Adding a lifting, swiveling, sliding seat pedestal (going double to single on a Salt)

[haugy]

Okay boys and girls, here's another custom modification for your Supra's. Note this can be used on any Supra, even Comps/Conbrios and Mariah/Bravuras with the low sitting seat platforms.

This design has some flexibilties, it comes down to you measuring how high you want this to go.

Let's start with what we had. In the Saltares, as those who own them know, it is a dual captains chair set up.







As you can see, it intrudes into the walking space for the observers seat, and the bow. It was always in the way, and just a pain. My wife and I rarely sat there together as it was too tight for us, and we're small. So it was time for it to go.

With that, I decided if I was going to fix the seat layout, I wanted to fix the low riding fixed position seating as well.

[haugy]

Let's start with the option for a seating replacement. As you know, I'm a die hard, I want everything to be as close to original as possible. Since my 89 Comp met an undignified end at the hand of vandals, I was able to salvage much of her. As many know, her engine breathes in my CJ. Well I still have some of her key components, one being the original 1989 Supra Comp Captains chair from the first Supra I ever knew.

It has been sitting in storage for over a decade.





Now it looked rough, but thanks to my vinyl guy, he made it brand new, and matched my black trim PERFECTLY.

So now, I need to figure out what to use. After many hours of research I came to some realizations. I wanted a Hydraulic actuated seat so all I had to do would be pull a lever and the seat would lift automatically. Well, they are available, but not in a very low height for what I needed. Most were for fishing boats or offshore boats. And if they did have them low enough, you had to cut a hole in the floor to mount the hydraulic lift resevoir. On top of that, they were expensive.

So I finally found a company with a variety of sizes, types, models, etc that would work for any Supra owner, and so far I've been real pleased with the product. It is as advertised.

Garelick www.garelick makes some really good products.

The specific products I chose are the adjustable height with locking pin (Smooth finish). The one I'm linking is the ribbed series, the smooth is not shown on their website.

Adjustable Height Series with positive pin lock



This seat works by you loosening the main set screw that holds the seat steady, and once loose you pull a small locking pin. This keeps the seat in place not matter what. Also handy when you lift the seat and all you have to do is let go of the pin, and then screw the seat screw tight.

They have them in 12"-17" in height, and 18"-24". I chose the 12"-17" height. At 12" it's almost stock height for the Saltare, just a tad bit over. This height would be great for a Comp owner or Mariah. As the stock seat bases are only 4" high. 12" would get you much higher, while barely being over the windshield height. Raise it to 17" and you are clear of the windshield.

On the Saltare, I can raise the seat to max height and my eye line is just barely above the windshield. And I'm 5'9". This is great as it lets me enjoy the wind, while not having to strain to sit up over the window. As well as my line of sight is much better at all times.

[haugy]

Now, comes to the seat mount itself. Most everyone has the sliders on their seats. And those are nice for adjusting, but I still wasn't satisfied.

I wanted to be able to turn my seat around, and slide easily. I always had to do some sort of butt shimmy type maneuver to get the seat forward or back, and normally overshot my choice.

Back to Garelick again. They have a seat slider that clamps onto the pedestal I chose. It allows the seat to move forward and backward effortlessly, and will allow it to swivel with a locking tab so it doesn't swivel randomly.

I chose their Millenium series mount.



It does all the things I need, and IT FITS THE SUPRA STYLE SEATS! That's right, not only did it fit my Saltare seat, it fits my Comp seats as well.

NOTE: The sliding mount has an option. You can have the slider actuator on the right or left. But if it's on the left, that means the swivel arm actuator is on the right, which you can't reach easily on our boats. So make sure you get the one with the slider actuator arm on the RIGHT SIDE.

You can mount the pedestal anywhere you want on your floor, after you clean up from the last one of course.

And this is the end result.

[haugy]

I was showing how the seat can be turned around, and then a terrible lighting storm came up. And in a metal shop, that is loud as hell. So I'll get more of the height later.





WHAT I LEARNED:

1) That lubrication makes the lifting much easier. As you can see I have red axle grease on the sliding points. It was a royal bitch to get that thing up and down until I lubed it. I chose red so people would see it and not be inclined to grab the middle thinking it was clean. It does still require two hands to get it up and down (mainly up), but it's easy. And I don't go up and down, I've left it all the way up since I had it, and love it.

2) PLAN CAREFULLY! I knew this was going to happen and am fine with it, but want others to be aware of it. If you lift this seat up, and keep it close to original location, good luck finding reverse. That's right, your boat will have a hard time shifting into reverse due to the seat being in the way now. I placed my seat so all I had to do was scoot it back just a tad and I could hammer down in reverse. And since it's so easy to slide on this one, I was okay with that. I can still hit reverse, but just at idle speed. So think about that before you mount.

[haugy]

Here is the seat at max height, low is standard height (I have the low shot if needed):




View after all that space is gained from a single seat:





And here is the Supra Comp seat that has been revitalized, all stitching matches, and the piping. The flash made it look brighter than it is.

[Okie Boarder]

Looks really good....that's one to add to my list. So to lift it you have to pull the locking pin then the large pin?

[Sdc77]

As always, very impressive work !

[dickboxers]

Very nice. Just worried about being to high in my comp. Can you give me the measurement from the floor to the top of the seat where my butt will go (with the seat all the way down). I want to see where my line of sight will be.

[haugy]

Yeah, I'll do that tomorrow. Garelick has a shorter one somewhere on the site, I'll see if I can find it.

[jzelt]

First, I thought the red was all the blood you poured.
Also, where is the wife/gf supposed to ride now while you r driving