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Bow Seats for PDQ 36

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:16 am
by Root
We always wanted places to sit in the bow and we had them on our previous cat. Of course we didn’t want to spend a lot of money. The following design was achieved at less than $100 cost while keeping function and minimizing weight forward.

The first thing we did early on in anticipation of bow seats and to strengthen the bow rails was to brace the forward pulpits laterally to minimize the safety line droop forward. This droop was exasperated by the installation of two additional turning blocks for the roller furling. To reduce the tripping hazard (the line lead directly across the trampoline to the furling drum) we added turning blocks paralleling the hull shape and up the pulpit there by giving a fairlead up the forward rail then to the furling gear.

The seats are mounted between the pulpit rails over the bows. We wanted as simple and robust a design as practicable as well as the ability of benefit of pivoting them out of the way for access to the forward cleats and anchor roller.

I think the photos best tell the story and all parts are available from marine suppliers. We used ½ inch Starboard for the seat which we had to later reinforce with a wooden stiffener. We had lots of the ½ stuff so………. However, I recommend you spring for the ¾ inch Starboard if you want to build bow seats like ours and forgo the stiffener. We will gladly entertain your questions. I believe, as the skipper, if the first mate likes the project, you have a winner. We are limited to just 3 images here but detailed fabrication images will be published in the newsletter.

Re: Bow Seats for PDQ 36

Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:53 pm
by eepstein
The newsletter is underway. Bonnie wants seats even more now.

Bow Seats for PDQ 36: Pulpit rails still available for refit

Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:27 am
by maxicrom
Probably James is the person who would know, if the forward pulpits are still available - our model is the older style where the lifelines go from deck up to the first post (stantion). It would be nice to be able to have forward lifelines (and possibly bow seats), there are many days we are waitnig for one of the dogs to slide right over crossmember.

Thanks,

Mike

Re: Bow Seats for PDQ 36

Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 8:18 pm
by Lady of the Lake
Here is how we did ours. I bent a rail myself and attached a cross rail to hold the seat. I removed the forward-most lifeline stanchion and attached the aft end of the new rail section to that stanchion mount. I added a new stanchion mount to attach the forward end of the new rail and then attached the seat to that new rail. Then I attached the lifelines directly to the new rail section. Picture shows it much better than I am explaining it.

Sam