TOPIC: Wanted! Pictures of Folding Boat Seats.

I posted this on another forum as well, I hope this is in the right section of fiberglassics!

Who has experience with folding runabout seats? I have an older plywood cabin cruiser/runabout that has no seats, so I'm looking to add drivers and passengers seats. The remants of the old seat installation indicate the original design folded out of the way. There is a hole in the floorboard to receive a support post and a cleat where the hinge was located. It appears the seat flipped up inward (athwartships) and the outboard edge of the seat landed on the cleat, so the hinge wasn't bearing the weight of the seat. I'm guessing the support post flipped down from the bottom of the seat into the socket in the floorboard, while the backrest flipped up and was hinged along the bottom edge. There is a triangular block on the side deck coaming that I think the backrest must have rested against...maybe the inboard side had a chain or webbing to the seat bottom?

Are these type of seats too flimsy? Are they uncomfortable? I can't recall seeing too many seats set up this way, but it would be nice to have them fold out of the way when not in use. I'd love to see some pics of wooden runabout seats, I'm looking for ideas and options. I'd like to avoid using those aluminum seat posts that have a flanged mount to the floorboards.

I found a few pictures of something similar...pretty cool seats.

Hello Skagit,

Garelick has helmsman seats that are close to what was original on many early cruisers. I believe a swivel is also available.

www.garelick.com/Helmsman-Seating

Terry

Cool! That's kind of what I was thinking of. I hadn't considered the angle support but I think for rougher water I would be better served with a straight leg support.

In small boats like this where space is at a premium folding seats seem like a good idea, as long as they are functional and comfortable when in use.

Here is a factory original helm seat in a 1959 Thompson Bros. 19 ft. Off-Shore Cabin Cruiser. The seat was made by Nelson A Taylor Co. of New York according to Pete Thompson

Garelick from St. Paul Park, MN makes several styles of helm seats

Andreas

Here is a pretty sexy looking helm chair.
Probably not what you are looking for, but I'm keeping my eyes open for you.
seattle.craigslist.org/see/bpo/5931090606.html

doc F

That is an awesome chair...I might fall,asleep underway! Thanks for looking, I've been combing the Internet myself. The search can be as fun as actually installing it.

I've found a lot of cool boats so far!

This is the original seating on a 59 Glasspar Sedan.



Looks like the same type as what is on the Thompson.

Thanks,
Terry

Thanks for posting! Awesome...I was thinking there would be more wooden seats but maybe wooden seats weren't very prevalent.

I'll be mocking up some seats but I may opt for those classic Garelick folders. Most of the wooden seats I see are of the permanent walk through style like this one.

S,: I had a 1967 Glasspar 18 ft Sedan cuddy, quite original , that had one of these folding seats you seek.. Not sure where the interior Album pics could be found , (Maybe on my Photobucket acct ?) Over time even the underside screws would loosen in the thin seat wood . Most owners agreed this originality was quite "Rickity" for boating usage and a future comfort design was a improvement... I tried search on the web to no avail, but I also heard the term "PATTON SEAT " was this double folding . My brown seat did not swivel , made the vertical pole ,removable.

That is a pretty nice boat! I think you're right that the reason there aren't many of those seats around is because they weren't very good. I'm hoping to do some extensive cruising in my little boat so I'd like to have a solid comfortable seat.

Keep em coming guys.

Edit: I found this sweet setup in the Glaspar thread.