Articulating Seat - Bun Saver

[VDRIVERACING]

Here's some pics of a articulating spring/hydraulic seat design that might help ease the back pain in rough conditions. There's a little rust from some salt water trials on the seat pan and springs, but you'll get the idea. The side panels are fashioned after those used on some GN boats. The sides are designed to allow bolsters to be build up to keep your hips on the seat. The articulating motion allows the seat pan and back rest to move up and down together, absorbing the bumps so your foot stays on the gas pedal in rough water. With the exception of the side panels, the rest of the seat would be entirely upolstered, covering all the moving parts. The springs are specially wound piano steel wire, the frame is chrome molly steel tube, and the sides are 6061 aluminum. Seat travel is about 4". Food for thought. Enjoy!

[Moneypitt]

I would say it is interesting........I'm thinking of a capsule instalation, and anything that would make the driver's job eaiser has to help. A little concerned about the "rebound" rate however.............Ray

[VDRIVERACING]

the rebound adjustment is a key factor. That can be dealt with by the type of shock setup one chooses.
I'm not so sure I would use something like this in a capsule...

[Roaddogg 4040]

These seats are awesome!
Steve

[mexrunner]

We do custom Harley Seats for friends and put silicone gel approx 3/4" thick between the layers of foam. It doe's a great job of absorbing the vibration from the engine. All the NASCAR driver's use this type of seat. FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

[BrendellaJet]

We do custom Harley Seats for friends and put silicone gel approx 3/4" thick between the layers of foam. It doe's a great job of absorbing the vibration from the engine. All the NASCAR driver's use this type of seat. FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
the pounding you take in a boat is far greater than the pounding you take on a motor cycle. Im sure the bumps the nascar guys go through are a lot tougher than regular driving because of the speeds they travel, but its not like they are racing on the 405 either...You can isolate any engine vibration with the way you mount it too. Seat looks like a great idea. would be nice to see some dimensions and with some upholstery.

[VDRIVERACING]

We do custom Harley Seats for friends and put silicone gel approx 3/4" thick between the layers of foam. It doe's a great job of absorbing the vibration from the engine. All the NASCAR driver's use this type of seat. FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
Sounds like a neat trick, no matter what seat it's used on. Brendella brings up a valid point, too. Low profile race boats navigate through extremely punishing conditions.
The engine vibration is not so much a concern, as reducing the stress on your spine, preventing fatgue, AND not getting bounced out of your seat. Far from getting thrown out of the seat altogether, when hitting hard bumps while driving one tends to lift up from the seat which momemtarily pulls your foot from the gas peddle, thus losing an element of control. The idea behind the articulating seat is to significantly dampen those shocks and keep you planted in the desired position with respect to the steering wheel and pedal(s).
Aside from the control factor, the ride is far more tolerable which reduces fatigue. These seats can be very expensive to make, but what about our boats that is worthwhile, isn't...

[mexrunner]

The gel in the seats does more than just engine vibration, because most of the seats we do are for ridged frame Harley's. Anyway the seats in my Rogers are made for Off-Road Pre Runner trucks that have suspension, work great. But also have Hondo v-drive with the gel both work great!!

[GofastRacer]

The gel in the seats does more than just engine vibration, because most of the seats we do are for ridged frame Harley's. Anyway the seats in my Rogers are made for Off-Road Pre Runner trucks that have suspension, work great. But also have Hondo v-drive with the gel both work great!!
Is the gel used in conjunction with foam or does it replace the foam???..

[superdave013]

the rebound adjustment is a key factor. That can be dealt with by the type of shock setup one chooses.
I'm not so sure I would use something like this in a capsule...
One of these would work good. You can adjust both high and low speed compression. And they have a very nice rebound adjustment as well.
On the down side, they cost just a tad more then that car shock you are using.
http://www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/products.html
What's the projected weight of that seat? Looks heavy

[Dave Sammons]

Here's some pics of a articulating spring/hydraulic seat design that might help ease the back pain in rough conditions. There's a little rust from some salt water trials on the seat pan and springs, but you'll get the idea. The side panels are fashioned after those used on some GN boats. The sides are designed to allow bolsters to be build up to keep your hips on the seat. The articulating motion allows the seat pan and back rest to move up and down together, absorbing the bumps so your foot stays on the gas pedal in rough water. With the exception of the side panels, the rest of the seat would be entirely upolstered, covering all the moving parts. The springs are specially wound piano steel wire, the frame is chrome molly steel tube, and the sides are 6061 aluminum. Seat travel is about 4". Food for thought. Enjoy!
http://www2.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=19257
http://www2.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=19256
http://www2.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=19255

[mexrunner]

Is the gel used in conjunction with foam or does it replace the foam???..
The Gel is put between the foam, you need the foam to get the shape you want.

[GofastRacer]

The Gel is put between the foam, you need the foam to get the shape you want.
Ok gotcha, thanks.. :cool:

[VDRIVERACING]

One of these would work good. You can adjust both high and low speed compression. And they have a very nice rebound adjustment as well.
On the down side, they cost just a tad more then that car shock you are using.
http://www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/products.html
What's the projected weight of that seat? Looks heavy
There are pretty trick bike shocks out there, but they cost $400 - $600, whereas the hydraulic snowmobile shock I used cost $25. I think I can find an adjustable gas charged hydraulic shock for about $150, or possibly adapt some of the dampers Bostrom uses in their truck seats today.
The seat is not light, probably 35lbs upohlstered. Most of the weight is in the steel frame, which I have overkilled for strength, but am planning to hand it severe pounding for years to come. If there was a market for $1,000 seats out there, it might make sense for someone to crank out an all aluminum version. Back in the day when one could buy the Bostrom Thin Line Deluxe seat(but you can't now---the plant that built them is demolished, the parts are all gone, etc...), Greer Rush converted those for boat racing use, and he told me his customers would initially complain about the weight, but after riding in them none were ever returned!
Later this week i'll post a couple of pics of what a friends completed seat looks like with the hip bolsters and non-slip fabric. If anyone has other shock ideas, please speak up. Tip to tip should be around 9" compressed, 13" extended.
These seats are really great for the right application, and it would be a shame for the design to slip away.

[VDRIVERACING]

Here are some pics of how the seat might look when covered

[Jetboatguru]

Is that the GN9 boat?
http://***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=19543

[gn7]

yep maybe you should about getting a gn Tony, you D.R. could have so much fun.

[VDRIVERACING]

I snapped the pics from the 9 boat last weekend. Before he passed, Rudy had me on a mission to replicate these seats. My side panels are exact copies of his. He had a list of people that wanted these seats. Mine won't be ready for Parker, but after the first of the year we should have it in the boat.

[haulina29]

What is the difference between your seat and a Bostrom that was the marathon standard for years? Gel ?

[VDRIVERACING]

What is the difference between your seat and a Bostrom that was the marathon standard for years? Gel ?
Functionally, they are very similar. With the Bostroms, one had to beef up the frame, etc... Mine was built from scratch with racing strength in mind using commonly available materials. Another key difference is you can build one of mine today!

[GofastRacer]

Functionally, they are very similar. With the Bostroms, one had to beef up the frame, etc... Mine was built from scratch with racing strength in mind using commonly available materials. Another key difference is you can build one of mine today!
Dumb question, but how much travel is there in your seat???..