Looking for way to "lock down" helm seat

[Spinner]

Has anyone asked about this? I am probably on the short side of most of the skippers 5'5"), and I find that the helm seat tips when I sit down and get up. Not every time, but enough that I really wish it would not do this! I have also seen this happen on a much taller guest...

I realize that the seat is designed to be able to be tipped up and away from the galley area, but I think it needs a way to be locked into the seating position, when needed. It would make this skipper much more secure, and much less likely to be dumped on her....!

Any suggestions??

Sue P
Spinner

 

[Irish Mist]

You could screw a suction cup to the bottom.. Should work

 

[WA6BTK]

Sue,
Another option would be to do what Herb did on his R-27 and build up the foot area. If you look at his pictures in the Owners' Album section (Walldog/Willie's Tug) you will see what a nice job he has done to elevate the foot rest area, and to create more storage in the process. That may alleviate the flipping you talk about.

Stu

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

In addition to Stu's suggestion I've made it a practice to set a large round rubber coaster under the seat base so if and when it does flip up (cause it will) it does not bang back down onto the gelcoat counter and possibly crack it.

 

[jpichler]

Not that I suffer the flipping described, but I was concerned about wear on the gel coat below I did get the adhesive felt (strips) that you can put underneath furniture to protect hardwood floors and mounted some on the wood base of my chair, works real well.

 

[knotflying]

instead of a suction cup how about some Velcro strips.

 

[ronnieg]

Sue,
I will look into this and try and come up with a easy solution for the seat. I being a short person always stand while operating the boats.

Ronnie Gonzales
Ranger / Cutwater Customer service
ronniegonzlaes@cutwaterboats.com

 

[Longbranch Louie]

Sue I'd look into putting a latch or throw bolt latch on the starboard side of the seat. It would need to be attached to the countertop but it would be out of site and off to the side at the back of the counter enough where it wouldn't interfere with much. Now if I could just get rid of that pesky seat adjust rod that sticks out that loves to tear pants pockets.

 

[walldog]

I have never had a problem with the seat tipping up. I am relatively short (64 inches). Maybe it is because I keep the seat adjusted back until it is over the cabinet, giving me room to stand between it and the helm. In checking, I find no damage to the gel coat countertop in this area.

On reflection, I guess I am short.

 

[baz]

Like Herb, I've never had a problem with my helm seat tipping as you've described.

My seat is on a MY2010 R-25 and does not rotate sideways as in later models, nor does it slide forward and backwards on a rail. My seat is fixed and can be folded and then tipped forward to expose the full galley counter top. I have removed the two small rubber pads that the factory placed on the underside's wooden box to protect marking the counter top because they deteriorated to the point they became mushy/sticky with age. I placed self adhesive soft 3/4" fibre pads at each corner and this seems to be working well.

So, what kind of Ranger Tug model do you have ? Does the seat rotate to allow it to face the cabin center ? Does it slide back and forth (toward bow and toward stern) on a rail system ? Does the seat when no one sitting in it wobble some on its supports ? When it tips as you described is that because someone initially sits on the seat's forward lip ?

 

[Spinner]

Thanks, Spinner is a 2013 R-29. The seat slides fore and aft, can also rotate to sit sideways and of course, folds and tips.

I had it rotated sideways last weekend, and when I hopped up, it tipped and dumped me out. It wasn't pretty (food went flying!) and I re-injured a wrist tendon that is already scheduled for surgical repair :-(

In the sideways position, the foot rail is not helpful because it is off to the side. Ditto a step in the footwell area.

I am hoping the factory can come up with a reliable locking mechanism!!

(when I have the seat facing forward in the piloting position, it also tips if I am not careful to sit all the way back...)

 

[baz]

Ah... that latest post helps with understanding your issue. I don't have a solution but have noted the people having that seat that rotates for sitting sideways (seen on an R-27) always have their feet dangling some... and if the legs are long enough the heels will rub up against the Fridge door front making marks on it and there's also a tendency to kick off the door's lower plastic moulding... all done under the watchful eye of 1st Mate who's wagging their finger at the Captain... 😉