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Hobie PS-14 Simple Seat Riser Mod
For you Pro Angler-14 owners: I wanted a higher seat in my PA14, for a better leg angle while pedaling, and for general comfort. It would also allow my old bones to stand up easier!
Here's what I built, in rough state but fitted together. After a trial or two on the water, I'll round the edges with a router and then sand and finish it. Parts List: One 32" length of 2x4 (I used a piece of fir with straight grain) Four 1/4" x 1½" galvanized cap-head bolts Two 1/4" x 3" bolts Two 1/4" x 4" bolts Four 1/4" nuts and eight washers Cut the 2x4 into two 16" pieces. Mark the bolt hole locations. Using a hole saw, drill two 1½" holes through the sides of each riser, centered. Drill four 5/16" bolt holes from top and bottom, into the large holes. Assemble. Attach the risers to the seat using four 1½" bolts and washers. Attach the aluminum base using the 4" and 3" bolts, with washers and nuts. Here are the risers attached to the base, for clarity. (I trimmed the riser ends at 45° for a better look.) http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...k/IMG_0027.jpg Here's the seat and base, upside-down http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...k/IMG_0029.jpg Here's the assembled unit from the side http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...k/IMG_0030.jpg And from the front http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...k/IMG_0031.jpg Note the added storage room, too! Total cost was about five dollars. Hard to beat that. |
Well done, does it make any tippier or unstable ? looks good
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I'll let you know as soon as I get it on the water.
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Did you put any type of water sealer on the wood?
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As I said in the post, after I try it out a time or three, I'll disassemble it and finish the wood.
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My only fear with this is:
Being out on a long bother ship trip and the wood breaking? or having to be in a battle and the wood breaking from the pressure |
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I can't imagine what you'd be fighting that would cause that 2x4 to break...the yak would probably be pulled under before you got to that point. I suppose the access holes for the nuts could be a little smaller to strengthen the whole thing, but I can't imagine it every crushing/shearing as long as the wood is kept in good condition. |
I need to raise mine, those bait fish like to hide under the seat and I can't get them, hands are too big to fit underneath, or even on the side for that matter.
Looking at the design, wood has a tendance to get soft when wet and you may move sideways and have the wood split where the bolts are. You might consider putting a cross beam between them to avoid the side sheer affect. |
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but please once you get it done and you test it I would love to get the full finished design from you for my PA! |
I originally intended to put in a cross stiffener, forming an "H". But after sitting on it and shifting my weight a lot, there seems to be no "give" in it at all. If it breaks, I'll be pretty amazed - but it will be super easy to make another set. That tiny shred of doubt is why I haven't spent the time and effort to finish the wood. I have yet to get anything inside the boat wet, so the wood should be fine for a few trips worth of "lake trials."
The holes in the risers have to be at least 1½" to get the 1½" bolts in. They thread into the seat bottom. |
Has anyone thought about adapting a bass boat seat riser to a PA? :confused:
FFY |
nice job. it looks great and hopefully it works as well.
i am sure if you are truly worried about the strength of the wood, you could do this with oak rather than pine. oak is a stronger wood and i am sure that with plenty of varnish it will be water and weather resistant. |
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Moderator: I've duplicated this in the "Share Your Innovations" stickie. (I should have posted it there to begin with.)
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You actually beat me to the water. My wife had back surgery recently, and I've been as house-bound as she is while I play nurse.
This week, though -- I hope! |
Idea
How about some Trex style material? Wonder how it woul hold up in the salt compared to Doug fir.
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Not being sarcastic at all, buta thousand years of wooden sailing ships tells me that wood works just fine. Besides, replacing these would take an hour and use a dollar's worth of wood should it ever become necessary.
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Finally got the boat out today to test that seat mod.
Folks, it's magic. My leg angle from hips to pedals is MUCH improved. That means I'm no longer resting right on my tailbone the whole time. Discomfort and fatigue are drastically reduced. Now, I can take it apart and "purdy" it up some with rounded edges and some sealer and stain. I recommend this mod to anyone who owns a PA-14. |
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