Supersport fishing seat upgrade

[ShoestringMariner]

For those of you who put buckets or swivel seats in your Supersports (or other similar models), how high of a pedistal did you use?
I've got the sleeper seats and they are awfully low. So I'm trying to find the optimum height for new seats.
I dont want to be like this guy and I Love this video after being locked up all winter and into a pandemic...;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qld1yl8E7Kg

I can get a variable height seat, but I think the post sticks under the floor by 4-5" and I dont want to strip the boat out to measure under-floor clearance until I have the majority of my components ready to go. (If the launches ever open this year, I want a boat that works)

What did you guys use and how do you like the height?

 

[mattsteg]

Wow that guy is porpoising like crazy.

When you "don't want to be like this guy" - what do you mean (other than you don't want to bounce around on glassy seas)?

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Lol, no I meant I don’t want to be sitting there with my entire head above the windscreen

and have the steering wheel down around my shins

I may have to bite the bullet and buy everything and hope for the best. I suppose I could always shorten a post that is too tall.

my brother had a cool idea; fabricate a tightly hinged Lexan or poly carbonate Wind deflectorfor the top of the windshield.. Sort of like the side glass on a 1966 AC cobra

 

[Watermann]

I got the adjustable height pedestals and a slide for fore and aft adjustment at the helm..

 

[mattsteg]

Lol, no I meant I don’t want to be sitting there with my entire head above the windscreen

and have the steering wheel down around my shins

I may have to bite the bullet and buy everything and hope for the best. I suppose I could always shorten a post that is too tall.

my brother had a cool idea; fabricate a tightly hinged Lexan or poly carbonate Wind deflectorfor the top of the windshield.. Sort of like the side glass on a 1966 AC cobra

These boats are designed such that you're either hunched down behind the windshield or peeping over it. There's not really a way around that unless you reengineer things with something like a new/repositioned windshield

I'm of the opinion that a helm seat, in general, should be at the height that is comfortable to sit on, and allows easy transition between sit and stand. This gives you good balance and ability to absorb shock from waves etc. by utilizing your legs/lower body. Exception for like a flat-water racing boat or other calm-use only can be lower, or rough-water rigs might ride higher with a leaning post.

I think the camera angle may be fooling you. Other when he's standing up, if anything his seat looks low (knee above waist).

I won't put my seat at the wrong/unsafe height to chase a too-low windshield or helm. Adjustable pedestals can be nice as they let you run a normal height seat on a short-windshield boat, but make it easier to duck behind the windshield if needed.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

I got the adjustable height pedestals and a slide for fore and aft adjustment at the helm..

That is such a great looking build. I’d like to go adjustable but here’s the thing, and it might be stupid; I’m trying to keep trying to put bases in underneath the sleeper seats to appease the Missus. She really likes the classic look of the boat and doesn’t want “to sit in a fishing boat”. She mostly lounges up front with the dog while I fish the sides and back anyway, so I’m not so sure why the sleeper seats are so important.

Anyway, my hopes are to have pedestals that the sleeper seats drop over. (I would fashion quick release set up that would let me pull the sleeper seats out in seconds)
The older Springfield catalog I have shows an adjustable pedestal base that goes ~5” to 8” but it requires the post to extend underneath the floor 3-4” or so. (Does not say) I am hoping that this would fit under the 7” sleeper base height.
See next post for pic.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

[No message]

 

[ShoestringMariner]

And if that wont work due to short or blocked under deck clearance or tricky diconnecting of the swivel base from the post (Weigh in here anybody if you have used this 2-3/8" system please!) I'll have to go with this set up, which is not adjustible except for buying extra posts of different lengths.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Here's the seats I'm likely going with.
http://www.springfieldgrp.com/products/chairs/folding-seats/fish-pro-seat/fish-pro-seat-1041636

The reason I'm going with the slide swivel base (at the helm only) is becasue I want to slide the seat back to stand up while navigating shllows, docking etc. or when I just feel the need to see better while scouting.

I'm thinking these seats wont truly swivel unless there's a good abount of room beside them and the sides of the boat? I'm concerned about clear space to walk in between. These are not wide boats like the new models out there

 

[Watermann]

Instead of sleeper seats start calling them "head knockers" and maybe on her own she'll decide they aren't a great idea. :lol:

 

[mattsteg]

my brother had a cool idea; fabricate a tightly hinged Lexan or poly carbonate Wind deflectorfor the top of the windshield.. Sort of like the side glass on a 1966 AC cobra

It seems like there's an off the shelf clamp-on version that could be useful to look at (whether for inspiration or purchase) "windaways".

 

[ShoestringMariner]

It seems like there's an off the shelf clamp-on version that could be useful to look at (whether for inspiration or purchase) "windaways".

oh, very cool, thanks for that

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Instead of sleeper seats start calling them "head knockers" and maybe on her own she'll decide they aren't a great idea. :lol:

Lol, maybe.

Can I ask if you need a seat slider, or do you have your seats back far enough that you can stand up at the helm? If the latter, do you feel you sit too far away from the wheel?

