Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Looking for ideas to build helm boxes..I do not need a baitwell etc., just some extra storage. I was thinking of making my own out of plywood and fiberglass....just a simple box and then buy access hatches and mount my peds?!?!.I have seen some boxes on marine fabrication internet sites but they are too much money..Any ideas..or has anyone made their own where they could share pics etc??? I tried a search on this topic but could not locate anything.
Thanks, Fred

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

I'm thinking the same and would love to see some examples...do you have a Sceptre, Tsunami or Seafari???
I was also thinking of putting batteries in the bottom of the helm boxes and sitting them below the deck level.

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Got mine from Nautical Design.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...8/Endured9.jpg

http://www.nauticaldesigninc.com/tackle.htm

Expensive but great workmanship.

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Endured..great looking set up..I checked their web site..got an email back...way out of my price range..mabey someday...just looking for other alternative..
..for my Seafari....storing batteries is a great idea as well....hopefully someone has an inexpensive alternative :D...I dont want to spend more on these boxes than what I initially paid for the boat hull!!!!
:o

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Endured...could you post dimensions of your boxes..I cant fabricate aluminum frame/mounts etc but could build similar box with plywood..obvioulsy on an amateur level. I will make up template and see how dimensions will work in my Seafari.
Thanks, Fred

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Hi Fred, Like Csick nick I tired of pedestal seats so I'm currently making some boxes out of baltic birch made with exterior glue, and my joints are done with epoxy and screws. I've oversized them just a bit in case I decide to use them as molds for glass boxes. If you plan on going the glass route, use MDF for your molds. It's easy to work and far less expensive than ply.

I borrowed the idea from an old Formula 233 that I almost bought. Under port helm I wanted space for a cooler that would hold a few 35" fish on ice, and refreshments. Behind the seat I wanted 2 or 3 rod holders, and somewhere in between, a couple of tackle drawers or trays to hold jigs, pliers or whatever at the ready. Under the helm I want to carry a couple of 6 gallon auxiliary tanks for those less well-planned runs where you start chasing temp breaks or fish, as well as the additional rod storage. Here's a concept pic from the said boat, as mine is not ready to show.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...ntdeckcrop.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...ortstorage.jpg

Also check out the mold process strick used in making several thing in his Here we go again thread, The good doctor was kind enough to document much of his undertaking on the resulting fantastic restoration. Billythedkid also has a recent thread with fantastic documentation of his glass fabrication. I know there are some other great threads in the archives but those are a good place to start. Try page 13 or 14 of Stricks for starters. Good luck.

Keep in mind these boxes are on a large 23' as opposed to a small 20' like the Seafari. Their layouts however are very similar. Also, when I mount mine I will be using 1" stainless angle from the inside. Good Luck :cool:

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

gil-

Thanks for the pics...never thought of a design like this....think it will be the ticket for a great concept design...I will do some more research on site per your suggestion. Hopefully I can get going again...darned rain
Thanks, Fred

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Gillie - interesting to see seating designs evolve to one similar to what Moesly used on the SeaCraft 21 Overnighter in 1961! :D Check out these seats: SeaCraft 21 I've ridden on the 21' Unohu and those were very comfortable seats that had a ton of storage inside them. The big 3" thick seat cushions were designed to also serve as bunk cushions! The 21' that was for sale up in St. Augustine even had a fold-out 2 burner stove built into the backrest of the rear facing seat!

Fred - Another option, at least for the port side, would be to just try to find a Seafari owner with a galley seat they didn't want. I believe they were standard on the early I/O models. It has room in it for at least one and maybe two 5 gal jugs if you don't use a very big water jug. There's room in the top of it where you could add some tackle drawers on the side aft of the sink section. http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...t/NewHatch.jpg
The original galley seat did not have an opening in aft side; access is via a large opening in the front. Mine already had an opening rather crudely cut into aft side, so after reinforcing the edges of the hole with a couple of layers of 1708, I covered it with 1/2" PVC foam board and added the square hatch. Denny

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Dennis,
Very interesting, I wonder what the overall length of the seats was. He definitely saved a few inches by staggering the heights of the backrests. I'm sacrificing the aft facing seats for the rod holders and open deck space. I think on the 21 the windshield may have been a little more fore, better accommodating the additional seating. I'm trying to devise a cantilevered seat that slides out over the aft end of the cooler and slides back under the port seat to access the cooler. Not sure if it will work, but I'm drawing it up. Also blew the twin auxiliary tanks idea and settled for 1 tank under the helm and will just carry the other on the cabin floor in front of the main tank. At 19.5" my 6 gal. tanks placed thwarts ship would force the pedestal box to be about an inch wider than I was comfortable with. It doesn't seem like much but with two or 3 guys tugging on tuna or CA yellowtail, that little extra protrusion would be a stumbling block as I see it. I'll try to get some progress pics up if I make any progress. Sometimes I feel like I'm in Congress :D

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Endured - Wonder if you can expand on your seating foto to show the whole seat config. Is the helm a bolster style seat? How long, fore to aft, is the set up. Looks very efficient. Did you design it and have them build it? Very nice :cool:

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Gillie, I scaled the cross-section sketch in the brochure using the 6'5" headroom dimension to establish a scale factor and came up with about 4.7' for the length of the seats. Length of front deck from stem to base of windshield works out to be 5.4' using same scale factor. Both numbers seem to be about right based on my memory of the Unohu.

