Hobie PS-14 Simple Seat Riser Mod

[RockyRaab]

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.)



Here's the seat and base, upside-down



Here's the assembled unit from the side



And from the front



Note the added storage room, too! Total cost was about five dollars. Hard to beat that.

[mtnbykr2]

Well done, does it make any tippier or unstable ? looks good

[RockyRaab]

I'll let you know as soon as I get it on the water.

[bus kid]

Did you put any type of water sealer on the wood?

[RockyRaab]

As I said in the post, after I try it out a time or three, I'll disassemble it and finish the wood.

[Yakin]

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

[FlyFishinYakr]

Has anyone thought about adapting a bass boat seat riser to a PA?
FFY

[tagyak]

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.

[wade]

Originally Posted by FlyFishinYakr

Has anyone thought about adapting a bass boat seat riser to a PA?
FFY

[blitzburgh]

Originally Posted by FlyFishinYakr

Has anyone thought about adapting a bass boat seat riser to a PA?
FFY

Here as well http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewt...p?f=78&t=33849

[RockyRaab]

Moderator: I've duplicated this in the "Share Your Innovations" stickie. (I should have posted it there to begin with.)

[Pocoloco]

Originally Posted by RockyRaab

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.)



Here's the seat and base, upside-down



Here's the assembled unit from the side



And from the front



Note the added storage room, too! Total cost was about five dollars. Hard to beat that.

finished mine and took it to barrett. added 2 more hours of seat time. Great idea............. i used some oak that i had lying around.

[RockyRaab]

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!

[dniss]

How about some Trex style material? Wonder how it woul hold up in the salt compared to Doug fir.

[RockyRaab]

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.

[RockyRaab]

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.