Winterization and Helm Seats

[tdsull]

Two thoughts / questions.

1. I am replacing my helm seats, which ones are peoples favorites? If you can please include a hyperlink. I am tall so a high back support is key

2. I am thinking about taking the top of my sea strainer to a machine shop and having a garden hose thread tapped into the top of the strainer. I might just end up having a hole drilled through with a nut brazed to the backside. Thought is to simplify fresh water flushing and winterizing.

Any thoughts?

[Jeremyvmd]

They offer that mod premade so you don't have to do it yourself. That way you always have the factory one to go back to. As far as seats go. Do you want reclining? Flip up bolster? Budget?

[tdsull]

I haven't seen the modified premade strainer top, where might I find that?

Reclining would be nice but not necessary. I open to spending 350 or so for each.
Thanks

[Jeremyvmd]

There are two I have found. I know at least one member who has each of them as liked them. Second ones come in a high back as well. I know tag team has a set he likes but they are a little more expensive
http://www.pontoonstuff.com/collections ... tain-chair

http://www.iboats.com/Low-Back-Reclinin ... _id.924038

As far as the covers I can't seem to find them. But I've seen them before for the perko strainers. I did find the ones for grocco strainers. I'll keep looking

[MadMoney]

Those seats look very comfortable.... I wonder how much additional room they take up over the stock ones, I need to go measure!

[Pitou]

Both of your projects had hit my list at one time or another and I have a library of pictures.
There use to be a company called ThoroFlush that made flush caps for Perko strainers, but have since gone out of business.

I had Perkos on my 2002 28TE. If you have a Perko or a Groco strainer, it would be easy to replicate the ThoroFlush using some standard bronze plumbing fittings by drilling a hole in the Perko cap, threading it for a nipple to a standard hose connection with a shutoff valve in between. Here are a couple of pictures of one of my ThoroFlush units:

CIMG1907.JPG

CIMG1909.JPG

With Groco strainers you have at least three options:
1). Buy a bronze cap and do the same as described and shown above.
2). Add a "Groco Flush Kit" unit to to the top of the sea strainer seacock. This unit can also be used as an emergency seawater evac of the bilge and for winterizing. If you have a Groco this is the best and most permanent way to go and are available in all sizes.
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... id=2755962

Groco Engine Flush Kit.jpg

3). Purchase a ready made "Trac-Flush Cap" / these are plastic Groco caps drilled and threaded with a 3/4 nipple. Adding a double ended female hose connection will effectively get you where you need to go. I utilize one of these for my generator and my AC to fresh water flush and winterize. They are available in all strainer sizes.
http://trac-online.com/product/trac-flushcaps

Trac Flushcap.jpg

The pontoon boat seats are great options. A bunch of guys on the DownEast Boat Forum have gone with the Lexington that Jeremy posted from iboats. They have all had good luck with them. There are four different configurations to choose from with that seat plus with or without arms: Low Back, Low Back with headrest, High Back, High Back with headrest.
I'm seriously considering replacing my original Albin Bristol Cushions deluxe helmseat with the Low Back with headrest & arms.
Here's a picture and a dimensional drawing:

Lexington Helm Seat.jpg

Lexington Helm Seat Dimensions.jpg

[tdsull]

Those seats are light years ahead of my original seats, cant wait.

Pitou, your pics are exactly what I was thinking. I hadn't thought about shut off valve in between. Very cool.

The threaded connection leaving my strainer is 2" and the hose barb is 1 3/4". The Groco inlets and outlets are the same, so I was looking into a reducing bushing when the concept of modifying the top of the strainer came up. I don't believe the top of my strainer is threaded so the tract flush adapter wont work.

Thanks for all the ideas, so helpful. I will post a pic of the final condition, what ever I decide.

[Pitou]

Those seats are light years ahead of my original seats, cant wait.

Pitou, your pics are exactly what I was thinking. I hadn't thought about shut off valve in between. Very cool.

The threaded connection leaving my strainer is 2" and the hose barb is 1 3/4". The Groco inlets and outlets are the same, so I was looking into a reducing bushing when the concept of modifying the top of the strainer came up. I don't believe the top of my strainer is threaded so the tract flush adapter wont work.

Thanks for all the ideas, so helpful. I will post a pic of the final condition, what ever I decide.

Considering the vintage year of your boat .. a 2000 I believe from a previous post:

If the top cap of your strainer is threaded you have a Groco strainer.
If the top cap of your strainer is not and like the ThoroFlush cap pictured above you have a Perko strainer.

Enjoy your projects!

[Pedro]

Please post a pic of your new seats if you do them, I'm considering replacing mine,not sure what will look good and hold up, I saw a seat at the Stamford Ct fall boat show from Arrigoni design that was great,$1300 each boat show special price!Too much cabbage for me!