Seating alternatives - KB350

[Notebook]

Hi
Love the boat, but wondered if anyone had in this boat, or on an air-deck fitted seats, possibly leaving the bench seats in place for rigidity if required?
Looking to sit lower than the bench seats provided.
Have seen some seat bases using plumbing pipe, but looking for ideas...

Thanks

[chipko]

We run our Elling without either seats fitted and just sit on the floor or tubes. Rigidity isn’t compromised running without the standard seats.

Can appreciate preferring to sit lower, and if not directly on the floor, then I’d be looking at something like an inflatable thwart type seat or a canoe/paddleboard seat with back….plenty on fleaBay. Also something like a 40mm EVA foam mechanics mat could be used or trimmed and used double/triple thickness to raise your bum off the deck. We use a Machine Mart one in our tiny rib…single thickness and still comfy.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134266800...mis&media=COPY


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354341694...mis&media=COPY


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295209041...mis&media=COPY


https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mechanics-mat/

[Notebook]

Thanks

Originally Posted by chipko

We run our Elling without either seats fitted and just sit on the floor or tubes. Rigidity isn’t compromised running without the standard seats.

Can appreciate preferring to sit lower, and if not directly on the floor, then I’d be looking at something like an inflatable thwart type seat or a canoe/paddleboard seat with back….plenty on fleaBay. Also something like a 40mm EVA foam mechanics mat could be used or trimmed and used double/triple thickness to raise your bum off the deck. We use a Machine Mart one in our tiny rib…single thickness and still comfy.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134266800...mis&media=COPY





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354341694...mis&media=COPY


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295209041...mis&media=COPY


https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mechanics-mat/

[Fenlander]

Much depends on just how low you want to sit. On our one and only proving trip with the Elling we felt very perched on top, particularly Mrs F on the bow seat. With the thick seat cushion the seat top is a bit above the very tube top, the highest of any SIB we've used.

If you were happy to make a permanent alteration you could use one of these Bengar kits and fit a seat at exactly the height you want. You buy the seat size that's just a little longer than you need and trim it down (but there might be one exactly the width you need).

https://bengar.de/en/schlauchboot-si...kit-l-280.html

I fitted one of these seat kits to my Aerotec for the helm as the Aerotec only comes with one seat. I inflated the boat in the garage and put something to sit on at various heights and then glued the Bengar seat kit where it seemed best.

Ordering was very easy from Germany and everything about the kit was really good except the glue was one part and I thought wise to use a two part.

See posts 61 & 63 in this thread for images of the job.

https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/one-pe...c-83658-2.html

[Notebook]

That would be perfect, just worried about it taking my weight. What is the stick on location bracket made of?

I agree that you feel way too high on the boat.

Would it be possible to build a more stable floor on it should I get a trailer?

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Much depends on just how low you want to sit. On our one and only proving trip with the Elling we felt very perched on top, particularly Mrs F on the bow seat. With the thick seat cushion the seat top is a bit above the very tube top, the highest of any SIB we've used.

If you were happy to make a permanent alteration you could use one of these Bengar kits and fit a seat at exactly the height you want. You buy the seat size that's just a little longer than you need and trim it down (but there might be one exactly the width you need).

https://bengar.de/en/schlauchboot-si...kit-l-280.html

I fitted one of these seat kits to my Aerotec for the helm as the Aerotec only comes with one seat. I inflated the boat in the garage and put something to sit on at various heights and then glued the Bengar seat kit where it seemed best.

Ordering was very easy from Germany and everything about the kit was really good except the glue was one part and I thought wise to use a two part.

See posts 61 & 63 in this thread for images of the job.

https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/one-pe...c-83658-2.html

[Fenlander]

The material you glue to the tube is the same as the boat is made of and if you use a two part glue it should be as strong as similar attachments seen on many new SIBs. The plastic part that screws to the seat and slides on the flap is the same as on the Elling OE seats have.

So I had no worries re strength.

Actually if you look at post 50 in that same thread you can see where I've glued an anti-rub patch on the Aerotec's original seat mounting (the seat "nuts" tent to rub into the tubes at this point). It shows the Aerotec seat mountings are no larger or stronger than the ones in the Bengar kit and they have been well tested by coming off waves for year with Mrs F on the seat!

[Notebook]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

The material you glue to the tube is the same as the boat is made of and if you use a two part glue it should be as strong as similar attachments seen on many new SIBs. The plastic part that screws to the seat and slides on the flap is the same as on the Elling OE seats have.

So I had no worries re strength.

Just looking at the kit, I see how it works, looks ideal

[Notebook]

I notice they also do this type

https://bengar.de/en/sitztrager-mit-kleber-pvc.html

[Fenlander]

Yes I looked at them but wondered if the seat could bounce out of them. More so the lower down the tube you fitted.

[chipko]

Liking the first Bengar kit there guys. Good find Fenlander.

However, not being shy of a bit of diy bodging, reckon I’d be looking to utilise the existing long seat tracks, track clamps and perhaps even the original seat boards (although perhaps more sensible to fabricate new seat boards and keep originals intact…just in case).

Anyways, this is how I’d probably go about lowering the seat. That is, if I ever wanted to.[emoji848]

[Notebook]

I guess the longer the seat track, the more adjustment for weight distribution.

Originally Posted by chipko

Liking the first Bengar kit there guys. Good find Fenlander.

However, not being shy of a bit of diy bodging, reckon I’d be looking to utilise the existing long seat tracks, track clamps and perhaps even the original seat boards (although perhaps more sensible to fabricate new seat boards and keep originals intact…just in case).

Anyways, this is how I’d probably go about lowering the seat. That is, if I ever wanted to.[emoji848]


Attachment 141748

[chipko]

Originally Posted by Notebook

Would it be possible to build a more stable floor on it should I get a trailer?

Interested to hear what you find unstable about the floor.

[Notebook]

Originally Posted by chipko

Interested to hear what you find unstable about the floor.

Nothing really - not been in one with an Alu floor.....

what am I on about

[Peter_C]

I had one of these with a comfy seat mounted on a pedestal for the front seat passenger in a 4.2m Zodiac. Other people mount two seats onto the frame, or use a single seat in the back of the boat. Worked well and the passengers felt safe inside the boat. The driver always sat on the starboard tube with a wakeboarding handle to hold onto. Often thought about building a seat mount that was slightly above the tube, utilizing a seat back.
https://www.boatstogo.com/seating-frame-for-kaboats.asp

[Tommy c]

https://youtu.be/g5M2_uAQ-Uc