Helm Chairs

[loubennett]

I am planning to upgrade my helm chairs this winter. I have seen some at helmchair.com that look like they would work well. They are the Sailfish model that is offered with and without a flip up bolster. They didn't have that model in their booth at the Annapolis Power Boat Show, so I haven't had a chance to try them. I'm a little reluctant to order chairs I haven't sat in. Does anyone have these helm chairs in their boat? What do you think of them? I'd also be interested to hear about other helm chairs that you like.

[Cape Codder]

What helm chairs do you currently have?

I have the Bristol Cushion Deluxe Helm Chairs w/ padded arms.
Fantastic in my opinion. I highly recommend them, and so do my guests.
Lots of great comments on their comfort.

[loubennett]

I have the base boat roto-molded seats with snap on cushions. I have looked at the Bristol Cushions web site and they have very nice products. I was particularly interested in their top end seat that has the option of a flip up bolster. That design, it seems to me makes the transition from driving standing to seated quite smooth without the need to adjust the slide. When I priced those seats I lost interest. They were around $2,000 each. I didn't price the seats mentioned. Do you have a rough price?

[Elizabeth Ann]

I have the base boat roto-molded seats with snap on cushions. I have looked at the Bristol Cushions web site and they have very nice products. I was particularly interested in their top end seat that has the option of a flip up bolster. That design, it seems to me makes the transition from driving standing to seated quite smooth without the need to adjust the slide. When I priced those seats I lost interest. They were around $2,000 each. I didn't price the seats mentioned. Do you have a rough price?

Hi Loubennet,

I used to have the rotomold seats too and I upgraded to chairs made by Bristol about two years ago. They had them made and shipped to me in just about 2 weeks. The cost was ~500/chair (I think it was called the deluxe helm). Though I do like these chairs very much and recommend them, its backing is wood and the seat material is stapled underneath. So in time, you'll potentially be looking at loosening staples, pulling material, and though not very likely in the pilot house of the Albin rotting wood if it gets wet often (i.e. if your one of those guys that hoses everything down when cleaning the boat).

I think the next time around I'll opt for a higher end Garelick which has no wood construction.

[loubennett]

Thanks for the input. I think I want to steer away from anything with wood in the construction. I took a look at the Garelick web site and the have a virtually identical seat to the one I saw at helchair.com with a Llebroc brand on it. It may be the same seat marketed under a different name or they may have copied the design. The one obvious difference is that helmchair has it in a variety of colors and Garelick seems to just have white.