1964 NAUSET with Aft-Facing Bench Seat Attached to Helm Seat

[Dave_a]

Q1: is the unusual aft-facing bench seat seen below in Figure 1 an original component for a 1964 NAUSET?

Fig. 1. A seat from a 1964 NAUSET whose authenticity is under discussion. The aft-facing bench seat has a hinged storage compartment below the seat.

seat_.jpg (30.93 KiB) Viewed 1396 times

A [prior] owner's son believes the aft-facing seat was original, built and installed by Boston Whaler. The aft-facing seat with storage below it is attached to the forward-facing seat with two through-bolts. The seat base lifts up to access the storage area which is painted sea foam green inside.


ASIDE: Jimh - perhaps you can rotate the picture's orientation? [I did--jimh]

[Phil T]

The pilot seat portion is original. The seat base and storage part is not.

[Dave_a]

As I suspected, Phil. Thank you for confirmation.

I am tired of stripping wood.

[On a 1964 NAUSET boat] there is little storage space for fenders and lines.

Q2: what is a period-correct solution to add storage space for fenders and line to a 1964 NAUSET boat?

Q3: what options were offered in 1964 by Boston Whaler for adding storage?

[jimh]

The seat seen in Figure 1 with an unusual aft-facing bench seat is not likely to be an OEM product from Boston Whaler. The rather crude square cut to the leg of the seat is the giveaway to non-Boston Whaler origin. The portion of the seat that is the forward facing bench seat is likely an original NAUSET seat.

The aft-facing seat might have been added to the boat at some time in the past, but I doubt that the seat was made and installed at the Boston Whaler factory, as it does not seem to have the usual attention to the appearance and aesthetic of Boston Whaler wood craftsmanship.

To provide a place for dry storage, use a small cooler.

[Phil T]

I typically stow fenders inboard of their deployed position.

If you have rails, you can use a bungie cord and secure them to the rail horizontally.

[jimh]

If you like the storage and seating provided by the aft-facing seat, there is no reason to remove it just because it might not be something made by Boston Whaler.

[Dave_a]

I might re-finish [the aft-facing seat], but I believe the wood and workmanship are bit below the solid simplicity of the Boston Whaler woodwork. On the other hand, this [58]-year-old 1964 NAUSET is supposed to be a fish boat.

I might get a cooler with a seat cushion, and the cooler might have cold beer in it. Both will allow me to sit and stare at the new Yamaha F70 engine for which I just paid too much money. I remember saving in c.1965 and buying a Johnson 40-HP engine for about $600. I will probably need the beer.

[Phil T]

Dave -

I emailed you the Whaler measured drawing for the Nauset seat. Consider rebuilding it back to original. Maybe make the height higher to store a cooler underneath.

Keeping the interior components helps preserve the value.