Marine Pilot Chair
Marine Pilot Chair
Suspension helm seating for the wheelhouse.
A pedestal-mounted suspension operator seat for pilot vessels, tugs, workboats and bridge helm positions. 75 mm of mechanical suspension travel, 50–120 kg weight adjustment and a 180° turntable let a watchkeeper hold a working posture through a full shift — then turn to the console without leaving the seat.
75mm
Suspension Stroke
50-120 kg
Operator Weight Adjustment
180°C
Turn Table Rotation
180mm
Fore/AFT Travel
10mm Pitch
Product Overview
The Marine Pilot Chair is a fully suspended operator seat engineered for wheelhouses, pilothouses and control stations aboard working vessels — the seat a pilot, coxswain or watchkeeper occupies for hours at a stretch, through sea state, engine vibration and long transits.
A weight-compensating suspension absorbs vertical motion before it reaches the operator, with 75 mm of travel adjustable across a 50–120 kg range so ride quality holds regardless of who’s on watch. The turntable rotates a full 180°, letting the operator swing to face aft consoles or a second station without leaving the seat.
Every position — recline, armrest tilt, fore/aft slide — engages positively and holds under motion, so an adjustment made at the start of a watch stays put for the duration of it.
Engineering Data Sheet
Technical Specifications
All dimensions in millimetres unless stated. The seat is dimensioned at mid-ride of the 75 mm suspension travel and at the mid-position of fore/aft adjustment.
Principal dimensions
| Overall width | 629 ±15 |
| Seat width | 500 ±10 |
| Body / seat width | 460 ±10 |
| Headrest width | 353 ±10 |
| Headrest vertical dimension | 220 ±10 |
| Overall height | 1385 to 1530 (drawing) |
| Pedestal column dimension | 395 to 540 (drawing) |
| Central mounting width | 180 ±0.5 |
Adjustment & movement
| Suspension stroke | 75 mm mechanical |
| Weight adjustment range | 50–120 kg |
| Forward travel | 90 mm |
| Rearward travel | 90 mm |
| Total fore/aft range | 180 mm |
| Fore/aft pitch | 10 mm increments |
| Recline — front angle | 66° ±3° |
| Recline — rear angle | 72° ±3° |
| Turntable rotation | 180° anticlockwise |
Materials & finish
| Foam material | PU foam |
| Foam density | 50 ±5 kg/m³ |
| Cushion hardness | 270 ±30 N at 40% compression |
| Backrest hardness | 270 ±30 N at 40% compression |
| Upholstery | Fabric — Strom Black, Rhino Grey |
| Seam-line mismatch | ±10 mm max |
| Flammability standard | ISO 3795 · <102 mm/min |
| Metal finish | Black E-coat · Jainam Seat Spec. 120H |
Interface, marking & delivery
| Mounting plate size | 292 × 292 |
| Plate thickness | 6 mm |
| Fixing holes | 4 × Ø12 mm |
| Hole pattern | 180 × 220 |
| Seat belt approval ref. | E4-16R-0640365 |
| Seat index point | Measured to ISO 5353 |
| General tolerances | Foam ±10 mm · metal ±2 mm · angular ±2° |
| Packing | LDPE covered |
Six Adjustments that Holds Their Position
Key features & benefits
Mechanical suspension
75 mm stroke
Deck motion is absorbed by the seat, not the operator. The chair is dimensioned at mid-ride, giving equal travel up and down from the working position.
Weight adjustment
50 – 120 kg range
One chair suits every watchkeeper on board. The suspension is dialled to the individual, so it works at the right point in its stroke for a 55 kg pilot and a 115 kg deck officer alike.
180° turntable
Anticlockwise rotation
Turn from the forward helm to the chart table or after console without standing. Rotation is specified to be smooth and controlled, and to secure the intended operating position.
Indexed fore/aft travel
90 mm fore + 90 mm aft · 10 mm pitch
180 mm of total travel in repeatable 10 mm steps. A helm position found once can be returned to exactly, watch after watch, and each position locks positively.
Reclining backrest
66° front / 72° rear (±3°)
Move between an upright con position and a supported watchkeeping angle. An integrated headrest carries the neck at recline, and the backrest stays secure at the selected setting.
Four-point deck fixing
292 × 292 mm plate · 4 × Ø12 mm
A 6 mm plate on a 180 × 220 mm bolt pattern. No castors, no drift. The seat is specified to mount without forced alignment, interference or modification of the interface.
PU Foam
50 ±5 kg/m³
270 ±30 N @ 40%
Fire behaviour
ISO 3795
<102 mm/min horizontal
Metal finish
Black E-coat
Jainam Seat Spec. 120H
Restraint
Seat belt fitted
Approval E4-16R-0640365
Where thid Chair is Specified
Applications
Wheelhouse helm position
The primary con position, where a watchkeeper needs suspension, restraint and a repeatable fore/aft setting.
Pilot vessels
Pilot boats and crew transfer craft, where transit motion is continuous and the seat is occupied for the whole run.
Tugs & workboats
Towage and harbour work with frequent changes of heading — the turntable serves forward and aft control positions.
Patrol & fast response craft
High-speed operation where suspension travel and a fitted seat belt matter more than upholstery specification.
Survey & support vessels
Long station-keeping watches at a console, where recline and consistent foam support carry the shift.
Bridge simulators & training
Training bridges that need to reproduce the real helm interface, including mounting geometry and adjustment range.
Fixed Seating vs. Engineered Suspension
Why Suspension Seating
Typical figures shown for conventional fixed and generic suspension seating, for reference only.
| Comparison Factor | Fixed/Bench Seating | Standard Suspension Seat | Marine Pilot Chair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension travel | None — rigid mount | Typically 30–50 mm | ✓ 75 mm |
| Weight compensation | Not adjustable | Often fixed bands | ✓ 50–120 kg, continuous |
| Fore/aft travel | Minimal or none | ~60–100 mm typical | ✓ 180 mm, 10 mm pitch |
| Rotation | Fixed-facing | Rarely rotates | ✓ 180° turntable |
| Recline range | Single position or none | One recline stop | ✓ 66°–72°, positive lock |
| Armrest adjustment | Fixed | Fixed position | ✓ 5°–25° tilt |
| Upholstery flammability | Typically unrated | Varies by supplier | ✓ ISO 3795, <102 mm/min |
| Seat belt approval | Often absent | Varies | ✓ UNECE R16 (E4-16R-0640365) |
| Corrosion protection | Painted finish | Painted or plated | ✓ Black E-coat, Spec 120H |