jockey seats

TIM · 08 September 2002, 20:35

There seems to be many sizes of jockey seats out there on ribs , low ones, tall ones, narrow ones and wide ones. Which are the best???
I am about to start to build a fiberglass mould to turn out a couple of jockey seats for my rib, as it dosent have any, and the bench seat I have, I am moving else where on the boat, I also refuse to pay £400 for a jockey seat as I can probably build them for half that!!!!

So which shape are the best??? which height and how wide,???? Double or single seats , and how high should the back rest be???

Pete7 · 08 September 2002, 20:43

Hurray someone else who feels we are being charged over the top for a couple of hours work with some fibreglass.

If your making a double jockey seat, I would be interested in one. Personally I perfer high seats, they are more comfortable in a rough sea as your legs take some of the strain rather than your backside. If you are willing to wait a couple of days I will measure my ribtec which seem about right.

Regards Pete

TIM · 09 September 2002, 09:56

That would be great, if you could give us the sizes, I should be no problen to turn out one or two more. We wont be building them for a few weeks yet though.

John Kennett · 09 September 2002, 10:02

Not only are RIB seats expensive to buy, but many of them appear to have been designed (and I use the term loosely) by people who don't use RIBS much.

Shape
Narrow pods so you don't have to stand with youre feet way apart. Wide seats to spread the load. I prefer the pods to reach forward all the way to the console, but that's just personal preference.

Height
I'd suggest you build them so that your knee is at an angle of about 120 degrees when you sit down (don't forget to allow for the additional height of the seat cushion!). When it's rough you want to be standing anyway, and the seat needs to be more of a "perch" than a chair.

Single or double
Doesn't really matter in my opinion. If you make a double pod though, do have separate back rests otherwise it makes things very uncomfortable.

Back rests
I prefer high back rests, coming to just below the shoulder blades when sitting (you may also find that you can lean on them when standing which is a bonus)

The picture shows the layout on Phoenix, which was devised by Alan P. I've not seen it bettered, except I added the high back rests on the front pair of seats.

John

TIM · 09 September 2002, 10:19

I realy Like the seat shape, is it leaves it narrow and comfortable standing, and where you sit is wider, good idea.

What about storage, removable seat or hatch from the side???

John Kennett · 09 September 2002, 12:36

Quote:

Originally posted by TIM
I realy Like the seat shape, is it leaves it narrow and comfortable standing, and where you sit is wider, good idea.

I've not seen a better design yet. If you get a chance to look at one of the Halmatics used by the Royal Marines you'll notice that this is the design they use too.

While I'm dishing out advice here's another tip! Avoid having deep cushions made of soft foam (as seen on a number of Scorpions for instance), as it squashes down to nothing when you sit on it, and is almost useless. Go for almost solid foam as this is much better at absorbing shock. In fact what I'd really like is seating incorporating Sorbothane.

Quote:

What about storage, removable seat or hatch from the side???

Seats securely bolted down, with large hatches on one side (the inboard side where the seats are side-by-side).

Also notice the waterproff BDH containers that have been incorporated into the design. These are perfect for keeping bits and pices like phones, glasses, wallets etc completely dry yet readily to hand.

John

DM · 09 September 2002, 18:27

We have a little old man locally who specialises in retrimming classic motorcycle seats. He does a nice job at the right price.e.g. double seat and backrest refoamed and retrimmed for 25pounds. If anyone wants seats email me the base size, colour, height, soft or firm or alternatively contact him direct at J.H. Trimmings, Ashwood Marina, kingswinford, West Mids, 01384 279527. As for backrests, rather than buy bespoke items, I buy the tube at the local stockholder, and then get it bent and lugs welded by a mate with a tig welder. Much cheaper than buying off the shelf leaving more dosh for goodies. Hope this info is useful to anyone.

TIM · 09 September 2002, 18:38

Hi Dave,

have you built jockey seats for yourself???

DM · 09 September 2002, 18:59

Hiya tim. Pretty well everything on the Q boat has been made in the workshop or one of the many one man engineering shops we have locally. Working for the national illhealth service dont leave much cash over and I hate paying marine loading. Currently building an A FRAME to my own spec. Cost of 316 stainless is 22 pounds. Love it, I really do.

David ( I am not tight) Manning.

TIM · 09 September 2002, 19:52

Do you have any photos of the rib???

matiboy · 09 September 2002, 21:48

I have this seat for sale which you may be interested in, only 40 quid
see ad in parts for sale

matiboy · 09 September 2002, 21:53

Fairweather marine based at Fareham town quay, I once enquired about jockey seats and they were able to sell the glass pods and seats and backrests seperately at reasonable prices, which is a cheaper option to units ready built such as outhill which can be as much as 600 quid

Viking · 09 September 2002, 22:57

Matiboy If ypur seat is still for sale I would like it please, sorry to intrude on the thread but I totally agree with Dave and getting things fabricated away from the Marine companies.

DM · 10 September 2002, 19:02

Quote:

Originally posted by TIM
Do you have any photos of the rib???

Sorry Tim, no photos and no way of uploading. Not very good with computers I'm afraid. Incidentally, I bought the avon from a fella upgrading to a Hyuscat. I tried to persuade him to keep the avon and sell me the hyuscat but he wouldn't have it. Git!. The searider has a flooding hull which i can run wet or dry but i'm trying to figure a way to pump it out at sea or i might just fill it with beer.

matiboy · 10 September 2002, 19:33

will hold jockey seat for you and PM you.

Pete7 · 11 September 2002, 19:00

Surely the sea rider hull drains when you are up on the plane? although they did a kit to block up the holes at the back and the air holes in the bow. Colin Jones who wrote a book on ribs (Dag Pike's books are better) suggested using tennis balls ? worth a thought.

DM · 11 September 2002, 23:01

Your right pete, but this rib has the blanking plugs in with a small added drain plug in the transom blank, There is a big difference in handling, acceleration, and fuel consumption between running wet or dry, especially with 4 crew. With the way its set up, once the waters in it stays in. I suppose i could remove the plugs altogether but the boat really flies running dry. It would be nice to have the option to dump the water. Cheers Dave.

Keith Hart · 12 September 2002, 07:08

Quote:

The searider has a flooding hull

HI. Flooding hull? Us non technical chappies need an explanation...please.

Keith (mr ignorant) Hart

John Kennett · 12 September 2002, 09:29

Unlikely as it may sound, the Searider hull was designed with holes in it!

The idea was to add stability at rest by letting the hull fill up with water -- as the boat starts to plane the water then drains from a couple of openings in the transom. The obvious disadvantage is the time taken to get up to speed, as inital accelleration is a bit compromised by the ton or so of water under the deck.

Perhaps not surprisingly, it never caught on in a big way. Although some people still swear by it, you'll find many Seariders with the holes in the hull closed off with the blanking kit supplied as an option by Avon (says something about the popularity of the idea!) or simply glassed over.

John

DM · 12 September 2002, 15:45

Good explanation from JK. The boat definitely goes better with the blanking plugs in, but on the downside it is markedly more stable at rest with the hull full of water. Especially when fishing or accomodating those strange people in black,who talk in tongues using strange words like beeceedeee, narcogas etc. and take their pleasure groping around on the seabed. Basically very nice people cos they give you money for petrol. Thankyou.