Skippers Seat just doesn't work

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
User avatar
Neo
Admiral
Posts: 1093
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:29 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Neo »

kurz wrote:I bought one but didn't mount already!
MacM manual says don't use them :?
User avatar
Gazmn
Admiral
Posts: 1129
Joined: Wed May 31, 2006 10:22 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Bayside, NY '97X, E-tec 115 Pontoon, The "Ollie Gray" & '01 Chevy Tahoe W/ Tow Pkg; AL 2X Trlr.

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Gazmn »

I sold that motor & foil. But it was okay for me. I wasn't under warranty on boat or motor when I put it on. I didn't have any bad or hairy experiences with it. Just make sure you don't void your warrantee & be careful - We're all big boys here who've paid for our toys.

Decide what you're using it for. & don't believe all the hype good or bad.
innervations
First Officer
Posts: 227
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:56 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Perth, Western Australia, "Talani Jayne" a 2010 Mac26M with ETec 60

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by innervations »

+1 for removing the seat altogether. There is a lot more room and I have not noticed any increase in engine noise. Sometimes I find it easier to see and steer actually standing in the lower section which you can't do with the seat in place.
User avatar
Seapup
Captain
Posts: 943
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:05 am
Location: 2002 26x - Virgina Beach, Va

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Seapup »

How are you happy with the hydrophoil?

I bought one but didn't mount already!
I used to be skeptic of them, but now feel they can have a purpose if you have a specific problem to fix. I had the wide stingray type on my 90 on the :macx:. It made the trim really raise and lower the bow, but made steering twitchy as the boat leaned at speed and was awkwardly large, so I took it off. Recently I was having some ventilation with a Yamaha t9.9, mostly in reverse it would suck air even when set down deep. I cut the fins down and mounted it on the 9.9 and it made a world of difference. With the little motor and flat prop that throws water in all directions it helped significantly redirecting water. I am surprised we don't see them on sailboats with little kickers more often.
+1 for removing the seat altogether
Easy to try, 2 bolts then store it. We ran without it for a year and then with the seat but without the hinge for awile too. With no hinge you can use it when you want then stow it at anchorages.
User avatar
Neo
Admiral
Posts: 1093
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:29 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Neo »

Seapup wrote:
With no hinge you can use it when you want then stow it at anchorages.
Can you hang it with the seat pointing backwards over the OB?

Where did you store it?

Many thanks.
Neo
User avatar
Seapup
Captain
Posts: 943
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:05 am
Location: 2002 26x - Virgina Beach, Va

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Seapup »

Can you hang it with the seat pointing backwards over the OB?

Where did you store it?
Don't know about the backwards, didn't try, I don't think so though.

For storage it went on the V berth, we only use it for storage and don't have cushions there. That did not last too long before cutting the bottom off.
User avatar
Neo
Admiral
Posts: 1093
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:29 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Neo »

Thanks Seapup :)
User avatar
Highlander
Admiral
Posts: 5995
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:25 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Maccutter26M 2008 75HP Merc. 4/S Victoria BC. Can. ' An Hileanto'ir III '
Contact:

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Highlander »

I have the single version of this seat I bought for my :mac19: , but never installed it , it could be an alternative to what u r lookin for it came with a post mount base for a pedestal pole mount But could be mounted various ways
http://www.toddusa.com/images/gallery/eastern4_big.jpg

here,s my single mount there is an optional back rest that could easily made by urself that fits into the rod holders
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... d0b36b.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... ba9af5.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 30aa86.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... ba36cf.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 8ca7b7.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 737bcd.jpg

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/ ... 9085f7.jpg

the storage compartment underneath could also be used as a cooler

J 8)
User avatar
BOAT
Admiral
Posts: 4969
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:12 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Oceanside, CA MACMJ213 2013 ETEC60

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by BOAT »

This is a subject that everyone is trying to deal with. The very first thing I did after I got 'boat' home from the factory was call BWY and order another helm seat. I still have it hanging in the rafters of my garage. The reason i ordered another one was because I knew I was going to destroy the one I had trying to modify it. My idea then was to cut the seat part out and reattach it with swing points so the whole seat could rotate into a bucket. I have not yet modified it - I'm still looking at all the ideas you gentlemen have submitted and trying to decide what to do. I am now leaning more to the flat seat over the bucket seat.

