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Author Topic:   Raising the RPS

bboeri posted 04-02-2003 04:08 PM ET (US)
Thinking about raising the RPS on my 88 Montauk again. I looked at the photos supplied by Jim Farris of his raised RPS with storage drawer underneath. He did an outstanding job. I am just wondering if anyone has given thought to raising the seat by placing the riser blocks directly under the seat rather than under the RPS legs and in contact with the deck? It seems to me that that would reduce the maintenance on the wood/varnish/oiled blocks. Any downside to this idea?
Bob
acassidy posted 04-02-2003 04:38 PM ET (US)
I raised my seat 1” using 1” black starboard. I cut out two sets of the 1” pieces to raises my seat 2”, but only installed one set of the blocks. You can see the 1 inch blocks under the seat in one the pictures here http://www.seaofquilts.com/whaler.htm
I need only now to buy a big gas tank.
Archie
lhg posted 04-02-2003 06:13 PM ET (US)
Downside is figuring out how to make the 1/2 round notches in the top of your blocking to receive the SS bars.
acassidy posted 04-02-2003 08:14 PM ET (US)
Actually on mine I used 4 blocks not much bigger that the very top of the RPS legs where they screw into the seat. They are rounded off and rectangular instead of triangular. Worked out very well, just need longer screws. Archie
jimfar posted 04-02-2003 10:41 PM ET (US)
Bob,
I thought long and hard about how to raise my helm seat. Blocking that would match the top of the seat braces would not allow me to fit as large a drawer below the seat. I also did not like the thought of leaving the half-round notches looking like they did not belong if I put the risers on top of the legs. I did this mod 3 years ago. This winter I removed them for the first time to sand and re-oil. It's not been a big maintenance issue.
Archie, How did you get your web address to show up as a link? I see both on this forum.
Jim Farris
Barry posted 04-03-2003 09:31 AM ET (US)
Note that the original aluminum and early plastic RPS legs did not have the notches. http://members.aol.com/bburtensha/montauk/rps_leg.jpg On those models the SS bars were supported by additional wood blocking attached under the seat. As a result it would be easy to raise the seat by putting blocks directly under the seat.
On later models with the notched legs, in order to support the SS bars, you would either have to:
1. use a block of wood that would span the leg and, as lhg mentioned, notch it to duplicate the existing notches, OR
2. add a set of wood blocks similar to those used on the old style RPS.
Barry posted 04-03-2003 09:54 AM ET (US)
If your main concern is maintenance then you could always use Starboard or metal instead of wood. members.aol.com/bburtensha/outrage/rps1.jpg

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Author	Topic: Raising the RPS
bboeri	posted 04-02-2003 04:08 PM ET (US) Thinking about raising the RPS on my 88 Montauk again. I looked at the photos supplied by Jim Farris of his raised RPS with storage drawer underneath. He did an outstanding job. I am just wondering if anyone has given thought to raising the seat by placing the riser blocks directly under the seat rather than under the RPS legs and in contact with the deck? It seems to me that that would reduce the maintenance on the wood/varnish/oiled blocks. Any downside to this idea? Bob
acassidy	posted 04-02-2003 04:38 PM ET (US) I raised my seat 1” using 1” black starboard. I cut out two sets of the 1” pieces to raises my seat 2”, but only installed one set of the blocks. You can see the 1 inch blocks under the seat in one the pictures here http://www.seaofquilts.com/whaler.htm I need only now to buy a big gas tank. Archie
lhg	posted 04-02-2003 06:13 PM ET (US) Downside is figuring out how to make the 1/2 round notches in the top of your blocking to receive the SS bars.
acassidy	posted 04-02-2003 08:14 PM ET (US) Actually on mine I used 4 blocks not much bigger that the very top of the RPS legs where they screw into the seat. They are rounded off and rectangular instead of triangular. Worked out very well, just need longer screws. Archie
jimfar	posted 04-02-2003 10:41 PM ET (US) Bob, I thought long and hard about how to raise my helm seat. Blocking that would match the top of the seat braces would not allow me to fit as large a drawer below the seat. I also did not like the thought of leaving the half-round notches looking like they did not belong if I put the risers on top of the legs. I did this mod 3 years ago. This winter I removed them for the first time to sand and re-oil. It's not been a big maintenance issue. Archie, How did you get your web address to show up as a link? I see both on this forum. Jim Farris
Barry	posted 04-03-2003 09:31 AM ET (US) Note that the original aluminum and early plastic RPS legs did not have the notches. http://members.aol.com/bburtensha/montauk/rps_leg.jpg On those models the SS bars were supported by additional wood blocking attached under the seat. As a result it would be easy to raise the seat by putting blocks directly under the seat. On later models with the notched legs, in order to support the SS bars, you would either have to: 1. use a block of wood that would span the leg and, as lhg mentioned, notch it to duplicate the existing notches, OR 2. add a set of wood blocks similar to those used on the old style RPS.
Barry	posted 04-03-2003 09:54 AM ET (US) If your main concern is maintenance then you could always use Starboard or metal instead of wood. members.aol.com/bburtensha/outrage/rps1.jpg