cobalt 263 - Changing fixed to shock mitigation swivel Chairs

[Sealord69]

Hello Again.

Isn’t boating a boring hobby without optimization in Winter times? After my integrated Anchor project last winter, I decided to change my captain chairs from bench to swivel.

Due to my personal situation of having a handicapped son with back problems I would like to go directly to shock absorbing pedestals including swivel and sliding seat for boat front seats.

Before I describe all the steps, because we have to make the floor stiffer, I need informations about the original chairs,
In my opinion there are no differences in the chairs just the kind of fixing points. Does anybody of you know, who the OEM manufacturer of the chair is? Or can anybody who has the same seat make so pictures from the booth side of the seats for me!

My boat is 900 mile away from my home town.

Thanks in Advance.

Nils

[Big Block Power]

Well sounds like a fun project. The bases just be universal in the boating community. Cobalt prob made the seat in house though. I'm trying to think who makes the seats for them now. Lockey14s do you know who Andrew got his from? Check out great lakes Skipper.Com for seats.

[Sealord69]

I was in direct contact with cobalt and got several Information I will ad here.

The main difference is that the swivel seats will have a tapped rectangular aluminium plate 142x162x1/4" glued under the floor, where the 9" round pedestals base is fixed on. The standard seat have an aluminium plate under the floor and at the side wall where they kan be fixed.

The OEM pedestal high is 11".

Due to the reason that I had to get a plate under the floor and I know from the safe in the floor, that there is appr 8" deep room underneat. I will install the Seaspension #4111 shock absorbing and sviwel intergrated Pedestal. Through the 5.5" hole I have to cut in the floor I will be able to fit a plate in segments under the floor.

[cmattj]

Great thread.!
I’ve always wanted the passenger seat to swivel to add to the lounging on our 282. Even with a little movement underway it would be worth it.
Look forward to seeing this coming!

[akorcovelos]

If you cut in an access port in the ski locker couldn't you put the plate in from the side in one piece? Cool project, looking forward to updates.

[AsLan7]

.
Well this is a first for a 263, Nils.
Looking forward to the progress on this thread as well.

I thought the seat hardware was Taylor Made with the vinyl being done in-house by the Cobalt crew in the Neodesha world headquarter factory.

Do you need to drill that hole? I believe you can access under those seats by removing the porta potty and slipping the plate under each side.
Btw, nice teak look in the cockpit. How slippery does that get when wet?

Keep us posted with those pics.

[Sealord69]

If you cut in an access port in the ski locker couldn't you put the plate in from the side in one piece? Cool project, looking forward to updates.

Hey,

My 2006 263 has no ski locker room and what is very special, I have a European version. Due to the EU Certification there are some mods you don’t have I the states. But I need to make the hole, because a part of the damper is 5,5“ in the floor. That’s the price if you o my need 11“ from floor to seat base.

[Sealord69]

.
Well this is a first for a 263, Nils.
Looking forward to the progress on this thread as well.

I thought the seat hardware was Taylor Made with the vinyl being done in-house by the Cobalt crew in the Neodesha world headquarter factory.

Do you need to drill that hole? I believe you can access under those seats by removing the porta potty and slipping the plate under each side.
Btw, nice teak look in the cockpit. How slippery does that get when wet?

Keep us posted with those pics.

The pictures I posted weren’t from my boat.

This one is mine but there you don’t see the seat construction so good. I have teak everywhere instead of the inside floor. Maybe I will add it later, but the main advantage of a carpet is, that you have the sand you carry in the boat bound in the carpet and can clean it outside.

Teak has the big advantage, that it doesn’t get hot. It is very comfortable above 100°F outside temperature.

[akorcovelos]

wow, that color is stunning! Do you have pictures of the whole boat?

[Sealord69]

wow, that color is stunning! Do you have pictures of the whole boat?

Your are welcome

[akorcovelos]

That is one of the best looking Cobalts I've ever seen! I would never have thought of that color looking good, but it's amazing.

[Sealord69]

[Whippled263]

I like the windlass!

[Sealord69]

I like the windlass!

There is an extra thread in this forum about how I did It.

[Sealord69]

I need some help!
Can anybody who has a 263 measure the underside dimension of the cockpit seat for me? I need to build a plate in the same dimension!

Please see pic below!