I've used those 6 gal tanks too, and they're good for keeping CG low but they take up a lot more deck space than plastic jugs. I have one 6 gal jug shaped like the old jerry cans that measures about 7.7"W x 13"L x 20" H; it's pretty handy when deck space is limited! The newer 5 gal jugs with top and side handles are also easy to use and a good compromise between CG height and floor space. Denny

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Hey Denny, love your precision. I used the same measurement and figured 4-1/2 to 5 ft. My seating will be about 38 inches on port and about 28 on starboard. I measured the pointy end of the Seafari and the windshield starts about 7'4" from the stem. Lose a couple feet there. As it stands I'll have about 5' of deck behind port seat to transom and about 6' behind the helm. Guess I better find a more agile third angler so I can send him to the pointy end to fish :D

Roger on the Jerry cans - vertical set up would be favorable in alloted space but I had found these brand new on craigslist and hadn't really worked out the details yet. I did get some measurements and allowed space for some boxier 12 and 18gal. models should I find I want more range down the road.

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Gill--I see that you are a cabinet maker..
Couple questions to pick your brain...
have you done any rough sketches/templates etc for the design of your seats..if so would you mind sharing. Thinking more and more about extra capacity for fuel too
Also..I am more comfortable working with wood as opposed to building a mold etc..I am also aware the wood needs protection like fiberglass resin and mat??? etc. What are your ideas???
Also, Denny....like you quality work and pics of your build of the galley seat...On a box of that style could I use plywood and laminate///router edges cut out holes for hatches???????

Just some outloud thinking
Thanks..any input appreciated,
Fred

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Hi Fred -
I think you're asking about using router bits on the FG box? Yes, they should work fine, probably better than on the PVC which tends to melt if you use too slow a feed! On thing I would do is to add another layer or two of glass around any openings. The galley seat box appears to just be a chopper gun layup (no woven roving :eek:) so it probably isn't that strong. I was visualizing a large person sitting on the seat while punching thru some big head seas with significant shock loads, so figured a little extra reinforcement inside all the edges wouldn't hurt either! Denny

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Fred, yeah, I did draw up a rough working picture to keep me focused, I'll scan it Mon. and shoot you an e-mail or just post it. I'm using 1/2" Baltic birch for the sides and supports and mahogany to set in rod holders and drawers or trays. Joints are simple butt joints with some inset rabbet joints where the mahogany is used. I'm using epoxy and stainless screws to assemble it -- the epoxy will provide the strength. I'll soften the corners with a round-over bit. I may glass and tape them, but more than likely I'll brush or spray everything with epoxy. Then I'll sand and paint the Baltic birch white and get a clear gloss polyurethane for the mahogany probably coat the paint, too. I'm also going to try to make a cantilevered pull out seat that slides out over the cooler from under the port seat. We'll see if that works...

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Gil sent you PM..
Dont you think there would be some type of market out there for affordable helm bases, simple design that would incorporate storage and tackle drawers. Googling helm boxes I came up with a company out of Australia (Boat Box)..but never got a return email...all the other bases/boxes are so expensive and intricate. Make a mold and go into production for AFFORDABLE boxes and make millions!!!!???? yeh right
Fred

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Fred here's my sketch.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...seatdesign.jpg
Stainless flatheads are countersunk, I'll probably fill them with Bondo just for the facility of removing them should I want to tweak the design down the road. I'll probably try to make some glass versions down the road. See how I like them.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...atseats001.jpg
If I stay with the plan the piece of wood you see laying on the cooler becomes a slideout seat with cantilever supports.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...atseats002.jpg

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Gil-
Very nice, all this info truly appreciated. I will definately do something along the lines of your design. Again, I am more handy with wood, router, table saw etc etc.
so wood will be the most likely way I am going to approach my project, and like you said..can always use them as molds/fiberglass down the road..
Thanks again, Fred

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Nice job Gillie. You did a good thing by not bringing the box sides all the way out to edge of stepdown like my galley seat. I often find myself trying to step there and it's a pain. New cabin door looks nice also. I see you left a space at top of it - is that for a window or ventilation?

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Hi Denny,
Thanks, That was the reason I didn't go two inches wider on the helm side to accommodate the twin gas cans -- that little step edge is a convenience you take for granted with pedestal seating. Hopefully I can wrap it up this week.

The space in the doorway is neither. The door is just leaning there right now. Some one had cut off 4 inches of the door or it's not original. Perhaps they had a low profile aux. tank, who knows? I wasn't going to sweat it cause mosquitoes aren't a problem here and it's not enough space for a punk hoodlum to squeeze through, unless he's a real pinhead :D;eventually I'll either extend it at the bottom or consider a window at the top.

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

I love the pedestal seats . . . because of the foot rest. I'm working on a plan for 2 fiberglass giant insulated coolers (commercial fishboxes). . . so I can stuff in 30 commercial keeper bass from Nick's secret fishing spots :) and still have room for a few scup.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/running...ickingback.JPG

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Dang Big,
You sure have the handle on left coast cool. :cool: I forgot I could use the rig as an office to sit and spin, put my feet up, and all of those other big-shot, shot-caller antics. Like, "hey Hon' could you get me a Sierra out of the cooler? How about makin' the Captain a capicolla and provolone on an Italian roll" Now you've got me wondering why I gave away the pedestals and made these silly boxes:D

Where will you put the coolers? Hope you post your construction process. Definitely want to learn more about building with it.

Re: Helm Boxes to mount pedistal seats
 

Big..you look toooo relaxed.. I am usually stressing out when I go out..fighting boat traffic..worrying about someone taking my spot at the boatramp...wondering if my wife can hold the boat while I run and get the truck...did I bring everything with me on the boat that I needed...where are the truck keys when I arrive at the boatramp...crap I am getting stressed out now!!!!!!!SO I need a seat that does not spin..might spin right out of the boat with anxiety!!!!!!!
Fred