Securing seats in Spindrift

[davidpm]

I'm fitting the center and aft removable seats now.

I'm wondering if they have a tendency to float away especially if young folks are using the boat.

Anyone figure out a way to latch them in place so even in a dump they will stay put?

[Greg Luckett]

Which Spindrift are you building?  The S12 does not have removable seats, which I am building, or I have really screwed up understanding the plan. ???

[davidpm]

10N

[Greg Luckett]

The center seat makes sense to be removable, but why is the rear seat also removable?  Is it so the two halves can then be nested?  Looking at the 10N pics (so far) it is not obvious since the halves are shown assembled, sitting apart and then nested.

I am not now worried that I was misreading the prints for the 12.  Thanks!

[davidpm]

The center seat makes sense to be removable, but why is the rear seat also removable?  Is it so the two halves can then be nested?  Looking at the 10N pics (so far) it is not obvious since the halves are shown assembled, sitting apart and then nested.

I am not now worried that I was misreading the prints for the 12.  Thanks!

Yes the rear seat has to come out so the forward section can nest.

[Garry]

I did nothing to latch the seats in place. I guess you could find some kind of latch or rig a simple tether. The boats are very stable but when sailing, of course, you could capsize one.

[Greg Luckett]

Looking at the seats in the corners by the transom on the S10s, it does not look like they need to be removed.  I believe the pics are the stock ones that B&B sends out on the Spindrift CD, but many of the ones I have are from builders since I got that CD.

[Greg Luckett]

I just looked at the fleet pic showing a bunch of S10s, and some of them have a seat across the transom instead of just in the corners.

[Steve Day]

Greg & Crew,

There are two removable seats on the 10N in the plans configuration- one across the joint midships and one that spans between the two floatation chambers/seats in the stern.

Both have to be taken out of position to take the boat apart and nest it.

Steve

[Greg Luckett]

Thanks for clearing up my confusion about this Steve.

[Hirilonde]

The S9N is the same, 2 removable seats, I did nothing to secure them.  Mine is used as a tender and will rarely be sailed when capsizing is at all likely.  If I used it a lot for "just for fun" sailing I would consider some kind of latch.  I'm sure they would try to drift away after a capsize. 

I'll be looking for a clever response here 

[Greg Luckett]

Dave,

Maybe some sort of lanyards would work?  I use to do that when canoing.  It kept my paddles with the canoe even if I didn't.

[Steve Day]

Greg,

I had occasion to turn my S10N upside down on the foredeck of the big boat without taking it apart last week. With my added seats along the sides of the boat and the bolts holding them in position, the athwartships seat over the joint was held in position just fine. This tells me that the only seat that is liable to float away is the one across the floatation chambers at the stern. One or two 1/4" x 20 bolts would hold that in position just fine.

I put the extra seats along the sides to allow me to move fore and aft for balance while sailing. Without them, there is no place to park your hindparts in the proper place for balance other than the gunwhale (ouch  ), or the bottom of the boat.

I am on a computer that does not have a picture of the arrangement. If you would like to see one, let me know.

Just thought I would let you know.

Steve

[Greg Luckett]

Steve, I must have created some confusion as it is Dave asking about keeping the seats from floating away.  The S12 does not have this issued since it is not a nesting version.  I was telling Dave how I hung onto loose things.  Thank you anyway as I appreciate learning new techniques and I am sure Dave will find your comments valuable too.

[Steve Day]

Greg,

Sorry about the confusion.

Dave,

If you have any further questions, please ask. I hope my explanation above is sufficient.

Steve

[Hirilonde]

I built my S9N just as in the plans with the exception of Garry's hardware.  So I don't have any side seats.  I figure I could easily add 4 small friction dampened barrel bolts, 1 to each end of each seat underneath that engage a hole in the cleats.  Now nothing moves and there are no additional loose parts to keep tabs of.  I can and often lose small pieces.  I was just curious if anyone else already tried addressing this.

This is good stuff to think about, thanks for the thoughts.