R31 cockpit enclosure with foldout seats?

D

dgiles

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 30, 2020
Messages
77
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
If you are at the dock, how does the enclosure exactly work with the fold out seating? Is it unusable? I gotta imagine one would want the seats outward at the dock at times and need the enclosure.
 
It depends on the amount of room you have available between your boat and the dock (and the boat next to you). There are definitely situations where I would not open my side seats.
 
It would depend on the enclosure, I guess, but I have never seen an enclosure in use with them. On our C30 we have a full cockpit enclosure and the pop out side seats are not usable when the enclosure is down -- it goes straight down and behind them when they are stowed.

I imagine an enclosure might be designed with an extra attachment or something that could go out and over those seats but it is difficult to imagine. I'd ask whoever is doing the enclosure (King Marine in Seattle has done perhaps more than anyone for these boats.)
 
That is what I imagined. Sure wish they offered this as an option on the R31. The foldout seats just don't make any sense. They don't work under way, they don't work with an enclosure, they don't work at a tight dock, etc. Only at anchor in the sunshine I guess.
 
We have a full enclosure on our R31CB and often use the flip out seats at the dock. Your right some docks are too high which prevents use of the flip out seat on the dockside. We roll up the enclosure panel where the flip out seat is. During the winter In the PNW the enclosure acts like a solarium and can get pretty warm so we often roll up a panel or two to get some air circulation. We still use the flip out seats unless its raining or really windy. In the winter on bad weather days we set up chairs in the cockpit and hang out there. The enclosure gave us a 2nd seating area during the winter and inclement weather.
 
TMAX31":pvjxxaf7 said:
We have a full enclosure on our R31CB and often use the flip out seats at the dock. Your right some docks are too high which prevents use of the flip out seat on the dockside. We roll up the enclosure panel where the flip out seat is. During the winter In the PNW the enclosure acts like a solarium and can get pretty warm so we often roll up a panel or two to get some air circulation. We still use the flip out seats unless its raining or really windy. In the winter on bad weather days we set up chairs in the cockpit and hang out there. The enclosure gave us a 2nd seating area during the winter and inclement weather.
Click to expand...
100% agree with you. I'm in the PNW as well and before I really thought it through, I was planning on buying a R31, but if it's raining (which it does for 4 months) I can't imagine having to set up lawnchairs in the cockpit to sit somewhere when you have perfectly good seats available you can't use.

You would think they could make a foldout seat not fold out and still provide seating somehow.
 
The fold out seats that are inside the cockpit area on the R29 are a feature that caused us to prefer the R29 over the R31 when we ordered our new boat last year.
 
TBH I don't find the pop out side seats to be very comfortable, although they are nice on occasion, esp in good weather. They are also a bit of a maintenance issue (rusting hinges, dirty covers, people stepping on them which can damage the hinges, etc). But the admiral likes them!

We carry 2 west marine folding chairs that are more comfortable, allow usage even when the enclosure is down, fit around the table, and will face in the (usually) preferred view direction aft.

In any case, the enclosure is definitely a great idea -- it massively increases the year-round comfort! I would not worry too much about the side seats.
 
There is a photo in my photo library with our enclosure down to the back of the fold out seat. The stretch cord can slip over the flat tabs on the back of the seat. Down side is you need to put a pillow behind your back so your head doesn’t rub on the enclosure. Works for seating spot in the rain. Now if it’s windy that’s another story.
gallery2.php?g2_itemId=81017
 
I do not put out the dockside seat. I worry that a swell may cause the boat to be driven dow and the dock up with resulting damage. I often use the outboard one when at a dock. I especially enjoy those seats when at a a buoy or at anchor with the bow into the wind as the cockpit can sometimes not get a breeze. Sitting in the seats provides one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top