Seaspension install on a 228

luckydude

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I am trying to keep fishing after a stroke in my brain. It ain't easy, an ocean that I would have thought was awesome before the stroke, makes my head feel like I'm gonna have another one. I'm desperately trying to find a way to keep fishing on the ocean, it's more or less all I have left at this stage of my life.

I bought a seaspension post and it showed up this morning, 1st pic below. I'm gonna document the install in this thread and, hope, that I'll keep fishing. Maybe this helps someone else.

I pulled the seat off, vacuumed all the crud out of the post, used a sharpy to draw the outlines of the inside of the old post, took the post off, drew what I thought was a centered cross, then drilled a couple of holes, put a hacksaw blade on the jigsaw and cut out the circle. That's the 2nd and 3rd pics.

Tried to dry fit it and the bead of the weld under the plate didn't fit, so I got a sanding gizmo and beveled the edge, that's the 4th pic.

After some trial and error, _perfect_ fit, the hole pattern matched, it's lined up perfectly. Very happy with that, that's the blurry 5th pic.

Started thinking about how to orient the seat, look at the last pic and you'll see that the seat is offset to starboard relative to the center of the steering wheel, I'm going to point the seat at the center of the steering wheel. Thought about offsetting the seat to port but that would move the seat into the walkway and that walkway is small enough.

As for fit, they did a fantastic job, the plate sits on top of the pedestal, the bottom of the column sits on the floor of the pedestal. Well done!

Next up, get some silicone, bolt it in place and move on to making a plate that attaches to the bottom of my existing seat and bolts to the pedestal. More pics coming for that.
 

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SeanC

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Nice. What model is that? I couldn't find a model 5566. Let us know how it goes.
 
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bcoco

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did they send the unit, looks like the 4406, with the bottom plate shaved on the one side already? and there is enough room underneath the pedestal not to cut into the fish box?
thanks for the posts.
 

luckydude

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did they send the unit, looks like the 4406, with the bottom plate shaved on the one side already? and there is enough room underneath the pedestal not to cut into the fish box?
thanks for the posts.
It's a little bit custom. They cut the plate so it didn't overhang the pedestal and they got me to give them measurements so the bottom of the column exactly hits the bottom of the pedestal. I am amazed at how well it worked, the pressure from the unit is spread out over the top and the bottom of the pedestal. So no need to cut into the fish box.

I did go out last night after dinner and applied silicone and bolted it in place. Looks great.

I'll probably get it all together today or tomorrow and then I need to find a weather window to go try it out (my ocean was 10@9 yesterday, worse than a square ocean, ouch). Once I get out there, I'll report back how it does.
 

luckydude

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One step forward, one step back. My plan was to drill it for the bottom of the seat, then position it and drill it for the plate at the top of the column. Only problem is I'm an idiot. I was thinking 8 bolts but that doesn't work with the plate. I have to drill things for the top plate of the column, through the plate that bolts to the seat, so 4 (or 6 bolts), not 8. So I have a lot of extra holes and I gave up last night and had a cocktail instead.

I'll get it today. Will have pics.
 

DennisG01

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One step forward, one step back. My plan was to drill it for the bottom of the seat, then position it and drill it for the plate at the top of the column. Only problem is I'm an idiot. I was thinking 8 bolts but that doesn't work with the plate. I have to drill things for the top plate of the column, through the plate that bolts to the seat, so 4 (or 6 bolts), not 8. So I have a lot of extra holes and I gave up last night and had a cocktail instead.

I'll get it today. Will have pics.
8 holes? No big deal - you effectively made the plate lighter so it will help save some fuel ;)

You've really been making that 228 a full-on custom boat!
 

luckydude

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Well, done, ready for a sea trial. Many mistakes were made but it came out OK in the end.

1st pic is when I bolted the plate on the column to the center of the plate under the seat. Completely wrong, the column wants to be where the ratchet is. I also had the plate upside down and backwards, if I could screw it up, I did.

2nd pic I have things where they want to be, but there are something like 6 extra holes from all my mistakes. I think it's fine but my picky German friend is groaning right now and doesn't know why.

3rd pic is the view of the column in the box, 4th is side view with all the bits of the chair put back, last pic shows the orientation of the seat, it's aimed a little port so it's facing the steering wheel. I got that part right, the seat is angled how I want it and it's placed back from the steering wheel how I wanted (which is good because it is fixed in place, no slider, no swivel).

I'll report back, in this topic, after a sea trial.20241101_134932.jpg20241101_141248.jpg20241101_142429.jpg20241101_142433.jpg20241101_142439.jpg
 

bcoco

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Looks good. How much higher did that put the seat?
 

bcoco

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Have you had a chance to sea trial the new seat? wondering if its worth it to do.
thanks
 

luckydude

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Have you had a chance to sea trial the new seat? wondering if its worth it to do.
thanks
Have not, the weather here has been awful. Stuff like 14' @ 14s. Up by Seattle it was 28@9. Big storm system.

I'm hoping to get out soon but I need a break in the weather.
 

Fishtales

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Looks great. Interested in how it performs. Hope you are well.
 

luckydude

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Looks great. Interested in how it performs. Hope you are well.
Thanks for your concern, it actually means something to me. I seem to be getting better, there were lingering symptoms from the stroke but they _seem_ to be going away. We shall see. I'm pretty convinced the boat caused it, yeah, the vein was weak but the doctors kept asking if I did anything that pounded. Kinda hard to not see the boat as the problem.

I'm hopeful the seat will help, maybe even make that go away, but at least let me keep fishing. I'm old, don't have much going on that is as great as getting out on the ocean so I really want this to work.

I will report back as soon as I can get out there.
 
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Fishtales

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Wow, that's crazy that boating could contribute. Look forward to the report and stay well and fishing!
 
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Ryhlick

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Thanks for your concern, it actually means something to me. I seem to be getting better, there were lingering symptoms from the stroke but they _seem_ to be going away. We shall see. I'm pretty convinced the boat caused it, yeah, the vein was weak but the doctors kept asking if I did anything that pounded. Kinda hard to not see the boat as the problem.

I'm hopeful the seat will help, maybe even make that go away, but at least let me keep fishing. I'm old, don't have much going on that is as great as getting out on the ocean so I really want this to work.

I will report back as soon as I can get out there.
Lucky,
I think you are going to enjoy the sea post, definitely takes a lot of the edge off. I also use this gorilla anti-fatigue pad on the floor under the helm.

Gorilla Grip Anti Fatigue Cushioned Kitchen Floor Mats, Thick Ergonomic Standing Office Desk Mat, Waterproof Scratch Resistant Pebbled Topside, Supportive Comfort Padded Foam Rugs, 32x20, Black​

eep use posted and hang in there with your recovery.