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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Raised Seating in the Cockpit

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/08/2011 : 22:28:51

One thing that struck me about the '84 is how limited the visibility is when you are sitting in the cockpit seat. I found myself frequently standing or sitting on the gunwalls (sp?) to see over the cabi. Is there aftermarket raised seating at the stern like on the 250's? I know this would block the swim ladder, unless the seat folds out of the way or can be removed.

Perhaps my ignorance is keeping me from finding the right topics when I searched this one. I tried "stern seating", "cockpit seating", and a bunch of other searches, but couldn't find relevant threads. I am sure this has been hashed over many times!

- Jim
Formerly of 1984 C25 named Dragon Wing

NOTE: In my case, PLEASE don't confuse stars/number of posts with actual knowledge. On any topic.

Edited by - on

Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 02:13:41

Sure there are many companies doing this. Check Mainsheet magazine ads.

I've found this to be a good idea:

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 05:29:47

Thanks! I knew I should have grabbed a copy of Mainsheet at the show yesterday!

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 05:34:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tomas Kruska
 
I've found this to be a good idea:
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Tomas,

Are those seats in your picture commercial or did you build them? They look nice! Do you have any closeups of them?

Thanks!

Chuck

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 07:47:52

You aren't heeling hard enough. Once the boat is over and you're washing thedeck, its pretty easy to see under the sails and get a good view ahead on te low side. Alternatively, put a couple throw cushions out to sit on. The extra 3" gives you a better view over the cabin.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 09:22:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cshaw
 Are those seats in your picture commercial or did you build them?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That pic is from the SailingTexas listing that was discussed recently. You can sorta see that they added some posts for the outside-rear corners of the seats--perhaps using cut-off stanchions and bases.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 10/09/2011 09:24:20

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 09:40:49

Prospector, thanks! I KNEW I was doing something wrong!

Dave, thanks for the info. I might just have to give something like that a try.

Oh, when I woke up this morning, I realized the keywords I wanted - transom seat.

Thanks everyone!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 10:18:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimGo
 ...I realized the keywords I wanted - transom seat.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Try searching on "catbird" in the C-25 forum. (C-250s have them as factory options, so discussions on that forum won't be very helpful.)

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 10:48:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cshaw
 Are those seats in your picture commercial or did you build them?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That pic is from the SailingTexas listing that was discussed recently. You can sorta see that they added some posts for the outside-rear corners of the seats--perhaps using cut-off stanchions and bases.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Thanks Dave, yes, I can see the support posts. Hmmm, just may have to build a couple of those guys!!
Chuck

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 16:21:38

I saw a boat at the marina yesterday that had added some simple catbird seats. It looked like they were made of a piece of flat starboard or something similar and had a simple 2 piece fitting that fit over a 1" rail that could be tightened down and had a single support leg. It appeared it would be easy to just flip the seat up out of the way when not needed.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 16:55:39

As I understand it, there are two problems with the way my boat is set up. First, I have only a single rail, so sitting on top would mean foregoing the safety of a back support. The second is the height, combined with my weight, and the fact that the rail wraps without a support at the corner. That's a heavy load to put on that rail. Hmmm...will have to research this a bit more.

Dave, thanks for the keyword!

Edited by - JimGo on 10/09/2011 16:59:57

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 17:34:50

A friend of mine installed catbird seats nearly identical to the ones in the picture and boy were they uncomfortable!

Get yourself a couple of these seats (I have four of them). I usually put a type IV square throwable PFD under the rear seats to allow for better visibility. These seats are very comfortable. Just throw your feet up on the coaming and its like sitting in a recliner.

In the video below, I have my seat sitting on a TypeIV PFD which is sitting on my cockpit cushion. You'll see the top of the seat is now up to the top of the stern rail whereas in the pictures above the top of the seats are well below the top of the stern rail. To keep everything in place, I use that rubbery non-slip shelf lining.

[url="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4536671289105007193#docid=-4057230084458630944"]Autopilot in Action[/url]

Edited by - dlucier on 10/09/2011 17:43:51

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 18:16:02

One reason that the C250 has catbird seats and the C25 does not is that the C250 is wider at the stern and can accommodate them easier.
Also, you generally don't want your weight on the stern when sailing. Middle of the cockpit or just forward of center is preferable for better weight distribution.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2011 : 20:11:00

For the purposes of completeness, here are a few links:
http://catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=1514
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19782&SearchTerms=catbird

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/27/2011 : 21:22:33

I wonder if something like this would work:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=759706&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10118&subdeptNum=10822&classNum=10824

One of those bases mounted to the transom (or is that the gunwall back there?) and carrying all the weight (rather than the stern rail) could be interesting. Given the small size of the seat, it might not preclude the use of the ladder.

These are also an interesting concept:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=428706&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10118&subdeptNum=10822&classNum=10824

Not sure that I want to junk up the transom/stern pulpit with something like that, but the fact that they are so easily removed is appealing.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 05:29:17

Jim,

Since visibility over the cabintop is your main concern, keep in mind that sitting up higher in a stern rail seat may restrict visibility that much more as you couldn't easily peek under the sails sitting up that high. Also, sail trimming might be an issue as the sheets are no longer readily accessible.

I suggest you get some sea time on the boat before spending dollars making modifications, because like me, and probably more than a few others, once you get familiar with your boat, you might find out something was much ado about nothing.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 07:00:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cshaw
 ...Hmmm, just may have to build a couple of those guys!!Chuck
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Chuck: On hull #001? Wouldn't that be sorta like putting sport bucket seats in a Model T?

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 07:25:19

Sit on two or three throw cushions, as suggested above, or add a tiller extension (hiking stick) to your tiller and sit on the coaming. With a cushioning tube on the lifeline, it's reasonably comfortable.

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 08:11:06

Hey Don, what's the wire thing hanging from your stern pulpit?

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 08:25:23

Horseshoe life ring holder.

The cockpit of the 25 is very small by modern standards. Catbirds seats are ridiculous as a solution. Either appreciate them for the sea safe area that they are or change boats. My wife and I were both at 300lbs when I had mine and changed boats to a bigger cockpit so we could move around. A long seat does not a large cockpit make. ... Anonymous

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 10:46:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pastmember
 Horseshoe life ring holder.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yep.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2011 : 11:49:00

I wanted to see over the cabin top and also lean back when cruising, so I picked up a few sofa cushions at my nearby Salvation Army store, covered them with white vinyl, and use 2 as backrests against the lifeline stanchions and 2 as seat bottoms. I re-covered other fat cushions with vinyl for other crew, also.

They make sailing very comfortable, especially since I can put my feet up on the opposite side when heeling and have good support for my back, legs, and feet. With these nice cushions, the cockpit fits me like a glove, I must say! I can relax at all points of sail.

Edited by - on

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