Osprey 170 Thwart Seat

[Miguel]

Hello again,
Has anyone ever tried to build a thwart seat on a 170 Osprey?  I´ve seen the ones people use on Whaler Montauk´s and see no reason why they should'nt be used on our boats.
I´ve included a sketch (on my personal gallery) of what I think can be done.  The difference with whalers is that they have a lip that goes around the boat for the seat to sit in.  Ospreys don't have that, and some sort of shelf may need to be fastened to the side of the boat for that purpose.  I´m thinking the seat should be hinged in the back or one of the sides so you have access to the bilge port  and for versatility of storage below it.
Please see the sketch below and drop your two cents.  I may tackle this project during the summer if you guys don´t see any big no-no's.

[RickK]

Beautiful views!!!  Noticed the pics are from different times as the regular seat was there in one and in the last, was replaced with leaning post.  Only thing I can think of as a deterant is the lack of room already in a 170 - my guess is it'd be in your way all the time (shin buster because it would have to be low or you couldn't trim up motor) or you'd find yourself always climbing up on it as you went behind the leaning post (1 - 1 1/2 feet behind?).  In my boat, the fuel tank is above the floor under the CC, which leaves the only place for the batteries in the stern, just where you want to put the seat.  (Wonder why it's called a thwart seat?)

[steved]

Thwarts are the bits from side to side in a canoe that hold the hull in its characteristic shape - and you can also sit on them.  So much for definitions.

In terms of the option for the 170, if you mean to make it removable and only have it in when you are pleasure boating - as opposed to fishing - it might work.  Otherwise, I think you are looking at cramped quarters.  You might want to look at my photo gallery to see a removable stern bench seat - but I have a 22-2.  If I remember correctly, some of the Aquasport models had a fold-down stern seat - basically a splash well that folded down into the boat and was then "sittable".

[steved]

Check out these pages in the photo gallery with some of the options I was talking about for rear seating
http://[img]http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/data/514/27aaq22.jpg[/img]

http://[img]http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/data/514/27aaq23.jpg[/img]

Definitely for bigger models, but might give you some ideas.

[Miguel]

You are all right about lack of space.  I may have to make it removable.  Any ideas on how to put it in?
I got the idea from Whaler Montauks.  Do they have more space between the console seat and the stern?
My "leaning post" is no more than a modification of the original flip back seat (No. 12 in steved´s catalog page).  I took out the recliner part and set it on two pieces of teak, about 10 inches high, and separated about 27 inches in order to clear the large fuel tank access hatch.  It creates some addittional storage space for a large and flat rubbermaid box.  I added a 24 inch rail to the back and three rail mounted rod holders, which creates sort of a rocket launcher.  The only thing left to do is to get the lid upholstered.   I´ll try and post pictures soon.