Helm seat construction

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:03 pm

helm seat

Im getting ready for a cruise and when I tip it up I hear water sloshing inside it ????

Does anyone know where to drill a drain hole to let the water out??

I thought this was a one piece construction - maybe not...

Duane Dunn, Allegro · Post by **Duane Dunn, Allegro** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:05 pm

THe X helm seat is two pieces glassed together. It is hollow inside as I discovered when I cut off my helm seat. The bottom shell is quite thin.

Sloop John B · Post by **Sloop John B** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:22 pm

Yeah, the hatch closure is hollow also, as is obvious. I had the slush in it and drained it with patient gravity and then sealed the edges with 5200.

Might try removing the seat and figuring out which way it will eventually drain, and then seal it with something.

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa · Post by **Dimitri-2000X-Tampa** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:52 pm

I leave mine tipped up (and clipped to the lifeline) all the time when I'm not using the boat....makes it much easier to get back in since I almost always enter the boat via the transom.

Its never gotten water inside even though it is obviously delaminated (crackles when you sit on it). It was like that even when the boat was 3 years old when I first bought it...seems to be the only sign of delaminated fiberglass anywhere in the boat so I don't worry about it much.

craiglaforce · Post by **craiglaforce** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:26 pm

Mine had the water slosh this also, since the previous owner had a couple cushion snap holes drilled into it. Problem went away when I did the seat but off mod. Now I have a nice board across the back to sit on and only retained the backrest part. I even removed the hinge, so the whole thing can be removed. Lots easier than tipping it up, especially when on the hook.

Maccpt · Post by **Maccpt** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 4:12 pm

A friend of mine put a hole the size of your fist through the bottom of the seat. It is VERY thin... I don't know the lowest point, but drilling a sm hole would be no problem... or invite my friend over for a sail

Tom
Annies Song
Denver

Post by **kmclemore** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 4:22 pm

Mine had the same problem. I drilled two 3/16" holes at either end of the seat, underneath, along the thin flat bit that hangs down near the back of the seat. Water came running out, so be careful if you're using an electric drill... might want to do this one with a hand drill instead.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:15 pm

Ill drill it while the kids are waiting for the bus tomorrow...unless I cant figure out your reference point...thanks everyone..

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:29 pm

kmclemore wrote: ... Water came running out, so be careful if you're using an electric drill... might want to do this one with a hand drill instead.

Or, clip it upwards before the drilling.

Post by **kmclemore** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:46 pm

Actually, I did clip it up when I drilled it - the top hole was no problem, but the bottom one was a gusher! The water gets in there, BTW, usually because you have holes drilled for snaps for cushions, or because you have a crack where your hinge attaches.

As far as where to drill the holes, I just went out and looked at mine to refresh my memory. Can't take a photo just now, but looking from the rear of the boat with the seat down, if you look at the lowest portion of the back edge of the seat (not the overhanging lip above, but the very bottom of the seat itself) there is a large flat area on the bottom of the seat. Drill your holes about 3/8" to 1/2" in from each side of the corners there at the back bottom. If that does not make sense, let me know and I'll take a picture tomorrow in daylight.

{ON EDIT}
OK, so I went to the mods section to see if someone already had a pic of the back of the boat and I found this one... I've added arrows to exactly where I drilled the holes. Remember, they are drilled in the bottom of the seat, on the flat bit underneath, at the corners noted by the arrows.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Mon May 01, 2006 5:45 am

Thanks Kevin - Abigail popped the holes waiting for the school bus this morning...now she will tell everyone in school she used a power drill...

Little bit of water came out - I think it mostly dried out with the nice high pressure system we have had locked in for a week...

Took the Cheetah (Island 17) out yesterday and tacked about 2 miles against the tide...great fun...

FWIW - in the picture above you can see the hydraulic hoses leading to the canting Keel Mod down on the lower right..

(Does anyone know what those blue hoses are for, seriously? Fresh water washdown?

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Helm seat construction

Helm seat construction