I am refinishing a Van Duyne dory (standard lifeguard issue) and am curious as to whether anyone has "retro fitted" a sliding seat on the same or similar open water dory. Any comments are greatly appreciated.

mike

-- Michael Jacobus (michael.jacobus@nyplaw.com), January 30, 2003

Answers

My dory has a sliding seat which was built using inline skate wheels. There are two boggy wheels and two track wheels. If you have the ablity to make a guide track, one on each side, I could see you taking a seat board and manufacturing this design without too much trouble.

The other alternatative is to buy a drop in unit like are used on the Whitehall reproduction boats. Check clearance etc.

-Gary-

-- Gary Powell (gwpowell@hotmail.com), March 05, 2003.

I have been rowing a 16' modified grand banks "TYNFYK" for the past 4 years and just this year dropped a sliding seat into her. After researching Piandosi,and Adirondack guideboat seats kits (and others) for sale; i.e $500-700+ my wallet forced me into purchasing a used rowing machine at the local Goodwill for $15; with the arms removed it morphed into the perfect sliding seat. After a number of outings where I attempted night fishing trips, I quickly decided first to abandon the idea of actually attaching the rig to the body of the "craft", and then the other idea of stapping feet into the foot rest. Getting my foot caught inside the rig and going over as I maneuvered attempting to land mobyfish did not appeal to me (not that moby fish was a reality this year). I ended up just using blocks of wood to position the rig in the boat, on a slight incline which allowed for easy return after a stoke;I.E no need for footstrap to pull the seat back into position. The seat is light weight and easily removed to return to traditional fixed seat position.This flexibility is key when taking on passengers, to fish or otherwise, or if others are to use the boat. The benefits were AWESOME; leg power to each stroke adds easier distance; greater workout;just greater power in a chop; when fishing solo the seat allows for sliding up and down the boat with no need to walk around to get gear libation etc,i.e. lower center of gravity, especially good in weather/wakes. I hope its not too late for your shopping plans; I got the seat at a one stop shop, and didnt browse the flea market,want ads ,or rubbish night;it has a light aluminimum sled on which the wheels run,with no corrosion to speak of;if so I'll spray with WD40. you could purchase one rig a year for the next 10 years and still not spend $150, so don't worry about experimenting,corrosion etc. Now my next plan is trying to figure out if I can rig Two sliding seats for doubles .... my problem is a motorwell; but if you don't have that problem and were interested, consider the doubles option as well. If you do want to have the seat attached, I experimented with placement/ positioning by tying lines instead of actually going into the wood, the midrails? allowed this in my boat. The next issue I need to look at is the oarlength, and the possibility of adding outriggers for sculls. I doubt I'll evolve there but the possibility is there; if you search the web there is a company that builds fiberglass dory/sculls, (American Heritage?)that looked interesting using single/double sliding seat outrigger combinations; These kits can be purchased separately an possibly adapted to your vessel. Good luck.

-- Ed Norton (ejn@alexandraconstruction.com), November 22, 2003.