Boat Safety..Briving Blind...I am Guilty.....

[Cane Pole]

Miss Slab report about the incident inspired me to share this info. I meant for this to be a new post. Sorry Slab.

I have had some near misses in my life while driving boats. Most were due to driving blind or near blind. By this, I mean driving with the front seat up and looking around it to see where I was going. We are all guilty of this to some extent.

Even today, with the seat folded and buttoned down, my view is somewhat blocked. For a clear, unobstructed front view, I must pull the seat pole then drop the seat.

Half the time, I can't get the seat loose from the pole or the pole removed from the deck. It is aggravating (and here lies the danger).

I have looked at a gas lift seat, but it doesn't lower far enough to help with visibility.

I am working on my own gas lift seat. It will mount partially under the front deck. I don't have a clue as to how I am gonna do it, but I think I am on the right track here. Nothing out there on the market that I really like.

My computer desk chair is my inspiration. It has a gas cylinder lift. I should be able to build this lift for 20 to 30 bucks.

I am open for logical suggestions.

[CrappiePappy]

bet you could mfg something on the order of this (and for a good bit less $$$)

http://www.kwikdrop.com/

... cp

[PanMan_VA]

Cane Pole,

To drop the seat close to the deck will require about 18" of travel. You will probably need to mount the gas cylinder on its side with some sort of scissors jack to get the vertical travel you need given the limited travel of the gas cylinder. Of course, the cylinder will need to hold over 2000 pounds if it is going to carry the load or you will need a locking device to take the load off a lower capacity cylinder when the desired height is reached. I would use a safety factor of 10 for my components and calculations.

A lead screw with an electric motor is another option. This could look almost like a scissors car jack. All you have to do is get the gearing correct for the torque the motor can provide. You can mount the jack upside down under the deck and have it raise and lower a post to adjust seat height. Don't forget to add a clutch and some limit switches to keep from tearing things up when the travel extremes are reached. Push a button and it goes up; push another button and it goes down. You can add a second set of buttons at the steering console so the seat can be raised/lowered when you forget do so from the front.

Send us pictures of your latest invention.

[pstone]

I am guilty also. The way my jon boat is set up, I'm almost completely bild if there is more than one person in the boat. I bet I'm more careful now.....

[Cane Pole]

Cane Pole,

To drop the seat close to the deck will require about 18" of travel. You will probably need to mount the gas cylinder on its side with some sort of scissors jack to get the vertical travel you need given the limited travel of the gas cylinder. Of course, the cylinder will need to hold over 2000 pounds if it is going to carry the load or you will need a locking device to take the load off a lower capacity cylinder when the desired height is reached. I would use a safety factor of 10 for my components and calculations.

A lead screw with an electric motor is another option. This could look almost like a scissors car jack. All you have to do is get the gearing correct for the torque the motor can provide. You can mount the jack upside down under the deck and have it raise and lower a post to adjust seat height. Don't forget to add a clutch and some limit switches to keep from tearing things up when the travel extremes are reached. Push a button and it goes up; push another button and it goes down. You can add a second set of buttons at the steering console so the seat can be raised/lowered when you forget do so from the front.

Send us pictures of your latest invention.

What ya think about this. It should be easy to mount/configure. It is 6 inches compressed and has a lift of 15 inches. I can hide it and make it look good. 100 bucks. My life or someone else's is worth the money.

[Eager Beaver]

For my money I would go with the kwikdrop seat. It is quick and sure. Anytime you add a motor or cylinder to anything it will take time to deploy. How many would want to spend the extra time waiting on the seat to get in place to start fishing when they can just lift up on the chair and have it in place in no time at all. No muss, no fuss.
I stand most of the time while fishing and use a butt seat on a stand-up pole. It is up out of my view while running from spot to spot.

[Cane Pole]

Beaver, I think you and pappy are right. I couldn't get CPs link to work from school. I am gonna order this and give it a try. I am running out of "free labor" time.

I wish I could stand up all day, but I just finished my last rebuild surgery on my foot. Nine foot surgeries, both hips replaced, shoulder rebuilt, hand rebuilt. I don't need any injury. Had a little accident in Southeast Asia in the 60's. ha

BPS is stocking this thing now.

[Phantom309]

Don't have that problem with my boat.
And, that's a big reason why I fell in love with it.
This is a pic of a friend of mine sitting in it.

[PanMan_VA]

What ya think about this. It should be easy to mount/configure. It is 6 inches compressed and has a lift of 15 inches. I can hide it and make it look good. 100 bucks. My life or someone else's is worth the money.

It will work although it may take some time to travel from limit to limit. I was looking at the Kwikdrop for my boat as well. For now, I just keep the pins lubricated so the post is easy to get in and out.

[Cane Pole]

It will work although it may take some time to travel from limit to limit. I was looking at the Kwikdrop for my boat as well. For now, I just keep the pins lubricated so the post is easy to get in and out.

Yep on the time. I didn't know about this Kwickdrop. I got one ordered from BPS so I could use my discount.

For turnkey, it is not a bad price.