Better seating arrangement

Cheap Guy

Cheap Guy

Active Member
Aug 29, 2010
111
Michigan
Boat Info
1989 250DA Sundancer
Engines
5.7 Alpha 1
I have a 1989 250 DA and the pull-out jump seats are basically useless and just take up space behind the helm. Has anyone come up with a replacement or better seating arrangement for these boats? There was a guy who started on a replacement project but he never finished so I borrow his picture. I was thinking about just removing the seat entirely and replace it with a flip down style seat like the ones from Tempress or maybe just removing the jump seats and find a thin style flip seat that will slide in the jump seat location.

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Pirate Lady said:
View attachment 122161 I like mine. Well padded and get out the way when not in use.
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Very nice boat - I wish I had found a green one instead of the red I have. The problem is that the angle of the backrest is very uncomfortable when underway and they still stick out at least half a foot when stowed, which takes up the space that could be used for a deck chair. I like how you have the table - I plan on doing that once I decide how to revise the seats. It would be cool if I could find a folding seat the same size as the pull out and make a bracket that would allow it to slide in the same place. Might not be as cushiony but probably more usable.
 
I dont have pictures but on my first boat, an 83, 28 foot DA I removed the bench and installed two swivel pedestal seats at the helm. For the life of me though I don't remember what I used for the aft facing seats. I remember there was a full beam custom bench seat across the transom. I think we used deck chairs but that would be tight on a 25 footer.
 
Carpediem44DB said:
I dont have pictures but on my first boat, an 83, 28 foot DA I removed the bench and installed two swivel pedestal seats at the helm. For the life of me though I don't remember what I used for the aft facing seats. I remember there was a full beam custom bench seat across the transom. I think we used deck chairs but that would be tight on a 25 footer.
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I saw a picture somewhere where someone did that but can’t find it anymore. That might be a good deal because I fish off of mine and could swivel it for fishing.
 
Pirate Lady said:
If you replace that seat do NOT discard. Rare as hens teeth, worth a fortune. Better yet keep for when you sell the boat. Buyers usually prefer original equipment more than customized.
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Definitely. That’s why I’d prefer a “replace versus modify” solution.
 
Just a crazy Idea here (I don't own one'a these, so dunno if it'd work)...

If you're gonna deck-chair the aft deck...
What if... you were to disengage the stops, and pull those slide out seats totally out...
And then make some nifty drawers, with appropriate restraints?

If it were me, and I were to do something like that, I'd probably use it for handy-quick-easy-reach items, like a couple extra mooring lines or something...
 
Cheap Guy said:
That looks good but I really need the bench seat since I'll be losing the rear jump seats.
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Gotcha, I did see a bench option, but if you want it to be functional for 4 people at one time, that wouldn't work.
 
Well, this is the best resolution for now. I took the jump seats out and the much more comfortable and usable folding seats (I did a DIY upholstery to make them match) fit nicely against the back but still can slide forward for access to the storage. I’m going to rig up some sort of sliding storage using the rails for the jump seat. By fall I may come up with a better solution since the helm bench needs reupholstering but that can be done over winter.
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Pirate Lady said:
Great solution! How you remove the sliding seats? I see no obvious way to do that? Did you take the whole seat off to access from underneath?
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Very easy to remove. Just two retaining straps under the bottom and they (hopefully) slide right out. The starboard side was stuck because a couple of screws had backed out on the side but I just wiggled it until it worked free.

These deck chairs are very comfy - always like them but they run $200 new - I got four for $100 total that needed a bit of work but it just gave me an opportunity to match them to the boat. You’d be amazed at how much room the jump seats take up. Even pushed completely in they stick out over six inches.
 
More progress. Almost done except the aluminum rail was bent - that’s why the old seat wouldn’t slide completely in. Apparently bending aluminum is rocket surgery and no one wants to heat it up or just put it in a press so I’ll have find a replacement or try heating it up myself to bend it an 1/8 inch.

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Well, I THOUGH I was almost done but ran into a wrinkle. Turns out no one can straighten out the bent seat bracket (aluminum) so the port side drawer wouldn't slide completely in. I didn't want to risk doing it myself so the cheapest and best solution was to replace the brackets entirely. I got a set of 18" brackets from the local big box store but you can get stronger ones that can hold up to 500 lbs. but are much more expensive. Even these inexpensive ones are pretty strong and have ball bearings and work much better than the stock brackets. Hopefully I'll "refinish" this project this week. Btw, the chairs are AWESOME! Everyone says they're much more comfortable than the jump seats, even better than the rear bench seat.

Btw, all that dirty and grease? It's from the old slides. Just made a mess of everything once you touch them.

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