228 Seat Upgrade

[leeccoll]

Hey folks,

My 1987 Seafarer 228 roto-molded seats do not slide back and forth or swivel more than 45 degrees. My question is can I replace the seat swivel and is there a option for a 360 degree rotation?

Do I have to buy new pedestals, or can I use the existing ones?? I wouldn't mind replacing the seats as well, but the space between them is pretty narrow. I don't want to put in wider seats at this point. I also see the newer Pompanette seats have a different base (at least I think so) so that option seems out.

I really appreciate any advice or suggestions on this, I just want to be able to rotate the seats facing the back of the boat while I am trolling. Unfortunately I am not an owl.

Thank you!

 

[Bdsp1234]

I have the ladder back Pompanettes with the armrests. It makes the opening too narrow. I removed them today to give me room. They are a 360 swivel though.

 

[leeccoll]

I have the ladder back Pompanettes with the armrests. It makes the opening too narrow. I removed them today to give me room. They are a 360 swivel though.

I think it's going to be hard for me to use much else but the original seats. Just hoping someone else went through this as well that can offer advise. Thanks for confirming what I suspected....Pompanette seats won't be a good fit for my situation because of their width.

Thank you Bdsp1234,
Lee

 

[Fishtales]

Those appear to have slides as well as rotation capabilities. Can you get them off the pedestal by chance? If you can, maybe soak in penetrating oil and work them loose. Then grease and hope the locking features work or you will wish you never touched them!

Another option is new seats. If you go that route maybe see if you can get used parts for the base and pedestals? Sometimes it might just be better to leave alone.

 

[leeccoll]

Those appear to have slides as well as rotation capabilities. Can you get them off the pedestal by chance? If you can, maybe soak in penetrating oil and work them loose. Then grease and hope the locking features work or you will wish you never touched them!

Another option is new seats. If you go that route maybe see if you can get used parts for the base and pedestals? Sometimes it might just be better to leave alone.

Ha! All these projects are a roll of the dice at the end of the day. Neither slides on it's own and I think the passenger seat doesn't even have the handle anymore, so I was trying to make life easy. I'll try your oil and grease suggestion first, but there's a lot of corrosion in the bracket.
Appreciate your suggestions fishtales.

 

[Bdsp1234]

Lee, Here’s what it looks like without the armrest. I only took one off initially to see how of a difference it makes. Huge.

 

[OMER]

I try this.
https://www.greatgrady.com/threads/helm-seats.27133/#post-166804

 

[leeccoll]

View attachment 9492View attachment 9492Lee, Here’s what it looks like without the armrest. I only took one off initially to see how of a difference it makes. Huge.

Wow! Thanks for sending pics. If the pedestal base I have is compatible, definitely an option. I would say the nicest looking too, but that's a personal choice at the end of the day. Appreciate it!!

 

[Fishtales]

I would take the outside arms of both (was going to do that on my Sailfish). I agree huge difference in the helm area for getting by when another is there.

 

[leeccoll]

I try this.
https://www.greatgrady.com/threads/helm-seats.27133/#post-166804

I looked at your thread OMER, really look like comfortable seats. Thank you for giving me another option!
Lee

 

[seasick]

You seat base definitely did slide and turn 360 degrees originally. I have the same exact seat slide. I don't who made that base but my seats were made by Todd apparently.
Just about all the bases that turn can rotate 360 degrees. The common limiter is the actual width of the seat and the side clearance My seats rotate a little less than 360 since one edge bumps into the side panel of the helm when the seat is turrned. You just have to rotate it the other way to get it to face backwards.

 

[DennisG01]

If you don't already know this, the seat pulls right off the tube. Just lift them up. I'm mentioning this because you took the pictures while it was still on the tube - and it would have been easier to do that with them off. So... just in case you didn't know that!

Once you get them turned upside down, you can get a better look at things and figure out what the issue is and possibly fix it.

The tensioning bolt... you can probably repair that with a brass threaded rod. It might be 3/8"x16 thread. But that's easy enough to check. You can also make a new handle - or get a new one from a hardware store for about $5 (like a lawnmower handle release knob).

