MS400 Lower Helm seat

[Capt Mike]

Has anyone installed a seat on the lower helm station on a MS400 or 390?
I rarely use the lower helm but we are planning on doing the loop in the spring and I expect to be using the lower helm quite a bit while locking in the rivers and canals. It would be nice to have some sort of seat when using the lower helm for hours at a time.
Please post pictures if you have them

 

[DavidM]

I have seen a tall directors chair used as a lower helm seat on Mainships. You would probably need to tie it off in rough weather though.

David

 

[Blue Tortuga]

Only thing that works is tall chair. I also use a tall directors chair. Other convenient part is it folded up out of the way. We used that floor space also for dogs bed when at port. I saw one seat had a flip up off the galley counter but it wasn’t tall enough. More of a lean on seat. Then again I’ve never used the lower helm. If you Put a full enclosure on the fly. You’ll hardly use the lower helm.

 

[Capt Mike]

Lower helm seat

Only thing that works is tall chair. I also use a tall directors chair. Other convenient part is it folded up out of the way. We used that floor space also for dogs bed when at port. I saw one seat had a flip up off the galley counter but it wasn’t tall enough. More of a lean on seat. Then again I’ve never used the lower helm. If you Put a full enclosure on the fly. You’ll hardly use the lower helm.

I agree, I never use the lower helm and do have a full enclosure. But when going thru locks it would come in handy. I’ll see if I can find a directors chair that is suitable for me.

 

[sailorskip]

I just use a stool from the dinette.

 

[High Wire]

Make sure you start with your head location for proper sight lines then seat height to get your head there. Some tall chairs are still too low.

 

[Dougcole]

This is one of the reasons why we never use the lower helm. It's pretty much just wasted space on a MS400.

 

[Cartouche]

I agree, I never use the lower helm and do have a full enclosure. But when going thru locks it would come in handy. I’ll see if I can find a directors chair that is suitable for me.

We have a Directors chair, although rarely use it we are on The Rideau and when locking use the lower helm in the lock and then when clear I go back up top and Joanne holds the lower helm until I am up top communicating through our Sienna Headsets. the morale is no time to sit down below

 

[Seevee]

I had the attached chair for my 400 when I did the loop and it did find. However, in rough weather had to sit on it so it wouldn't tip over, but that was infrequent.



Used it for about half the trip and put the Engel cooler there with a few pillows and worked out better. Not the most comfy, but a great place for the cooler, and very little time at the lower helm. Just for docking and lousy weather.



And, if the wx is really rough, I'd be standing, but very rare.

 

[Dwk]

In nasty weather I use the lower helm even though we have a fully enclosed bridge. I didn't want a fixed helm seat due to limiting the useable salon area when not in use. I made one that is set up and stowed out of the way quickly with no fuss with hinges,clips or fasteners. The seat is held in place using 3/4 dowels and receiver holes in salon floor to hold the leg upright.The leg top fits into a channel in the the underside of the seat and the other side of the seat is attached to a support that is thru bolted to the salon wall and holds the seat in place in the same manner using pins and receiver holes. If you want,the seat back is reversable to look aft if left up while on the hook,etc. I'm short so the seat is 38" off the salon floor. I can see clearly yards forward of the bow and beyond. When not in use the 3 pieces fix neatly upright at the end the couch in otherwise dead space.
I milled all the pieces out of a rough pieces of Sapel which is rugged due to it's crossed grain giving it strenght. It resembles mahogany and more resistance to indentation,incredibly durable. BTW I had plently left to make a matching stool.

 

[Todd R]

I realize this may be overkill for most people, but I use my lower helm exclusively and have spent up to nine hours very comfortably in this helm chair. I purchased it it used from another Trawler Forum member. It is made by an American company called Llebroc. This is on my Mainship 34T. I used a wide plywood base so that I could move it if needed. It has never tipped, but it has slid, so I added a strap to the wall.

 

[Capt Mike]

Lower helm seat

Thanks for the input and pictures everyone/. I am going to purchase this chair and give it try. If it doesn’t work out at least I’m not out too much $.

 

[jefndeb]

I happen to mention something to the boss on a short passage about getting some kinda seat for this area and Santa stopped over with this.

Pros-

• was only $150
• pretty comfortable and wide
• Base has a large footprint
• Adjustable for others to use
• Footrest
• acts as an additional seat for whatever
  
  Cons-
  
  • Does allow mush room to get on and off
  • concerns of the not so good rubber base molding might scratch flooring, not sure
  • Could not find brown

So far so good...

 

[Dwk]

I looked at lots of seats for the lower helm but couldn’t find any that allowed proper sight lines to see past the anchor pulpit which led me to make something high enough. We also wanted the salon area behind the helm steering clear when not underway.