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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Nauti Duck Folding Helmsman Seat

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/20/2007 : 13:32:12

We love our wheel steering but have found that the fuel locker makes a poor seat for the helmsman. It is far too low. Standing is fine, and makes me feel like Captain Jack Sparrow, but it gets tiring. Sitting on the cockpit bench also works but I wanted a helmsman’s seat in the proper place.

Other C250 owners have come up with innovative approaches using hammock-like setups, coolers, coolers mod’ed into fuel lockers, etc. For my solution three criteria had to be met. First, I need easy and quick access to the fuel locker. Second, I want the seat to be rugged. Third, it has to involve lots of Stainless Steel! The result is the Nauti Duck Folding Helmsman Seat.

One side note. I envy people who fabricate. We have seen examples of that recently with folks doing links between their rudders and outboards. I am not a fabricator. I am more of a find-the-pieces-and-assemble-them kind of guy.

Here is the Garhauer “Fighting Chair” that forms the basis of the project:

After removing the seat and cushion (too large) I was left with the tubing that I wanted.

I cut the tubing shorter and added a SS bimini fittings that have a ¼” hole. The actual seat material is from a custom cutting board outlet I found online. They also made my cockpit table surface.

These are the Edson mounts that will go on the stern rail. They also have ¼” holes. A ¼” SS rod will tie the chair to the rail fittings.

Here is the Nauti Duck Folding Helmsman Seat installed.

The seat folded up to allow easy access to the fuel locker.

The area of connection to the stern rail (from above) – a plethora of Stainless Steel including the stern rail, bimini fitting, Edson rail fittings, and ¼” SS rod. Did I mention I love stainless steel?

I’m sure this seat will add pleasure to our sailing and will help elevate the Admiral and my daughter to a level where driving the boat is more practical and fun. If you are interested in doing a similar project I can give you all the part numbers and suppliers. Once I had all the materials I put about 3-4 hours into the project. Total cost was about $250 of which the Garhauer chair was about $170. A fabricator could get his own SS tubing and do it for less.

We cannot direct the winds but we can adjust our sails.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 07/20/2007 13:39:10

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2007 : 15:55:55

Randy, very nice and clean looking mod. I love it + it's very shiney.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2007 : 16:11:22

Very nice! Looks like it belongs there.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 07/20/2007 16:14:17

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2007 : 20:08:27

Looks top drawer .....using your past philosophy better put a SS tag on it, NOT to be used in high seas or some highly pathetically injury will happen.
paulj