Double Sliding Mechanism for a Boats Bucket Seat

Is there any way you can use an offset swivel seat, and just swing it to the right when you need to go through the door?

Maybe some variation of this:

Hi Kramarat, thanks for the input... but I am looking for a really sturdy base for the seat. Here is some info I did not mention in my post: The boat is 50 Ft long, and the sturdiness of the seats base is required cause the waters at the Rio de la Plata can unexpectedly get quite rough ... and I am a chunky guy, so unless we use a street lamp pole for the base you suggest.... it will not work! ;-)

How about something like this?

http://www.nauticexpo.com/prod/opacmare/helm-seat-mounts-boat-23271-220876.html

yeap... looks like a good start! It is what I somehow had in mind ;-)

Now I have to figure out how to build it myself or having it built! Unfortunately due to local customs regulations, import of such items into my country is not allowed ----

I wonder if you could just start with the floor tracks from the front seat of a car, and run an extended cable to a handle under the bucket seat, to slide it back?

Those are pretty tough. You could just fabricate a platform to bolt the seat onto, and keep a light coat of grease on the tracks to keep rust away.

Hi Kramarat, I actually bought a new OEM bucket seat at a company that supplies parts for trucks. This seat comes from factory with a set of slides under its frame. The problem is that these slides only allow a forward movement of about 12 cm (5´´). For a comfortable position at the helm I need twice that forward displacement without getting bent or disaligned while holding my weight, even under bad sea conditions. For this reason I considered using a double set of slides, one on top of the other. The lower could be made of a sturdy piece of rectangular structural stainless steel like 2 x 1 ´´ with linear bearings for a smooth displacement, while the upper would be the slides provided with the seat.

Can you contact the company and ask them if you can just buy a set of slides?

I'm thinking that if you can get the same slides that came with the seat, you can cut off the ends of your existing slides, and mount the new slides to the deck, extending the travel. Granted, your slides would be in two pieces, but if you align them and mount them right, it should be just as smooth as the one piece slide.

Why dont you use sheet track & slides?. All marine grade materials readily available.

Hi Garth, thanks for your post! Please tell me what you call sheet track, as I may know it under another name. Regards!

Here is a couple of links to give you an idea. There are many varieties made by various manufactures.

http://www.ronstan.com/marine/range.asp?RnID=058

http://www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=RC81940

Put some lanyards on the locking pins to effect a rapid readjustment of the seat position.

Would it help to install the wheel so it slides fore and aft?

Perhaps with latches so it locks into position.

Hi to all! Yesterday I went to a hardware store specialised in all kinds of rolling mechanisms. After checking different types I eventually went for a system intended for hanging sliding doors. It consists of a sturdy 1 x 3/4´´ x 3 Ft long U shaped rail in which a block of iron with 4 nylon wheels fitted with bearings freely moves from one end to the other. My idea is to cut this rail in two (one for each base of the seat), weld 4 of these carts (so that the wheels look upwards) to to the floor, and also weld the base of the bucket seat to the top of the rail. Once tested I will have to figure out how to prevent it from derailing at both ends as well as installing a locking mechanism. I will have some busy days ahead, but promise to post some pics ASAP! :-)