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Back Support on bench seats
zenchemical	#1  Posted on 07/30/18 - 12:07 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/07/18	Hi there. I've had my 1982 15' Sport for a couple of months. Mostly we're using it to putt around the San Juan Islands, since we have a house up there. Recently, I did a slightly longer trip than we had done before, something between 90-120 minutes for two people, from Lopez to Sucia island. The boat handled the chop really well, but I found that both me and my wife needed better back support on the bench seats. I've seen the specialty marine solution, but I'm wondering what other people have done to make the seats more comfortable for slightly longer trips. I'm also not 100% sure I believe that it's going to be particularly supportive just being held in by the seat. I'd also like to figure out if there's a more comfortable solution for up in the bow, if one were to sit there. You end up getting bounced around a bit, but it seems like with the right solution it could be better. Thanks. Sean
tedious	#2  Posted on 07/30/18 - 4:10 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1072 Comments: 2 Joined: 09/07/08	Sean, do you have cushions on the seats and in the bow? Those should help and while not cheap, are relatively easy to install. On my Supersport I raised the interior 2 inches and installed a folding seat back - that took a bit more work, but improved comfort significantly for me. You can see some pictures on my personal page. I have seen people bolt plastic seats to the wood but that looks pretty lame. You could also go for a full custom interior if you have the time and patience.
wlagarde	#3  Posted on 07/30/18 - 11:13 AM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 442 Comments: 2 Joined: 07/21/13	I added the specialty backrest to the helm thwart seat on my 1976 Sport 15. The wood screws provided with it weren’t strong enough so I converted to flat head stainless machine screws bolted through the seat into the brackets. Cushion covers these so you don’t see them although they look fine. Extremely solid installed this way. 1976 Sport 15 w/ 2005 50hp Nissan 2 stroke
tedious	#4  Posted on 07/30/18 - 1:37 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1072 Comments: 2 Joined: 09/07/08	Well oops - I see you have a Sport, not a Supersport. In that case, raising the thwarts to the top of the sideboards and adding seat backs and possibly cushions will make a ton of difference. For the bow, the triangular cushion makes it a nice place to sit.
Joe Kriz	#5  Posted on 07/30/18 - 3:48 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	The 15' Super Sport was not made until 1984 http://www.whalercentral.com/userphot...lbum_id=44 Unless he has a typo in the year, then he has a Sport model.
zenchemical	#6  Posted on 07/30/18 - 11:05 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/07/18	Thanks, I appreciate the comments. I actually didn't know there was a triangular bow cushion, that will help I think. Couple of other questions Is the $200 seat back worth it? What does 'full custom interior' mean, would this be having a marine shop redo all the seat mounts? Thanks Sean
zenchemical	#7  Posted on 07/31/18 - 12:06 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/07/18	Tedious, I looked at your profile. is that side rail a stock piece, or did you mill it yourself? The reason I ask is, I have straight side rails and the bench is screwed to the top of them. It would be cool to have the curve up the side and support a potential back rest better than just the L brackets. Sean
Joe Kriz	#8  Posted on 07/31/18 - 12:44 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	Sean, You have a 15' Sport model with the optional Bow Rail. http://www.whalercentral.com/userphot...lbum_id=40 We don't know the year yet as you haven't given us any info from the boat. http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...cle_id=109 Tedious has a Super Sport model which has a different rail system with bow and side rails in one piece and a different pilot bench seat with storage. http://www.whalercentral.com/userphot...lbum_id=44
tedious	#9  Posted on 07/31/18 - 1:04 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1072 Comments: 2 Joined: 09/07/08	Sean, by "full custom interior" I was referring to designing something yourself, and then either building it or having it built. In my opinion, having a seat back to brace against is significantly easier on one's back than sitting on a simple thwart. And increased seat height helps too. Are your thwarts mounted at the top or the bottom of the side rails?
Joe Kriz	#10  Posted on 07/31/18 - 1:16 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	So we are all on the same page here and NOT talking about Stainless Steel Bow or Side Rails, the side wood pieces are called "Clamps", Port and Starboard. See the download section here for Parts Manuals and information on various hulls. http://www.whalercentral.com/download...p?cat_id=3
zenchemical	#11  Posted on 07/31/18 - 6:45 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/07/18	Rear thwart is screwed into the rear part of the clamp ; front thwart is slid underneath a slot formed by the front part.
max366	#12  Posted on 08/01/18 - 2:01 PM
Member Posts: 77 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/02/15	I had a similar issue with the seats in my former 2002 130 Sport- no backrests. I designed and added them- used powder coated stainless brackets I bought from Great Lakes Skipper and then had a local shop make the custom backrest cushions. The brackets are screwed to the underside of the seat with large SS bolts plus I applied solvent based urethane construction adhesive to the bracket/underseat for a stronger attachment. The backrest cushions are attached with stainless screws. Turned out great and very comfortable. Total cost was about $200. Another option to consider.
max366	#13  Posted on 08/01/18 - 2:05 PM
Member Posts: 77 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/02/15	tried to post a pic of 30kb size- it wouldn't work. contact me if you would like to see it
Joe Kriz	#14  Posted on 08/01/18 - 5:08 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	One of easiest for zenchemical is mentioned by wlagarde above in post #3. Maybe not the cheapest though. http://www.specialtymarine.com/BOSTON...p1044.html And cushions in Off White or Parchment & Brown http://www.specialtymarine.com/BOSTON...-p599.html
Joe Kriz	#15  Posted on 08/01/18 - 5:10 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	max366 wrote: tried to post a pic of 30kb size- it wouldn't work. contact me if you would like to see it Max, Their can be no spaces or characters in the name of the photo. whaler 13'.jpg will NOT work Whaler13.jpg will work etc.
max366	#16  Posted on 08/01/18 - 6:19 PM
Member Posts: 77 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/02/15	Thanks Joe - here's another try with the pic max366 attached the following image: [29.97Kb]
zenchemical	#17  Posted on 08/01/18 - 7:57 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/07/18	I'm going to try the specialty marine solution and see how it goes. Thanks. _Sean
KeithMarcy	#18  Posted on 07/24/19 - 10:45 AM
Member Posts: 1 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/24/19	Joe, Replying to an older post of the backrest you added. Do you have any photos of the back side of the back rest to see how it was mounted? Keith