi Everybody...
I guess I am the mystery seat guy...sorry I didn't explain the photos when I added them to the site..
I will try to get a photo with me sitting in the seat. When C-Dory built our boat we had them recess the sink and the stove so we could have the extra seating for our whale watching business...
I bought the seat without really knowing how it would fit or how I would install it but for $100 I felt it was worth it . I have put almost 2200 hours on our boat and it needed a seat up-grade(should have done it years ago). I checked out a few wrecking yards and I couldn't find anything that was decent, but Craiglist worked just fine.
The seat is still able to slide forward and backwards on its tracks but I really don't have to use that to get in and out. The seat raised my height up about 5 inches so I built a small foot rest that sits on the foot locker.
Really I think almost any bucket type seat could work, it's just a matter of figuring out how to install it. The black rubber pads cost me a dollar a piece and I drilled a hole through them to run the bolts through and I believe they also help smooth out the ride and made the installation better.
I'll try to get a new photo in the next few days and I will explain it this time
best

Sunbeam · Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 11:10 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the additional info - and for any future info you add Thumbs Up

I'm really interested in this mod.

I take it the Craigslist seller didn't give you any info about what model of vehicle it came from, or which seating position? It would be great to be able to hunt for something known to work.

For anyone who knows: Is the helm-seat platform in a 25 a different size or shape than that in a 22 - especially as relates to the wheel? If so, does anyone know where it differs and by how much?

Adeline · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 2:10 pm Post subject:

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 4:54 pm Post subject:

Chrysler T & C vans that have the sto-and-go seats that fold into the floor have two arm rests too but not that much padding.

Charlie

beermanPDX · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 5:08 pm Post subject:

bcarli · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject:

I've added some new photos of my seat on my Soulmate photo page....
Hope you can figure out a new seat for your boat because it is really a great improvement
bill

Sunbeam · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 9:25 pm Post subject:

Thank you for posting the additional photos - it's really helpful to see the scale with you sitting in it Thumbs Up

And you get more stowage under the new footrest. If I'm seeing it correctly, it eliminates being able to have your upper legs centered under the wheel, but it sounds as though you find comfort well worth it.

I'm going to try post one of the photos here for thread continuity (if you mind, please let me know and I will remove it or ask for it to be removed).