Here are some interesting points:

1. the X boat has a better arrangement - and the X seat is easier to modify.
2. people like the storage under the M seat for generators and stuff (I store my boat fenders in there).
3. it's more comfortable to have a flat seat and it makes the cockpit easier to negotiate.

So what's more important? The flat comfortable roomy seat or the extra storage??

Also - you can eliminate a lot of the wobble in the seat when open by putting a tennis ball on the stanchion it's resting on. I too leave mine open for extended periods so I can stand behind the helm. Yet another nice feature.

So gathering all you ideas, here is what I end up with:

You can have a flat seat, or storage - not both. So, I guess i will have TWO seats. I will modify one of them to be flat - I will pit a pin in the hinge so they are easy to swap out - and then i will see which one I end up using the most.
User avatar
Neo
Admiral
Posts: 1093
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:29 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Neo »

BOAT wrote:My idea then was to cut the seat part out and reattach it with swing points so the whole seat could rotate into a bucket.
Boat .... This sounds interesting but I just can't visualize it ... Do you have a diagram you could share with us?
Also, I'm a short arse! ... I want to see over the bow while sitting behind the wheel so a low seat like the :macx: just don't work for me.

Highlander .... Not a bad I idea ... you have me thinking :)

All the best.
Neo
User avatar
BOAT
Admiral
Posts: 4969
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:12 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Oceanside, CA MACMJ213 2013 ETEC60

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by BOAT »

No, no diagram, but I did make a little plastic model of the flip seat.
User avatar
Neo
Admiral
Posts: 1093
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:29 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Neo »

BOAT wrote:No, no diagram, but I did make a little plastic model of the flip seat.
Any chance of photos of the model?
User avatar
Highlander
Admiral
Posts: 5995
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:25 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Maccutter26M 2008 75HP Merc. 4/S Victoria BC. Can. ' An Hileanto'ir III '
Contact:

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Highlander »

seen @ the boat Show I believe it was a tartan 34-36ft sailboat that had a a helm seat just like the :macm: but had a really nice s/s hinged brkt that allowed the seat to swivel out of the way I had Beene take pic,s of it was a couple yrs ago so as I could maybe copy the design for my :macm: , but he never sent me the pic,s think he may have accidentally deleted them :cry:

J 8)
ps was TARTAN 3400 2006YR
but darned if I can find any pic,s of one on the net :evil:
Last edited by Highlander on Tue Sep 29, 2015 8:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
beene
Site Admin
Posts: 2546
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:31 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Ontario Canada, '07 26M, Merc 75 4s PEGASUS

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by beene »

Highlander wrote:seen @ the boat Show I believe it was a tartan 34-36ft sailboat that had a a helm seat just like the :macm: but had a really nice s/s hinged brkt that allowed the seat to swivel out of the way I had Beene take pic,s of it was a couple yrs ago so as I could maybe copy the design for my :macm: , but he never sent me the pic,s think he may have accidentally deleted them :cry:

J 8)
What pic
User avatar
Highlander
Admiral
Posts: 5995
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:25 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Maccutter26M 2008 75HP Merc. 4/S Victoria BC. Can. ' An Hileanto'ir III '
Contact:

Re: Skippers Seat just doesn't work

Post by Highlander »

beene wrote:
Highlander wrote:seen @ the boat Show I believe it was a tartan 34-36ft sailboat that had a a helm seat just like the :macm: but had a really nice s/s hinged brkt that allowed the seat to swivel out of the way I had Beene take pic,s of it was a couple yrs ago so as I could maybe copy the design for my :macm: , but he never sent me the pic,s think he may have accidentally deleted them :cry:

J 8)
What pic
last time I,ll buy u a beer @ the boat Show !! :P

J :wink:
Post Reply