bench seat or double pod

[two stroke mick]

I am considering installing a removal bench seat to the back of my rib. I am also considering a double pod. I have concerns that the bench seat may not be as family friendly as initial appearance. Small children and wife.

your thoughts please

[HUMBER P4VWL]

As family only come out when fair, bench is great. Had it 5 seasons now. Two jockeys with bench behind with reversible backrest to watch skiers.



Adults can hold on to handles on back of each jockey on front if needed.

[treerat]

Just taken one out of the zodiac because the kids don't like it as it's too low for sitting on when stationary for fishing (ok for me) and they were thrown about a bit as no quality handhelds when underway in anything but dead flat.

Decided that they're better off with me on the centre or standing.

I'll have one for sale in the very near future.

[bestman]

I had exactly the same problem. Jockey seats were too high for the children. I had this rear bench made for my 4.8m Ribcraft. It works very well comfortably accommodating mum and two young children.

[two stroke mick]

I am looking at the bench seat on the RC looks class. My main concern is sliding off the bench seat. This may not be a problem on large ribs but it might be on small ones

TSM

[treerat]

Originally Posted by two stroke mick

I am looking at the bench seat on the RC looks class. My main concern is sliding off the bench seat. This may not be a problem on large ribs but it might be on small ones

TSM

Here's a pic of mine before I took it out, really didn't work for me but that I know others like them, and the look of the thing was part of the reasons for the boat purchase as we hoped it would suit the kids..........

[Crusher]

I'm sure someone will come along ang correct me, but..... I think you will find all the commercial guys use pods.... I think there is a reason for that, and in my opinion I'd go for pods all the time, every time.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by Crusher

I'm sure someone will come along ang correct me, but..... I think you will find all the commercial guys use pods.... I think there is a reason for that, and in my opinion I'd go for pods all the time, every time.

It's horses for courses. Commercial guys have to go out all the time and doubtful take under 5's. for over that age I agree, for tours etc pods are best.....

Private use though..., we take our baby and under 5,s out but only when sunny and a millpond! When it's like that the bench is v useful., great for pottering and you can face backwards just to take the wind off once on the plane. It's also set a little lower so the console and higher jockeys stop most of the wind anyway.

Horses for courses. Go try them both!

[Avonfarmer]

Originally Posted by bestman

I had exactly the same problem. Jockey seats were too high for the children. I had this rear bench made for my 4.8m Ribcraft. It works very well comfortably accommodating mum and two young children.

I know it was along time ago the original thread but do you have any more pictures of the rear bench seat you had made ? It looks just right for what I’m after and I’m just wondering how and who could make it.

[bestman]

Hi Avonfarmer, the seat absolutely transformed the 4.8 to an excellent family of four boat. The seat was made by the fabricator at SAL Marine in Lymington, but he is no longer with them. I now have a 7m Coastline, SAL made me a seat which does the job, but is not nearly as nice as the one on the Ribcraft pictured. If you PM me your email I can send you some pics of both - I find it tricky uploading them to Ribnet.

[Jon Tallis]

Hi Avonfarmer. Ditto on my 5.8 Humber except mine is a GRP box / bench which also provides some well-needed dry(ish) storage. Will try and get some pics over the weekend. PM me if I forget.

[Avonfarmer]

That would be really handy if you could Jon it’s trying to think of the best most efficient solution for what area I’ve got that’s tricky.

[Jon Tallis]

Hi Afonfarmer, photos of my box seat. Was build by local laminator,sadly no longer trading but any good boatbuilder would be able to do something similar - cheaper obviously if they already have a mould the right size for you. You could try cheetah marine who bought outhill boats a while back - outhill made range of sizes.
The only thing I would change if did it again would be to make the seat a tad narrower.
BTW - Bestman - that's a real neat setup built into the a-frame [emoji106]

[Avonfarmer]

That looks a neat set up always the way bestmans guy who did his original bench seat left as well !

[tehguy]

We have a commercial Ribcraft 6.8 Pro with a bench seat and imo it was a massive mistake. We have a double console set fairly far back to allow a decent amount of working space in the bow. It's coded for 6 with shock mitigating seats at the console and a rear bench that supposed to fit 4, but realistically it'll only comfortably take 3 adults in full wet weather gear with life jackets etc. We have considered replacing the bench with two double jockey seats but as well as losing the massive storage space under the bench (the amount of kit you have to carry for cat 6 coding is wild) we're also not sure they'd even fit as the outboards will likely foul them when trimmed/tilted up.

[Orwell boy]

Originally Posted by Avonfarmer

I know it was along time ago the original thread but do you have any more pictures of the rear bench seat you had made ? It looks just right for what I’m after and I’m just wondering how and who could make it.

East coast stainless in ipswich ,industrial estate behind morrisons ,or Mr Stainless on levington marina ..........if you want a ready made glass job then have a word with xs in welwyn garden ,he often has a few seconds

[Avonfarmer]

Thanks Orwell boy I’ll give Mr stainless A bell and see what he can come up with!