242 with Bolsters
 

Hey guys I`m trying to buy some bolsters for my 242LS , I have a couple of questions how do they wire them for power power, these are coming out of a Formula. Also do I need to add any support the underneath the floor were they would bolt in. Last question anyone with pics would be great drivers side and passenger would be great. The wife feels we will lose to much space over our regular seats.


Thanks for any help

mark

Mark,

I have a pair of McLeods that came out of a Formula 292 SR-1 going in my 255.As you know they mount single side to the floor and the sides to the gunwale of the boat. They are solid and need no other reinforcement. Mine are spring/hydraulic manual so I can't speak to your power question.

I will say they do take up a lot of space and for anything other that offshore running in heavy seas are not practical for daily use as seats. I have swivel buckets (Original for my boat) now and plan to keep them as spares. They are great though for what they are designed for...Heavy Water and Seas. They support you in the rough stuff like nothing else. My 255 doesn't have any more room in the cockpit than your 242 does and the rear couch will be a bit cramped with the bolsters. I have so much free board that i am considering leveling the floor over my engines and moving the couch to the transom and have engine hatches in the floor to improve the room in the cockpit...I have enough depth to do that..

Before you make a final decision on the change over think about how you use your boat. If you run a lot in snotty offshore water you will benefit greatly from the drop out bolsters. If most of your use is on a relatively smooth lake you might not realize the full benefit that bolsters provide. I live on the shores of and boat in the Atlantic Ocean. The ocean can be relatively calm with 2-3 foot seas most days but can also kick up 3-5 feet and beyond very quickly. Those of us that run our deep vee offshore boats in this environment accept that and equip our boats to deal with it. If I wasn't boating primarily in the ocean I would not go to the trouble and expense of installing these that I have but since I do I will prepare myself for that. My wife will not go with me offshore in anything beyond 3' seas..she can't stand the pounding...,even with the bolsters. If she is with me I have to stay inside in the Intracoastal and put around unless seas are less than 3 feet.

I hope this helps your thinking and answers part of your questions.

Thanks Sprink these bolsters are out of a late 80`s Formula, they are not power , they sound just like yours. Well our 242 spends most of the time on our river going to beaches and hanging out in some of the shallow areas. We never see any real rough water, unless we head to the shore or one of the larger lakes. I will ask a stupid question the the spring/ hydraulic does not need any power hence spring loaded to adjust the seat were you want it. My big problem is I want something to lean against and I thought this would be a great option,even with the bucket seats I can put a large cooler behind it. I hated reading your post you sound like the voice of reason just like my wife maybe I should listen.

I thought this would be good little project, nothing like you or befu I don`t think my pea brain could handle that:lolhit:

thanks

do it and you will never go w/o again, its just plain more comfy for every day running, and since they are era correct they will look like the belong, and yes i hide a cooler there all the time

I had a boat (non Formula) that had a swivel captain seat and hated it. I like to stand while i drive unless im in no wake zones. The captain would not slide back far enough to let me stand comfortably. Our 242 had bolsters from the factory and I couldn't imagine it any other way. You will love the extra support they provide you crossing the wakes of other boats in the river.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...9c1ea9124e.jpg

Thanks guys I am hoping to here from the board member on weather we have a deal or not it`s killing me. Fischan great looking ride.

Hey...don't get me wrong...I love the things for my use. I didn't put mine together for sitting around drinking beer and listening to the sound system!! With out the Bolsters in our environment here I would end up with serious spinal and hip injuries.

I have been out in 3-5 ft snot with Diego in his 272 SR-1 with bolsters running hard. Without them you wouldn't be able to stay in the boat!!

It would be awesome to run in the ocean! Our bay is shallow and gets snotty real quick with small amounts of wind. 3-5 footers here make it tough to for our little boat to even be on plane.

Sprink I have seen that video looks like you guys had a great afternoon, wish we had a little rough water here. My parents live in southern Maine, there boat is in the water so it`s nice to get in some big water I love the smell of salt water.

Masi-
Make sure you get the brackets that mount the seat to the side of the boat. You will need to drill three new holes for a 242, lower in the bracket to make it work but that's easy. I also agree with almost everyone else. Buckets suck and bolsters are WAY better in almost every area. Yes you cannot pivot the seat around but I just sit on the dash and put my feet on the bolster. To be honest its the most comfortable place in the boat when chilling out other than the sun pad.

That was the best upgrade I ever did to our 242, I don't think the bolsters got in the way anymore than the swivel seats that always seemed to turn when I didn't need them to.

endeavor, you are right drill a couple of holes and we should be good, they are coming out of a 272 I assume these cockpits are very close in size so there should not be any problems.

Besides losing the ability to turn the seat around I would think that`s all I will lose. With the bottom all the way up you can still sit in them correct like a regular seat.

Plus they look cool, and I`m on vacation starting Sat. for two weeks would be nice to get them

I have an 84 272 and it's my first boat with bolsters. I wouldn't have another boat without them!!! I hook a cooler with cup holders behind each bolster under those damn ugly angle braces that hold the bolsters!!! People love the coolers for foot rests and my boat has only 2 cup holders in the whole cockpit!!! Wtf is up with that??? I guess the cupholder issue would be a different thread!! Lol

Thanks guys I talked to smoking gun member here,today looks like I will be picking them thurs, now the wife says they must be redone before they go in the boat.
I guess it`s the right thing to do.

