Barber Chair Conversion Questions

A

Albie Back

New member
Hi folks,

I have an '03 cruiser without the forward facing passenger seat and want to tackle this project. I've read the archives and looked at the pictures from those that have converted to the barber chair....namely the photos in ccflyer, levity, tyboo, and da nag. There are some questions I have regarding the conversion and hope those that did the conversion can answer some concerns:

1) After cutting the table in half and adding the the support bars underneath, how is the strength when converting to a sleeping berth? Is it strong enough for someone to sit? Does it sag?

2) I haven't taken measurements yet, but is there "truly" a need to cut the table? Can't the table just be stood vertically and used as a backrest without cutting it? This way, the strength of the table is not compromised.

3) Does the seat tip or lean forward when passenger weight is shifted forward? Does the seat wobble?
 
On our 2006 the forward facing seat (developed by Les Lampman of EQ Harbor Services) was standard. So, I have not done the conversion but will try to answer some of your questions.

Is cutting the table in half necessary? In my view yes it is. By cutting it in half you provide a smaller table for use underway, at the dock or anchor, etc. without having to reassemble the table turn the forward seat around, etc, etc. If you just took it off the base and stored it vertically the person sitting in the aft dinette seat would have a large empty space in front of them, no place to put a snack/drink, chart, etc, etc. That 1/2 table is the largest flat surface in the boat and is very useful. The table is plenty strong for "table" use with the cut, strong hinges and a latch on the cabin wall side to keep it up.

Is a brace under the table necessary when making the dinette into a bed? yes...absolutely! I once forgot to install the support (which is clipped the underside of the table for storage) heard a loud crack when I sat on the bed! Ooops! and ended up doing some hinge repairs. And, when using the table as a bed there is a void about 4-5 inches wide between the table and the cabin side. I made a shelf to fit that,(just a board cut to size), and mounted a support on the cabin wall with 5200 that, together with the braces holding the ends of the table extends the "bed" all the way across the available space. With the brace underneath the table is plenty strong to sit on.

Does the forward facing seat wobble? Never noticed it underway or while someone is sitting in it. When I move the seat back and forth I can pick up the weight and make it wobble a little but then, that loose fit is what allows it to slide back and forth.

Does the Seat tip forward when weight is shifted? No. There is some flexibility in the back support because one lifts it out of its channel to change the way the seat faces so it is a little loose with no one in the seat but once weight is on it it is very stable.
 
colobear":q9ek730j said:
On our 2006 the forward facing seat (developed by Les Lampman of EQ Harbor Services) was standard.
Click to expand...

Uh, I think you will find that had the forward facing seat been developed by Les Lampman, it would be called the "Lampman chair" Or maybe even the "Lamp post."

Our very own Mike Barber, AKA TyBoo, AKA The Ancient Twitter developed the original one. The year the Jenny B was built was the first year the factory actually made his chair an option and the only real problem I had was the way the table fastened to the side of the cabin. Put hand pressure on the aft corner and the table would pop out and tilt. The factory quickly improved the mount using a teak board essentially glued to the cabin wall and using improved mounts.

Seat was always solid, never wobbled, and the table held my not inconsiderable weight without sagging if it was down as a bed. Then again, I always put the support under it. :wink

Don
 
I need to do something like this on my C-22 and am wondering about two alternatives to what has been done thus far:

1. Replicate, to some degree, how the reversible seat of the Tom Cat (and the C-25?) was implemented.

2. On a lot of center console boats, the helmsman's seat has a backrest than can be flipped forward )so you can sit facing aft) or aft (so you can have a backrest while driving.) Adapt this idea to the C-22.

Comments on either of these, please?

Thanks,
Warrem
 
Warren,

The reversible backrest is an interesting idea. I wonder about the space needed to swing it through the arc or just what kind of mechanism is there. With the barber chair (Invented as we all know or should have known, by the esteemed Tyboo), the base slides forward and back about 10 inches to allow leg room when forward facing and the same under the table when facing aft.
 
Doryman":10awwzb9 said:
Barry, my concept for the reversible backrest was to combine it with the sliding box, as per TyBoo et al.

Warren
Click to expand...

Warren-

There's not much space available there, with the steering wheel on the forward side, and the galley on the other (assuming you have a Cruiser model).

Some folks have already posted questions about how to deal with inadequate room when sitting forward in the helm. The conversion could solve that.

Now if you had an Angler 22, and were willing to modify the space as necessary behind the helm seat as far as necessary, you'd be able to do it, one way or another. The Commuter 22 model would also work, of course.

If you use the boat only for day trips and don't cook, cruise, or overnight on it, there would be no problem with taking out whatever necessary to make any of the three models work with a reversible seat, except that the resale value might be adversely affected depending on which model you started out with, and how nice a job you did with the total conversion package.

The conversion is certainly possible, but if you're willing to go all out in making modifications, you might consider leaving the helm seat alone, and just modifying the area behind it to include another chair, perhaps one facing athwartships rather than abaft. Might be a lot simpler, and you could still move the front one back some, and have storage under both, and not have to put in the sliding hardware, etc. ****Seems like the KISS Principle keeps showing up, no matter how hard we try to complicate things! :lol:****

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Doryman":3fsippgo said:
Joe, I thought we were talking about a reversible seat for the passenger (dinette) not the helm :?:

Warren
Click to expand...

:embarrased Oops, upon re-reading, i guess we were, or at least everybody else was, 'cept for me!

Guess I just got it backwards.

Just ignore me, I'm still out in left field after having decided not to come to the get-together in Seattle.

I'll be all right, as soon as my left brain can find out where my right brain is hiding out!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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