Captains seat

russellh

I can get my captains seat pushed back only so much until the backrest hits the sink behind on my 270 FV. I could get it back another 2"s if I put strain on the backrest by pushing it forward. I just feel trapped in and could do with a bit more legroom while at the helm. Shame the backrests are not adjustable. What has anyone else done?

Russ

diggin2day1

This gave me a TON more room and greatly improved the seating position: 
http://rinkerboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/4908/raised-seat-pic/p1

russellh

Fantastic thanks for that! I'll be doing soon for sure

laureniac1

I did this project. It's does raise the seat but will not solve issues of the seat going back. I rarely sit and drive I'm have tempted to just yank the entire seat. Definitely tight when standing I have the same issues.

diggin2day1

After raising my seat with the 4x4 aluminum, the chair slid further back(due to the seat making contact at a lower portion of the seat back)... Gained a substantial amount of legroom while standing. 

Wildboating

I wonder if this would help with a 342 03 model.  I am so over the seat in my boat, sits to low to EVER sit while underway.  When standing my knees are bent because the seat is too far forward. The wife and I have been looking for captain chairs but that is a big cost to bear after all the other upgrades / repairs this year.   I think a nice foot stool and pair of adjustable height chairs with bolsters would be slick but then I will want the steering wheel repositioned...lol .  It never ends.

diggin2day1

Just to make sure I wasn't crazy, I did a little Photoshopping. In the first picture I outlined the seat edges with light blue and circled the major contact point in red. Then in the 2nd picture I "grouped" the blue lines and the circle together and slid them down to their "original" factory position. You can clearly see how the front edge of the seat pushes forward... Now that I look at it, the line I made on the bottom of the seat in the first picture doesn't accurately portray the top of the aluminum tube... So there would even be MORE of a difference.  I know, I know... overkill. Lol. 

randy56

@diggin2day1, you are ocd, yes you gained and inch, lol, but when my seat is all the way back, you cannot open trash can lid, after installing the 4 inch tube, lol

TonyWalker

I do not know where to suggest you look for this as an aftermarket item but my 06 342 has a "pop up" bolster.  The front edge at the helm end of the seat toggles up and toward the back.  It makes enough room for me to stand or I can sit on the edge of it after it has been repositioned in the "up" position.  It is mentioned is the Rinker brochures for boats made that year.

Handymans342

Well someone has to make the seat.?

randy56

russellh, I raised mine also, love it, much better. no, it will not go back any more but you can see much better. 

randy56

russellh, I raised mine also, love it, much better. no, it will not go back any more but you can see much better. 

FloodZone

Hello diggin2day1 - I know its been a few years since you posted this. I just bought an '03 342 and can't stand the distance between the wheel and the seat. I don't see any updates for options since yours. If there are any, I'd love to hear them. I just removed the back cushion from the seat and pushed it all the way back. Incredible amount of room. BUT there's no back. I'm thinking about taking the back to a upholstery specialist and have him remount the 3 metal "L" brackets directly to the back of the backrest. This only gives me a 1.5" relief. Definitely not worth the effort since the seat is still too low. So I might do both to maximize the space.
Where did you get the 4"x4" aluminum risers?
Thanks,
Dan

YYZRC

I bought 4x4 aluminum from Metal Supermarkets. 

FloodZone

Thank you YYZRC

rasbury

There is a much easier fix than all this, buy a bigger boat!