 

[PlayD0h]

I went with the 12” pedestals and am happy. As Mattsteg said, there’s no easy way to stay under the windshield. Personally even when I had sleeper seats I would often sit on a knee to get my head above for a better view.
I keep my head on a swivel and my boat doesn’t go Mach 6 where I’d have to worry about my head ripping off, lol. Just wear shades and no worries.
https://www.cabelas.ca/product/122995/bass-pro-shops-2-38-deck-mounting-base
these are my bases and there near flush so you could put the old seats in. Pedestals are way more comfortable, and free up so much space.
https://www.cabelas.ca/product/123426/bass-pro-shops-tourney-special-boat-seat
those are my seats. For some reason their not listing the bases I got on the site. I got each seat/base/pedestal for $200 Canadian, which is about as cheap as you can pay for real swivel seats.
make sure when your buying seats that you get ones properly rated. There’s Drivers seats/bases/pedestals, passenger seats for ‘at speed’, and just fishing seats that you can’t sit in to travel.
I put an extra base up front, and have been just moving a seat up there when I stop or troll. Yet I’ll be getting another seat and pedestal this year, as that got old quick.
my wife is 5 foot 3 and her head is under the windshield but at 5 - 10 my mouth or neck is about level with the top. I was worried that I would feel unsafe that high, but it feels fine.

 

[PlayD0h]

My bases are 2-3/8” post size.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

I went with the 12” pedestals and am happy. As Mattsteg said, there’s no easy way to stay under the windshield. Personally even when I had sleeper seats I would often sit on a knee to get my head above for a better view.
I keep my head on a swivel and my boat doesn’t go Mach 6 where I’d have to worry about my head ripping off, lol. Just wear shades and no worries.
https://www.*******.ca/product/122995/bass-pro-shops-2-38-deck-mounting-base
these are my bases and there near flush so you could put the old seats in. Pedestals are way more comfortable, and free up so much space.
https://www.*******.ca/product/123426/bass-pro-shops-tourney-special-boat-seat
those are my seats. For some reason their not listing the bases I got on the site. I got each seat/base/pedestal for $200 Canadian, which is about as cheap as you can pay for real swivel seats.
make sure when your buying seats that you get ones properly rated. There’s Drivers seats/bases/pedestals, passenger seats for ‘at speed’, and just fishing seats that you can’t sit in to travel.
I put an extra base up front, and have been just moving a seat up there when I stop or troll. Yet I’ll be getting another seat and pedestal this year, as that got old quick.
my wife is 5 foot 3 and her head is under the windshield but at 5 - 10 my mouth or neck is about level with the top. I was worried that I would feel unsafe that high, but it feels fine.

Excellent, thanks. I think its blocking your link because its a competitors site to thier own E store in which I understand they dont want that advertising here.

I've been sitting on top of the sleeper seat back (at the peak) but its way too far back and high to be comfy. When sitting on the seat, it feels low and I find myself still ducking to look under the top of the windsheild frame.

Question about your 2-3/8 seat base. How do you find them for inserting and removing posts? Are they a wrestle, or just a matter of a litle wiggle? I was considering the taper-lock assuming they install and remove easily(??)

 

[SHSU]

So maybe I missed it, but what size boat you working with? As others have mentioned the height of the glass really varies depending on the model. On a SS16 I found there was no practical way to get me under the windshield with its design. I looked at using short posts as you mentioned and even having a custom console built. In the end, I just left it as designed and don't worry about it. Wakes you up/cools you off when the spray comes.... LOL

Now if you had a bigger boat I don't know, but would guess you have more room for adjust ability.

SHSU

 

[ShoestringMariner]

So maybe I missed it, but what size boat you working with? As others have mentioned the height of the glass really varies depending on the model. On a SS16 I found there was no practical way to get me under the windshield with its design. I looked at using short posts as you mentioned and even having a custom console built. In the end, I just left it as designed and don't worry about it. Wakes you up/cools you off when the spray comes.... LOL

Now if you had a bigger boat I don't know, but would guess you have more room for adjust ability.

SHSU

Thanks. I should have mentioned that I’ve got a 1975 SS16. I wasn’t thinking that they went up to 22’! I just found that out today. I would absolutely love to see a 22 footer next to my 16’. I bet the 22 makes an excellent big water, salmon boat. Looks like you could ride a bicycle around inside it

I think I’ve got my system figured out. I don’t know if I’m going with the slide yet. I think I will try it without an add it if needed.

 

[mattsteg]

Thanks. I should have mentioned that I’ve got a 1975 SS16. I wasn’t thinking that they went up to 22’! I just found that out today. I would absolutely love to see a 22 footer next to my 16’. I bet the 22 makes an excellent big water, salmon boat. Looks like you could ride a bicycle around inside it

I think I’ve got my system figured out. I don’t know if I’m going with the slide yet. I think I will try it without an add it if needed.

You can just about squeeze the 16 footer into the 22' with the bow poking up between the consoles.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

You can just about squeeze the 16 footer into the 22' with the bow poking up between the consoles.

I bet, it looks massive in comparison.

Do do you know how the draft compares?
I assume 16-18’ is good for small medium and large-ish lakes but the 22is medium and up?
A camper top on a 22 would work well for overnighting maybe if a suitable camping spot couldn’t be found.
I’d find it a lot more usable than an islander during the day and roomy enough for 2 people to sleep in at night