Raising the Helm Seat on a 330 Dancer

D

dpmulvey

Active Member
Dec 19, 2007
4,188
Homeport: Charles City, VA
Boat Info
1999/2007 330 Sundancer Hardtop.
Engines
6.2 Merc Horixons
1.5:1 Velvet Drives
Does anybody know how the bolts are attached to the actual helm seats on a '99 330 Dancer? At 6'4" and with a hard top, I can't stand up and I am tired of stacking life jackets on the seat to sit as I lose the back support. My idea was to remove the seats and place a couple of 2X4's (finished and painted) under each row of bolts, parallel with the center line of the boat and bolt the seats through them. That would give me the additional 3" of lift I need. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than having a bolster made plus it provides more storage under the seat. I know how to access the bolts under the helm, I just don't know if this is all in vain because I can't get to the bolts to put longer ones in once I remove the seats.

TIA
 
Do you have the standard helm seat or the power adjusted one?

Best regards,
Frank
 
I have the power adjusted one. I've not removed it, but the fasteners are accessible from underside via the fold down cushion on the aft facing seat. Your's might be different.

Best regards,
Frank
 
fc3 said:
I have the power adjusted one. I've not removed it, but the fasteners are accessible from underside via the fold down cushion on the aft facing seat. Your's might be different.

Best regards,
Frank
Click to expand...
The 330DA had a power adjustable seat option? Up and down or back and forth? Both? That's pretty cool. I don't remember seeing this on other DA the same size.
 
If your problem is that the bolts are too short, then all you may need is a rod coupling nut. Screw this onto the end of the existing bolt and then add a section of all thread rod to whatever length you need.
 
I was scrolling through used boats a while back and saw this helm seat on a 33 dancer. I wish I could get more pictures and see exactly how this guy put this together. Check it out.

If anybody has any ideas please let me know.
 
rumrunner said:
I was scrolling through used boats a while back and saw this helm seat on a 33 dancer. I wish I could get more pictures and see exactly how this guy put this together. Check it out.

If anybody has any ideas please let me know.
Click to expand...

This looks like a seat that I recently saw available on e-bay. What the person probably did was shorten the bench seat by about 2.5' and then have the end finished off. Next install a helm chair. The boat looks like a '96 and, personally, I wouldn't want to attempt this mod due to the "hokyness" factor.
my 2 cents.
 
dpmulvey said:
Does anybody know how the bolts are attached to the actual helm seats on a '99 330 Dancer? At 6'4" and with a hard top, I can't stand up and I am tired of stacking life jackets on the seat to sit as I lose the back support. My idea was to remove the seats and place a couple of 2X4's (finished and painted) under each row of bolts, parallel with the center line of the boat and bolt the seats through them. That would give me the additional 3" of lift I need. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than having a bolster made plus it provides more storage under the seat. I know how to access the bolts under the helm, I just don't know if this is all in vain because I can't get to the bolts to put longer ones in once I remove the seats.

TIA
Click to expand...

David- Your post is bit confusing.....I'm 6'3 and don't have problems with visibility on my 330. Standing behind the helm with the canvas up is near impossible unless I want to stand like the hunchback of Notre Dame! Are you trying to see above your windsheild? Would love to help but need more info. Thanks,
Stuart
 
I have an extension bolted on the post for my helm seat of my 280. I'll take a pic of it this weekend, but it brings the seat up about 3 inches.
 
Bridog said:
The 330DA had a power adjustable seat option? Up and down or back and forth? Both? That's pretty cool. I don't remember seeing this on other DA the same size.
Click to expand...

Our 1995 has a power helm seat, moves forward and back.
 
Bridog said:
The 330DA had a power adjustable seat option? Up and down or back and forth? Both? That's pretty cool. I don't remember seeing this on other DA the same size.
Click to expand...

Fore and aft adjustable. It was a $442 option; I checked the "sticker." Just Ducky, because she was one of the last 330's produced, was loaded up with all the options. The only one she's missing is the fuel crossover manifold, which doesn't work too well with gas engines. The manifolds leak gas after a few years as the gas dries the seals.

Best regards,
Frank
 
dp - What's up with a hardtop on a 330DA? I have never seen a 330 with that before. Was that custom made? Sorry for being off topic there, but I like how it looks.
 
Carpedmman said:
David- Your post is bit confusing.....I'm 6'3 and don't have problems with visibility on my 330. Standing behind the helm with the canvas up is near impossible unless I want to stand like the hunchback of Notre Dame! Are you trying to see above your windsheild? Would love to help but need more info. Thanks,
Stuart
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. At 6'4" about 6'3" of me is legs. Saint Max stern squats a bit on plane at optimum cruise angle leaving me a bit concerned with anything that may make a last minute appearance at my bow, be it a semi submerged log to a kid on a jet ski. It may be just an old habit, but I was never comfortable in a standard height helm seat. I always wanted a bit more 360* visibility. With runabouts, I always sat on the back of the seat. My Regal had a pop up bolster and I always had it up. The most comfortable position for me on the 330 is with a couple of life jackets under my arse.

I know Mrs. Robinson who is about the same height as me just flips back his forward canvas back to stand up. In that St. Max has a hardtop, I do not have that luxury.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

TIA
 
Stray Cat said:
dp - What's up with a hardtop on a 330DA? I have never seen a 330 with that before. Was that custom made? Sorry for being off topic there, but I like how it looks.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the compliment. It was custom made by a company that makes custom tops for the battlewagons in Hatteras, NC. It was installed by the original owner. I think the second owner was an older fellow or as a USMC vet, extremely safety conscious. He had a side railing extension place on the port side near the power cord plugs. The railing at that point is about 30 inches high.

The hard top, accepted trade in and brand new (4 hours) 6.2 MPI Horizons were the deal clincher.

Thanks again.
 
You must be running slowly. At 22kts (3200 RPM) with no tab Just Ducky runs very slightly bow up even with full fuel. I'm short and I always running sitting down on my power adjustable helm seat. I have no visibility issues. Maybe it is a tall guy problem.

Best regards,
Frank C
 
dp - how long have you owned the boat? I remember seeing it on Yachtworld and was wondering what was up with the railing.
 
Rather than raising the seat up, could you make a seperate thicker seat cushion that is matchted to the vinyl upholstery on your seat? You could shape it similar to that of a flip up bolster so you could set or lean against it....you could make a slight extension of material that would tuck in between the seat back and the cushion.
 
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