CONTINUOUSWAVE

Hello Fellow Whaler Junkies--has anybody taken the stock seating planks on a classic SPORT 15, and raised them to a more ergonomically friendlier position? Please let me know how much more comfortable the seating was.

I will be putting the rear seat on top of the side planks in my 13' in the next few weeks. To get a feel for it just take out the front seat and lay it across the span on top of the existing rear seat. If it still feels low, put some spacers in until you get it the way you want it

I did this on two 13's. (which are about the same height as the 15). noticeable improvement.

Just about every classic SPORT 15 has had some modification to the original thwart seats. They were very uncomfortable.

I redid the interior of a new to me 1988 15 SS a couple of years ago and raised all seating as well as the console by 3". It is acceptable but I can not imagine it being lower. I am old with long legs.

Raising the seats may not solve the problem that the 13 and 15 foot Whaler both share. If the console remains at stock height, you might find yourself driving in a hunched over position. When I modified my 15 footer, I just started over from scratch, I wanted a center console that I could drive sitting or standing anyway.https://fifteenfootbostonwhaler.shutter ... pictures/8

rich

All of you have wonderful suggestions. Yes, Rich, I am redesigning the console as well. I will post pictures once I figure this whole this out.
Paul

I just tried to raise my seat above the risers on my 1977 sport 15. The risers are bowed out and there is only a tiny overlap on the boards so it is not safe to sit on. I am wondering what to do.

I could put a wood strip screwed onto the side of the riser to extend it or add some L brackets.

even with overlap I still screwed a wood strip into the riser and then screwed the seats into those strips. Just seemed more secure to me.

On my 1983 15' center console I replaced all the wood bench and supports with Starboard. When I made the new side risers I raised the seating position about 1.5". But the real comfort came when I changed the angle of the back rest. I also raised the height of the back rest, but making it more vertical really made it more comfortable to drive.

I also had made a custom fuel tank at the same time, so the lack of natural support of the starboard is augmented by some cleats that rest on the tank when seated.

These changes made driving sitting down much better.

You can get an idea of what I did here.

http://s96.photobucket.com/user/porthole2/library/Boats/BW%2015%20CC%201983%20eBay?sort=9&page=1

My 15 foot Sport had no wood at all and what was left of the console was smashed. It did have a swing back cooler seat and I kept that for dry storage. I found a very small Todd console which left plenty of room on either side to walk past. Squeezing on the steering helm, the gauges, the switches, and stuffing the wiring inside was a chore and that took an entire winter to finish. The cooler seat is at a perfect comfortable height and the seat back swings so I can sit facing front or back. More importantly, there are no trip hazards. At my age I don't think I could stand any other configuration.

I have a '86 15 CC that I purchased with the original seating & rail system. I knew going in I was going to install two single pedestal seats & three years ago I did. Fantastic move & I love sitting up a little higher & have the ability to move around with that bench. I can attach photos but not sure how.....any advice on that one?

Found a link to another site (if it is allowed) I have some pictures of my seat changes

http://www.whalercentral.com/infusions/personal_page/view_personal_page.php?user_id=520