The gray/red/black would look out of place if they are going in the boat in your avatar. Congrats on your upgrade!

A upgrade u will not regret

As far as attaching them to the floor hard to know. Formula puts a metal plate under the floot on boat with bolsters. I have no idea if they put that plate under your floor were your boat did not have bolsters. I bet you could call up TAG and ask them? The leg will drop down over your gas tank cover. I had my cover out and re-cored the entire cockpit but dont' remember if there was a plate there or not. I put one in. Rember there is a gas tank under there so don't go putting 8" long screws in there! 1 1/2" should be plenty!!! My guess is that if you drill out the hole for the screws and there is a metal plate there you will see the shavings when you drill through. Worste case is Mark were the holes will go and lift up the floor and put in a plate. Not hard to do at all in most of them, 357's are a ***** but I think the 242's are not bad.

Jon

Jon, if there is a metal plate would there be a nut on the other side, or do you simply just screw into the metal. The fiberglass floor looks to have 8-10 small screws, just pull them out and the floor should come up theoretically.http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...ormula-006.jpg

Then just drill some holes for the back rest

99.9 percent sure that formula thru bolts everything, and it is very important you have a metal plate made doesnt have to be perfect, other wise you will be ripping up your floor, also Smokin Gun has been around and I imagine he probably will have the hardware if not unless they strip out reuse your screws and nuts from the pedestal's, also plan on getting a carpet made to go around the bolsters, that way you hide any imperfections from where pedestal's are,,

take photos and keep us posted

Please take pics when you get them. I am installing mine now from a '92 292. They were recovered recently but the idiot that did it covered up the push button hole on the arm rest. I contacted McLeod and got 2: new actuator cables and buttons. I had to have 2: new Button Escutcheons made from Stainless steel based on dimensions I got from McLeod. Don't loose your button Escutcheons because they are no longer made...cost me $40 each at a machine shop...OUCH!!! In any case i got all the mounting angles and screws....very heavy stuff!!

I plan to build an angled foot rest at the base of the cockpit/cabin bulkhead and cover it with carpet. Got to have the angled foot rest to compliment the bolster while standing. Also looking for the grab bar for the backs of the seat and I can probably buy the passenger front grab bar at West. Any ideas on where to get the rear grab bars?

I know my 255 doesn't have a plate because no 255 Formulas ever left the factory with bolsters...McLeod wasn't in business yet!! My tank cover comes up so I can re enforce mine. I might just 5200 a stainless plate to the floor and use industrial stainless self taping zip screws used in structural framing to attach the legs. Still thinking about it.

As I recall the plate was about 1/4" thick maybe alluminum? It was about 2" wide or so and maybe 2 feet long? Going from memory on all this. They threaded the alluminum . I put 1/8" stainless plate in and welded nuts to that. Figured it was a little stronger but also no disimiliar metal issue.

I will assume my floor does not have the plate under the floor, so lift the floor and either use 5200 or epoxy to secure a plate it in place. I like the thought of welding a nut on the underside. I know my brother-inlaw works with a lot of stainless any problem with that?

I know this is not a huge project, but I do appreciate all help.

Well just and update,picked up the Bolsters last nite from Smokin Gun, what a nice guy talked for at least 2 hours about boats, any body looking to do business with is in good hands and very fair. thanks Gordon

Glad that all worked out for you and you got the bolsters. I would love a set, but tough to find. Not sure if it would be the best either with most of our running being on an inland lake.

What condition are your buckets in and what are you going to be doing with them?

Brian

The buckets are in great condition, not sure what we`ll do with them, but I hate clutter around the house. I will let you know if they need to go.

Bolsters are awesome Brian. I can sit or stand. Best of both worlds. If you find a set go for it!!

Totally transformed my old 255.

Make sure you get ALL of the mounting hardware...especially the angles that mount to the sides...they would be difficult to duplicate.

Oh, I would. It is tough finding a set and I do not want to spend close to $2,000 on a "entry level" set by the time they are delivered. I think I have seen the mechanical drop ones in white for starting at $1500 plus colors plus shipping. I do prefer to drive standing up. Sitting my head is just above the windshield and the wind is worse there than standing!

Brian

[ATTACH=CONFIG]506812[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]506813[/ATTACH]Well my seats are home but a lot of work ahead of me I did not realize they got this wet. Trust me these seats are made pretty well. Hopefully they will get back in this rig sad thing is I`ll have to wait till May.[ATTACH=CONFIG]506811[/ATTACH]

It`s been a while since I posted some pics what a pain in the a$$. not easy being stupid.

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Well spring is coming and just got my bolsters back from my upolstery guy and thought they came out great, also had one of the actuators rebuilt. Now just waiting for some nice weather to get some work done. I hope the pics come out ok just got this new ipad2 now I can see what i am typing.[ATTACH=CONFIG]521217[/ATTACH]

We'll just a little update I now have a 242 with bolsters can't wait to get on the water. I think they came out pretty nice.[ATTACH=CONFIG]523096[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]523097[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]523098[/ATTACH]

hell ya look great, u will not regret this money spent I promise

Thanks, I think it was money spent well also.

Cool project. Turned out great!

Did you through bolt or weld nuts to a plate?

I thru bolted, i did use some stainless or aluminum as a backer and tapped it, very solid.

Do you still have the original seats?

Sorry Sprink sold them to a member in New Hampshire.

Mine are still in the boat but I plan on taking them out in a few weeks.