Seating for Otter mag Lodge

[MNmikew]

Was wondering what folks use for seats in your Otter. I dont feel like spending a buck fidy for the Otter seat options. Right now Im just using a couple folding chairs was wondering what other people have come up with. Chairs must have backs. I would like something that would take up less floor space that the folding chairs do.

TIA

MIKE

[Gissert]

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB30&Number=256305&Forum=f30&Words=butt%20bridge&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=256297&Search=true&where=sub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=&newertype=w&olderval=1&oldertype=w&bodyprev=#Post256305

Here are some plans that my brother T-Bone came up with a few years back. If you have basic shop tools, they are easy to make.

[MNmikew]

Thanks Gissert, looks like a great idea. Hopefully a woodworkingly challanged person like myself can build em.

[Gissert]

They are quite easy to build.

I would make them 13 inches wide. The back angle works out to about 11 or 12 degrees. Just kind of eyeball it till it feels like a comfortable angle.

There was lots of discussion on variants of this seat. Do a subject search on here for 'butt bridge" and you should find a lot of info.

Thay are VERY simple to build.

[hawkeye43]

Yhey are very nice and are not that hard to make.

[MNmikew]

Hey Gissert, I printed out the plans and your right it dosent look too hard to build. I have one question on seat back supports an bottom. Whats the width of these? the drawing shows them with lenghts but no width. It says actual size shown but this is also been shrunk to fit on a single page.

thanks

Mike

[ChuckN]

Mike,

Check out this current thread about seats.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=483925&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

I've sat in Gissert's Butt Bridges, and they are nice. I, however, have poor woodworking skills and patience. I chose to go with the bench seat, since I've tried every seat out there over the years and this I liked the best.

[Eyewitness]

Here is a very simple, very comfortable way to seat yourself in your Otter sled. Buy some 1-1/2" aluminum angle and make two 48" long pieces. These you will mount on the inside of your sled about 1/2" below the top edge. Invert the angle so that it is corner side up when mounting. In other words, the bottom of the angle should be facing up. Drill holes (4) spaced evenly across the length of the angle through the sled and bolt angles to inside edge of sled. I would use 3/8 bolts with lock washers. Now find a piece of 2x10 or 2x12 and cut it to length so that it just fits inside the tub and rests on the angles. Go to Fleet Farm or whereever suites you and buy a nice comfortable CLOTH covered boat seat with the swivel base. (Almost all boat seats come with these swivel mounts) Remove swivel mount from seat (4 screws), and mount base to wood. Then mount seat to base. Make sure you have the seat back into the sled far enough so you are comfortable. A good confortable seat will be about $30. You will love this set up. You can slide it back and forth on the rails so you can fit another person in with chair if needed. Plus the rails and wood behind the seat will serve as a place to set jigs, pliers, or what ever. The seat will fold flat and then simply set the plank and seat down in the tub when traveling. You will be glad for the extra cushion and comfort on long days, plus it will insulate your bottom better. The good back support will also be something that you will enjoy. Cheap plastic seats and vinal save a couple bucks, but the extra comfort is worth every penny. My seat is even camo and looks great. The whole thing should only take you less than an hour to put together. I've seen and used lots of seat get ups, but have yet to find one I like better. Good luck!

[MNmikew]

Great idea Eye! Happen to know a good place to get some alum. angle in the metro?

Mike

[Eyewitness]

Pretty sure I just got my stuff at Fleet Farm. If I remember right they come in precut lengths.