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PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:22 am 
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Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:35 am
Posts: 247
Location: Ogden, Utah
I wanted a higher seat in my PA14, for a better leg angle while pedaling, and for general comfort. It would also allow my old bones to stand up easier!

Here's what I built, in rough state but fitted together. After a trial or two on the water, I'll round the edges with a router and then sand and finish it.

Parts List:
One 32" length of 2x4 (I used a piece of fir with straight grain)
Four 1/4" x 1½" galvanized cap-head bolts
Two 1/4" x 3" bolts
Two 1/4" x 4" bolts
Four 1/4" nuts and eight washers

Cut the 2x4 into two 16" pieces. Mark the bolt hole locations. Using a hole saw, drill two 1½" holes through the sides of each riser, centered. Drill four 5/16" bolt holes from top and bottom, into the large holes. Assemble. Attach the risers to the seat using four 1½" bolts and washers. Attach the aluminum base using the 4" and 3" bolts, with washers and nuts.

Here are the risers attached to the base, for clarity. (I trimmed the riser ends at 45° for a better look.)

Image

Here's the seat and base, upside-down

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Here's the assembled unit from the side

Image

And from the front

Image

Note the added storage room, too! Total cost was about five dollars. Hard to beat that.

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PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:10 pm 
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Location: Ogden, Utah
A hundred views and not one question? How odd.

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PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:07 pm 
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That's because you did too good of a job explaining what you built lol.

I like the higher seat idea, but I just added the slider and it raised it around 2".

Thanks for posting your build.

Stan


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:14 am 
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Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:35 am
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Location: Ogden, Utah
Being a writer, I'll take that as a compliment!

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PostPosted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:15 am 
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Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:35 am
Posts: 112
How much does this raise the seat, and is it returnable to the original height?
Maybe this isn't a problem, as I don't know where the handle is on the PA14, but....

I'm hearing on the PA12 that when that seat is raised, the user has to adjust the pedals and bend and stretch to reach the steering - which may be of concern to some - but they can easily put the seat back down if desired?

We'll see how this is dealt with on the PA12 - Is there a suicide knob (yes, showing my age now) that can be screwed into the threaded area on the end of handle to provide and extension bar/handle to an "appropriate" height, and angled or staked somehow to offset the increased torque on the handle?


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:01 pm 
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Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:35 am
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Location: Ogden, Utah
Well, obviously, the seat is raised the width of a 2x4 - which is actually about 3.5". And it is completely reversible (provided you don't misplace the original bolts) in about ten minutes.

The steering handle on my PA14 is where the middle rod handle would sit on the left side. It would be a simple matter to screw in an extension to the handle end as it comes pre-threaded for one. Hobie offers such an extension, but it would be simple to cobble together one of your own using a 1/4" bolt and whatever extender you'd like. Just keep the diameter small or the handle will interfere with the left grab bar/ handle. It already does, somewhat. (My turning radius is a lot smaller in a right turn than left.)

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:03 pm 
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Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:35 am
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Location: Ogden, Utah
Finally got the boat out today to test that seat mod.

Folks, it's magic. My leg angle from hips to pedals is MUCH improved. That means I'm no longer resting right on my tailbone the whole time. Discomfort and fatigue are drastically reduced.

Now, I can take it apart and "purdy" it up some with rounded edges and some sealer and stain.

I recommend this mod to anyone who owns a PA-14.

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PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2018 7:34 am 
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Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2018 9:01 am
Posts: 152
Location: Near Austin, TX
BINGO!

Fab idea, simple, elegant, love it! Did you have to take the lower seat mesh off to get to the recessed 1/2 X 20 nuts?

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Roy Niswanger


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