Driver's Seat 84 - 2001

John, having owned an 88' for 15 years I know what you're talking about. The factory seat itself is just too low for what I like and I just use my throwable PFD as a booster seat. It puts me just at the right height (at 5'10) where my mouth is about even with the windshield frame. When the rain comes or its chilly out when running down the lake, removing the PFD gives me the ability to take full advantage of the windshield. I've seen many CCFans remove my booster seat when they drive my boat cause they don't like sitting higher than the WS.

My $.02 would be to rebuild the seat just like it is. You could add some height to it by stacking a few washers underneath the seat where it attaches to the base and use a little longer bolt if you needed to. Use a PFD as a booster seat and use 2 if you have too. I think 3 is the norm for Zach but that is so he can see over the dash!

Jeff,
We do have some pretty hard azz officers that can really go looking for infractions. If the seat base didn't look original and sitting on an obvious height extension, then they may issue a citation. My daughter was stopped on our PWC because when I put new registration numbers on, I mistakenly used "M"'s instead on "N"'s!! However, a friend that knows the officer did tell me all he wanted was to get in her pants!!!

Haven't fished in years but wouldn't consider it from the 2001.. Thanks again everyone for tossing in your couple cents into the *dumb question* box here.. I really like the custom pedestal that MR Shaw built and will be forwarding those to my brother-in-law to see what his machine shop can whip up for me..

Really a ton of help here and a great community full of knowledge and insight to boat ownership !

Best wishes everyone.

=) This "fishing" took place with a beer in hand from the inside of an 16' Alumicraft boat. The seat flopped down and had a nice flat back that was really solid.. Made a perfect pedestal seat in the driver's spot because he hogged the front bow pedestal every trip.. His boat I suppose his prerogative.

well ? I generally pull boarders at about 18 - 20 mph.. This leaves my boat at a pretty fair angle in the water to maintain a steady speed.. This obviously changes the viewpoint to the actual water surface. I am and always was looking through the windshield even with a knee in the seat bottom.. Our lake is on the smaller side and waves/chop/rough water is never a concern I feel really really really safe kneeling and seeing very clearly. I do understand your viewpoint and concern for boating safety.

I think the level of corrosion combined with the length of those mounting bolts looks far more dangerous and prone to failure than even my old knees.. =) I'm teasing here of course..

Nice! I hadn't seen Mr. Shaws example and that looks perfect ! I was too busy trying to figure out what all the fuss in the DNR examples was about to see that someone understood exactly what I was getting at. We aren't talking about doing handstands on the gunwale here just gaining better vision for a high nosed wakeboarding boat. Essentially a folded seat is exactly the same height difference he accomplished there with a really well built base. I could mount basically any well made seat (or the repaired original) to that and be exactly where I needed to be. That's the plan folks ! Thanks again Mr. Shaw looks awesome ! No need to be sending the DNR out to my lake,, put the phones down.

TRBenj wrote: I also think you may need to revisit your behavior if you think that sitting on the seat back or looking over the windshield is something you currently do. Mostly from a safety perspective- and I'm purely talking forward and rearward/skier visibility, access to controls, etc- not necessarily what the marine patrol will tell you is allowed. .

Pumpy wrote: Gotcha,, didn't think about DNR caring about the seat but I suppose they may. .

John,
Where are you in Wi. where the DNR doesn't care?
Maybe a revisit to this will help.

Rebuild the seat as original and use a throwable. BTW, 30 years is asking plenty out of any seat but, maybe sitting on the seat back has contributed?

It's simple to replace the wood base and re use the vinyl. Just take it apart carefully and put it back the same way.

Major changes to the seat itself (or full replacement) would look pretty goofy. I also think you may need to revisit your behavior if you think that sitting on the seat back or looking over the windshield is something you currently do. Mostly from a safety perspective- and I'm purely talking forward and rearward/skier visibility, access to controls, etc- not necessarily what the marine patrol will tell you is allowed.

That said, the early (82-86) 2001 has a pretty low seating position and below avg height drivers may prefer to be slightly elevated. A throw cushion on the seat bottom is an option. Adding another set of those stand off washers below the seat tracks (when reassembling) is as far as I'd go in terms of mods. A little goes a long way, one set of 3/4" may be plenty.

hahaha ! right.. one of my friends older boat had some seats that swiveled and the seat back was really sturdy and comfortable to sit on while casting... (fishing) just seemed to make sense to get me up a bit higher while the boat was so heavily angled.. Spin it and flop back down to normal height while cruising.. I dunno? just a thought and I hoped someone had a similar issue with visibility in the super low seats. (leaning on a knee to see over the bow gets really awkward during longer pulls.

Pumpy wrote: sit on the back of the seat while folded and towing

sounds more like a nightmare

Sure, build your own base or (better yet) shim what you already have.