 

[Uncle Joe]

I replaced mine with a pair of Wise adjustable height swivel seats with the slide.

I took the hardware out from under the existing seat posts......caulked around the existing holes with 5200.......screwed down a piece of marine grade plywood....just larger than the new seat bases.....then thru-bolted the new bases. They are solid as a rock and very comfortable. You CAN see the plywood though...but in 2 years it has not discolored or blackened so it doesn't look bad. I also troll and drift dead baits quite a bit and if you move the seats all the way back on the slide you can spin it to face backwards easily.

There is also a less expensive model...less than $200.00 each.

 

[leeccoll]

You seat base definitely did slide and turn 360 degrees originally. I have the same exact seat slide. I don't who made that base but my seats were made by Todd apparently.
Just about all the bases that turn can rotate 360 degrees. The common limiter is the actual width of the seat and the side clearance My seats rotate a little less than 360 since one edge bumps into the side panel of the helm when the seat is turrned. You just have to rotate it the other way to get it to face backwards.

That's super helpful, I wasn't sure how the originally operated. Many thanks!

 

[leeccoll]

If you don't already know this, the seat pulls right off the tube. Just lift them up. I'm mentioning this because you took the pictures while it was still on the tube - and it would have been easier to do that with them off. So... just in case you didn't know that!

Once you get them turned upside down, you can get a better look at things and figure out what the issue is and possibly fix it.

The tensioning bolt... you can probably repair that with a brass threaded rod. It might be 3/8"x16 thread. But that's easy enough to check. You can also make a new handle - or get a new one from a hardware store for about $5 (like a lawnmower handle release knob).

I didn't know they just lift right up. I guessed there was bolts to loosen first.
I'm gonna pull em and attempt repairs before I do anything else. When the fishing is decent I'm standing up anyway.
Appreciate your information, theres a learning curve you just helped me with

 

[DennisG01]

I didn't know they just lift right up. I guessed there was bolts to loosen first.
I'm gonna pull em and attempt repairs before I do anything else. When the fishing is decent I'm standing up anyway.
Appreciate your information, theres a learning curve you just helped me with

You're welcome! The only thing possible "bolt" to loosen (not remove) would be the tensioning knob (white handle). But that would have to be cranked down really tight to prevent you from removing it.

 

[leeccoll]

I replaced mine with a pair of Wise adjustable height swivel seats with the slide.

I took the hardware out from under the existing seat posts......caulked around the existing holes with 5200.......screwed down a piece of marine grade plywood....just larger than the new seat bases.....then thru-bolted the new bases. They are solid as a rock and very comfortable. You CAN see the plywood though...but in 2 years it has not discolored or blackened so it doesn't look bad. I also troll and drift dead baits quite a bit and if you move the seats all the way back on the slide you can spin it to face backwards easily.

There is also a less expensive model...less than $200.00 each.

That was clever....starboard might be an option too. I'm digging those armrests!
Is there enough clearance between the two seats? I know it will always be a bit tight

 

[Uncle Joe]

That was clever....starboard might be an option too. I'm digging those armrests!
Is there enough clearance between the two seats? I know it will always be a bit tight

Same clearance as original equipment. I am very pleased with the result.....and Starboard might have been a better option now that you mention it.

 

[leeccoll]

Same clearance as original equipment. I am very pleased with the result.....and Starboard might have been a better option now that you mention it.

Thanks for letting me know about the clearance.

 

[seasick]

After you remove the seats, soak the moving parts in PB Blaster for a day or so. The locking hardware tends to corrode and stick. If you try to muscle off the locking hardware, the parts may snap.
The actual part of the seat that slides runs on two strips of plastic. Hopefully they are intact. The channels they slide in tend to get gummed up with old grease. You can soak those too or try WD40 to soften the grease.

The base attaches to the underside of the seat with 4 bolts and washers. Revoving the base form the seat makes working on it a lot easier.
By the way, if the seat does not rotate right now, it probably will not lift up and off. You will have to try to get the pedestal locking rod to loosen. Do not try using a pliers on the knob, it will break. Try a vice grip on the shatf rod.