Wide, classic style boat (helm) seats?

[klas233]

I am looking for a wide helm seat with a classic look but I'm having a very hard time finding anything online. I'd prefer 1.5 - 2 person seat with a vintage style as it is going into a 70's Formula. The pictures show examples of what I'm searching for.
Does anyon have ideas about where these can be bought? Many thanks in advance.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the seats you have posted are old Garelick seats. the seating division was sold to TACO and became TACO Seating almost 2 years ago

the simple seats like that would be cheapest from your local canvas and upholstry shop as there are lots of mom-n-pop shops that build them now that most of the seat companies with overhead have abandoned them.

Iboats does carry some similar https://www.iboats.com/shop/boat-seats/swing-back-cooler-boat-seats.html

that stated, if you are a DIY guy. buy the arm rest brackets and the back brackets. get a few chunks of starboard and some foam and make it.

TACO Marine | Seating Hardware TACO Marine

Everything you may need for your Helm Chair or Leaning Post can be found right here in the Hardware section of Seating.

tacomarine.com

Depending on where you are, we can recommend a shop or three

 

[itxone]

the seats you have posted are old Garelick seats. the seating division was sold to TACO and became TACO Seating almost 2 years ago

the simple seats like that would be cheapest from your local canvas and upholstry shop as there are lots of mom-n-pop shops that build them now that most of the seat companies with overhead have abandoned them.

Iboats does carry some similar https://www.iboats.com/shop/boat-seats/swing-back-cooler-boat-seats.html

that stated, if you are a DIY guy. buy the arm rest brackets and the back brackets. get a few chunks of starboard and some foam and make it.

TACO Marine | Seating Hardware TACO Marine

Everything you may need for your Helm Chair or Leaning Post can be found right here in the Hardware section of Seating.

tacomarine.com

Depending on where you are, we can recommend a shop or three

I'm curious how comfortable those cooler seats would be as helm seating. I was thinking about replacing my helm seat with a swiveling bucket seat but the cooler option would a big space saver. My only concern would be that it doesn't sit high enough. I'll have to take some measurements and see.. Sorry for the thread jack..

 

[Scott Danforth]

I'm curious how comfortable those cooler seats would be as helm seating. I was thinking about replacing my helm seat with a swiveling bucket seat but the cooler option would a big space saver. My only concern would be that it doesn't sit high enough. I'll have to take some measurements and see.. Sorry for the thread jack..

both the wide helm seat and the cooler seats are equally comfortable. about as comfortable as sitting on the floor with nothing else but a thin blanket.

 

[cptbill]

You might be able to find what your looking for at a marine salvage yard the have it upholstered to your liking. My brother-in-law uses one of those, it's not terrible but if it was me I would have built a little platform to attach it too so it's higher

 

[klas233]

the seats you have posted are old Garelick seats. the seating division was sold to TACO and became TACO Seating almost 2 years ago

the simple seats like that would be cheapest from your local canvas and upholstry shop as there are lots of mom-n-pop shops that build them now that most of the seat companies with overhead have abandoned them.

Iboats does carry some similar https://www.iboats.com/shop/boat-seats/swing-back-cooler-boat-seats.html

that stated, if you are a DIY guy. buy the arm rest brackets and the back brackets. get a few chunks of starboard and some foam and make it.

TACO Marine | Seating Hardware TACO Marine

Everything you may need for your Helm Chair or Leaning Post can be found right here in the Hardware section of Seating.

tacomarine.com

Depending on where you are, we can recommend a shop or three

Many thanks for your reply, Scott. Very informative!

I’m afraid we have very few, if any, such mom-n-pop shops over here in Sweden. The upholstery shops we do have are very expensive (my last bill was $6500 for new vinyl on my bench and two seats). Asking them to build a new seat would be ridiculously expensive.

I had hoped to just be able to order a wide helm seat somewhere online but your post has really got me thinking about building one myself instead. The TACO website that you referred to shows the backrest support hardware I’d need ( https://tacomarine.com/taco-seating-hardware-m20-0035 ) but ordering a pair seems to be difficult. They’re just nowhere to be found online! (I’ve only found a single suspicious-looking web site selling them but the web site has gotten several scam warnings so I will stay away from them). I’ve also written directly to TACO but they only accept $1000+ orders.

But I’ll keep looking, I know what I need now. Hopefully I’ll come across a pair somewhere so that I can start building the seat as a winter project.

 

[klas233]

I'm curious how comfortable those cooler seats would be as helm seating. I was thinking about replacing my helm seat with a swiveling bucket seat but the cooler option would a big space saver. My only concern would be that it doesn't sit high enough. I'll have to take some measurements and see.. Sorry for the thread jack..

No worries at all. I was wondering if I could use only the seat of one of those cooler seats to build the helm seat I'd like. So skipping the cooler and using two pedestals instead.

 

[klas233]

You might be able to find what your looking for at a marine salvage yard the have it upholstered to your liking. My brother-in-law uses one of those, it's not terrible but if it was me I would have built a little platform to attach it too so it's higher

Thanks, that's a very good suggestion. I will have a look at their web sites to see if I can find anything.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Many thanks for your reply, Scott. Very informative!

I’m afraid we have very few, if any, such mom-n-pop shops over here in Sweden. The upholstery shops we do have are very expensive (my last bill was $6500 for new vinyl on my bench and two seats). Asking them to build a new seat would be ridiculously expensive.

I had hoped to just be able to order a wide helm seat somewhere online but your post has really got me thinking about building one myself instead. The TACO website that you referred to shows the backrest support hardware I’d need ( https://tacomarine.com/taco-seating-hardware-m20-0035 ) but ordering a pair seems to be difficult. They’re just nowhere to be found online! (I’ve only found a single suspicious-looking web site selling them but the web site has gotten several scam warnings so I will stay away from them). I’ve also written directly to TACO but they only accept $1000+ orders.

But I’ll keep looking, I know what I need now. Hopefully I’ll come across a pair somewhere so that I can start building the seat as a winter project.

nothing special about the brackets. its 1/2 x 2" radius bar (rounded edges), with a 4" bend radius. they also make a stainless 3/8" x 2 version

seating in general is not special, or difficult. about 20 years ago, the transition went from Plywood to Starboard or PVC Proboard (if there is a structural frame)

the foam is cut 1/4" bigger than the substrate, and the skin is dragged over and stapled.

$6500 does seam high as new would be much less.

other marine companies that sell seats are Llebroc, https://www.llebroc.com/ (made in mexico)

Taylor Made https://www.taylormadeproducts.com/products/marine-furniture-and-seating (made in Florida)

Weis https://wiseseats.com/ (sold here thru iBoats)