RPS Seat Height

[Will]

I removed the RPS from my 1991 19 Outrage several years ago in favor of a leaning post. Now I am going to put the RPS back in. I am 6-feet and my wife is 5-feet 7-inches in height. I want to raise the height of the RPS to better see over the console when sitting and use it as a leaning post when standing with the backrest forward.

I am considering a 6-inch lift.

Q1: [A survey] to what height have others raised an RPS?

Q2: To what height do you suggest raising the RPS?

Q3: [A survey] what materials have been used to raise an RPS?

Q4: [A survey] has a riser been placed between the OEM base and Z legs or under the base?

—Will

[jimh]

Will—Q1, Q3, and Q4 are asking for surveys. I don’t have any survey data to share. Asking for advice or recommendations is generally better than to ask for surveys.

I have not raised an RPS. I have seen three examples of a raised RPS in OUTRAGE 18, 22, and 25 boats. All were for helmsmen over six-feet and as tall as perhaps six-feet three-inches. All were constructed from teak wood fastened to the deck and the Z-legs fastened to the teak.

The best example I have ever seen was constructed by Jerry—unfortunately now passed away—on his Outrage 22 boat SPOUTER.


Fig. 1. Very well-designed and well-crafted teak risers for increasing the height of the center console and RPS.

Other examples were similar but used square cut lumber instead of the nicely tapered style that Jerry used.

Typically teak boards of about 1-inch thick were laminated to create the riser height.

Note also that the console height was also raised in proportion to the RPS height. Inasmuch as you mentioned wanting to see over the windshield, perhaps raising to console won’t be in your plans.

As for suggested height, test a higher seat level by using a throwable PFD. They are usually square cut stiff foam about two or three inches thick. Since you are five inches taller than your wife, you may need to compromise on the height increase.

When modifying a classic Boston Whaler the work should match the aesthetic of the original. In the use of teak on the classic Outrage boats that was nicely achieved.

Here is a view of SPOUTER—a great name for a “Whaler” by the way—underway with the raised RPS in use:


Fig. 2. Jerry aboard his OUTRAGE 22, SPOUTER.

[Will]

Thank you Jim as always. SPOUTER is a beautiful boat.

Will

[Phil T]

Over the last 17 years, among those Boston Whaler boat owners with a Reverisble Pilot Seat that raised the seat and the console, about three-quarter of them raised them four-inches, and the other raised them six-inches. Typically the height of these boat owners would be 5-feet 11-inches or taller.

I would caution that while raising the RPS is good for you, any passenger or child under 5-feet 5-inches may not like it.

At 6-feet 2-inches myself, I raised my RPS six inches, and I used Trex-branded decking in brown for the blocks and boards. I copied LHG's and Jerry's example. First block used existing holes, next was off set, third offset again, top plank used original Z-leg holes with long screws going into blocks two and three.

[jimh]

Regarding how the height of the RPS and the console came to be as they are, at the time these elements of the boat were designed, the head of engineering was the legendary Bob Dougherty. I had the pleasure of meeting Bob many years ago, and the photograph below memorializes that event. You can make your own estimate of Bob's height by comparing to my height, which is 5-feet 10.5-inches.

Fig. 3. Bob Dougherty and Jim H at the Miami Boat Show in 2004.

BobDandJimH.jpg (143.51 KiB) Viewed 3109 times

[MikeUFCfan]

[SPOUTER is a] great looking boat.

ASIDE: I took inspiration from SPOUTER when raising the RPS on my boat:
https://continuouswave.com/forum/viewto ... f=6&t=8238

Mike