Anybody installed a lower helm station on a Silverton or any other large boat ?

[Valv]

I am looking to purchase a 1989 SIlverton 34 Convertible. Great layout, very spacious, but unfortunately it does not have a lower helm station.

I mainly fish here in the northern states, spring and fall are always chilly.

Anybody tried to install on same boat or any similar ?

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

If you have the correct stearing and controls it can be real ez and cheap. You can just control the upper helm with the lower by adding 4 cables and a stearing pump and wheel. Plus what ever you think you must have.

If you cant add to the exsisting controls you will need to buy all new and do a bunch of refit.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

Are you set on the 34 Silverton? They stopped putting lower helms in them in the earlier 80s (84, or 85 I believe). I have actually seen a later 80s 37 Silverton that appeared to have a lower helm added, and it looked factory. It's possible, but you will need steering, throttles, shifters and gauges at a minimum.

There are other boats in that size range with similar layout that may have lower helms.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

I don't want to start a thread war, but in my personal opinion, I don't think there's going to be anything easy or cheap about it. If you want the bare minimum, you're looking at:

The purchase or construction of a helm station. Even using the basic pre-existing bulkhead, there will be work involved.

Buying and mounting the following components:
~Steering wheel and cables to either tie into the existing hydraulic steering assembly or additional cabling to tie into the steering shaft control
~Throttle controls and cables to the existing cables or to the engines. Either way, it wasn't designed for dual stations so your existing components will either need to be replaced with brackets for dual cables or will have to be "adapted" somehow
~Transmission shift levers with the same adaptation as noted above

For ease of operation, you will also need:
~ignition switches & wiring to the upper station
~blower switches & wiring
~gauges such as oil/amp/water temp
~rudder indicator
~tachometers

Plus a myriad of other components that you would want to have to make operation at the lower helm as smooth and trouble free as the upper.

Personal opinion, unless you already own the boat or are dead set on having 2 stations, I would either look elsewhere or get a boat already equipped.

 

[Valv]

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

I understand the adding will require some expenses, I "ballparked" it to be not more than $ 2,000. I am capable of doing the work myself, and have some sources for many parts, I would like also to hear opinions from somebody that did a project like this.

Also, what other brand and similar size boat are out there ? I know of the Trojan F 36, but I already ruled that out. Anything else ?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

Re: Anybody installed a lower helm station on a SIlverton or any other large boat ?

Carver makes a few in the 32-40' range that are equipped with 2 stations. My 37' Voyager was available either way. I prefer the additional rome afforded by not having adual stations, but during heavy rain, hot, humid days, or just sitting on the flybridge alone...I can understand the purpose of wanting a lower helm. Sometimes the AC would be nice. On the other hand, being alone in a boat full of restless kids is kind of nice too!

Also look at Silverton, Meridian, Mainship, Maxum, Maritimo, Grady-White, Bayliner, etc. There are plenty of manufacturers that offer them. Let Google be your friend on this.