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Guys,
I have been having a hard time deciding how to make my 1984 Outrage 20 more comfortable for fishing. It is especially difficult hear on Long Island because I fish the inlets and the current is very fast so I have to keep pulling in the lines and moving up stream.
I have coolers, but it is a pain to keep taking them out and putting awau. I have also tried folding chairs, but they are also hard to get out of the way too. A stern seat probably wouldn't help either.
The Reversible Pilot Seat seems like a great solution, but I have heard a lot of people say they don't like them when cruising.

I would love to hear some input on this subject. Do you fisherman like the RPS?
Pros and cons will be very helpful. Thanks.

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Roger,

That is always a tough question and it can vary on how or what a person fishes.
Trolling as opposed to casting and retrieving or fly fishing.
Also depends how many people are fishing.
I don't think there is an exact solution for everyone.

For 2 people trolling, Captains chairs are great.
The Captain steers the boat however they want there seat facing and the other person can swivel the seat straight back and watch for "Fish On"...

For 3 people, the RPS is good.
Captain stands up and rests their rear on the RPS seat back when it is tilted forward.
The other two sit on the RPS bench seat facing rear.
I also do use a fold up chair or a cooler from time to time for the 3rd person facing rear.
The cooler comes in handy for the fresh caught salmon.

4 people is tougher.
I like the RPS for two people and then an Igloo cooler right behind the RPS which the other two people sit on facing rear.

That's the most people I fish with so I can't tell you much more from my perspective.

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Thanks Joe. I mostly drift. But like I said, when drifting in the inlets, the water is moving very fast. And I mostly fish with one other person. Occasionaly 2 others and myself.
I think the RPS is the coolest looking seat for a Boston Whaler and they seem like they would function best for my type of fishing. But I remember some people complaining that they didn't like the feel of piloting at high speed while sitting down in the RPS. Is it possible to lock the RPS forward so it can be used as a leaning post?

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I know folks that bungie the seat forward and use it as a leaning post. I got a cushion from Halls. I actually sit down to pilot the boat, assuming the water isn't rough, the cushion makes it really comfy.

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Is it more comfortable to stand when the water is too rough to sit in the RPS?

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I had an RPS in my old Sakonnet and my brother in law had one in his Montauk. It is a good seat for fishing. It was especially nice for rigging fishing lines in water that was less than calm.

Operating the boats on plane though, we almost always were standing. If calm enough, you could sit on the cushion, but I always seemed to feel a little uncomfortable with the forward visibility while seated. Also, if calm enough or while trolling, you could perch on top of the seat back. Not the most comfortable position, but enough to take a little load off of the feet.

My Outrage has a pretty good sized leaning post. It is mainly used for dry storage within. Other than the ice chests on board, no other seating is available. After 10 hours on the water today, I sure think about some other form of seating to add. My feet are still hurting from standing all day (still too cold to wear my Crocs).

I have always liked the idea of the fold down stern seat. I really like the design Jeff used on his 22, but after examining how I use my boat, I am not sure it would fit the bill for me. I guess folding camp chairs will have to suffice for a while longer.

Doug

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It is more comfy to stand in rough water, not doubt there. Halls also makes a cushion for the top of the RPS, so you can use it as a leaning post. I opted not o get one at this point but I might in the future. I also have never replaced the rod holders in my RPS, once i do, I will probably go with Lee's 90 degree flat ones. I had a photo of the cushion for the top of the RPS, I will look to see if I can find it.

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Thanks Kamie, Pics would be helpful.
Can anyone tell me who I identify the correct RPS for my 1984 Outrage 20.
Also, are there any benifits to buying a new RPS over buying the period correct one?

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The correct version for you 1984 is the one with the teak back and brown legs. If you like the twin cushion look you can always get one of the Newport ones, like jeff's.

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Roger,

Here is a photo of the RPS that was period correct for your boat.
This RPS is mine and I have installed the Lee's rod holders as kamie mentions above.
These rod holders are NOT original style but I prefer them to the original Perko's that stick up and made my arm sore....

[img]http://www.whalercentral.com/images/ppimages/4/lees-rodholders.jpg[/img]

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That sure is a good looking seat Joe. Do you still have one of those for sale?

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I have the 21 Outrage - with the RPS Seat with no seat back. (kind of like a bench)

There is a reason the RPS seat & parts are still manufactured by whaler and have been a part of there product line all of these years - The RPS seat is the most versatile well designed pilot seats made.

I have been debating adding the flip backrest (back)... The last owner removed the back rest - as he felt it gave him more room & could sit in any direction. I wish he sold it to me with the boat.

Anyway, the RPS seat is a no brainer for someone that isn't sure what they want. You can sit fwd or back, use it as a leaning post, get extra quick storage in the backrest, and fit gas tanks or cooler under it without taking up extra space.

Two suggestions - Put the RPS up on blocks to make the seat a bit taller & if you have the back rest, the cushions really make it much more comfortable.

If you are a hard core fisherman and don't need a place for your wife to sit... get a leaning post.

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I'm thinking the RPS and the fold down stern seat would be best for pleasure and fishing.

My concerns for both are how well they will hold up in rough water.

Does anyone have experience with using the RPS as a leaning post in rough water?
I like to stand when I'm fighting rough water, and I do lean and bounce against the leaning post.
I am a big heavy guy so if it won't stand up to the pressure, I don't want to waste my time and money.

Also, I'm wondering how well the folding stern will hold up in rough water. The original folding legs look like they might not withstand much. Jeff's cooler idea looks like it could withstand more, but you lose some of the benifits of the folding seat since you have to find someplace out of the way for the coolers.

Any input about that will be very helpful for me.

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Arthur -

Both my Montauk and Outrage 17 have an RPS. I am 6'2 and 170 dripping wet. At the stock height, I can "sit" on the top of the backrest. I moved the handles to the top corners (covering the rod holders) to give me more room.

I think the stock RPS is positioned farther back than your leaning post. To use it as a true leaning post, the arms need to be locked down somehow.

In rough water, I don't lean against the backrest since it is a behind me a bit.

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Thanks CBO, I didn't think the RPS could be used as a leaning post, but people claim they can all the time.
When in rough water, would you rather have a leaning post to lean against?
Do you sit when in rough water?