Baron 20 Front Bench Seat

[tokyosencho]

Interested in thoughts about this idea...

My second Baron is in restoration, with new paint inside and out, new engine package, new upholstery, all pending. All original hardware cleaned up original gauges and dashboard, etc.

I am toying with the idea of building a removable bench seat, with fiberglass back and bottom down to the deck so there would be storage underneath and cupboards in the back for whiskey decanters, glasses, etc. (for emergency only), with the top of the bench seat maybe 3 or 4 inches wide in fiberglass molding to the gunwales port and stbd, so it looks like the boat is built like that. It would be a full two cockpit boat.

Caught a glimpse of Rockets, 20 Baron "Rocketsship" which looks like he has a bench seat on that. Not sure from the picture.

I'm all about originality, but I think this would be a nice upgrade... I've never really been into the front bucket seats on the Baron.... In any case I would keep the front seats and engineer the bench seat to be easily removable so the original seats could be reinstalled with ease.

One extra question... does anyone know what the original steering wheel looked like on a 20 Baron?

Cheers
Nigel.

[Tony Meola]

Nigel

As you probably know that in re-doing any Bertram, the only thing that upsets members is putting an outboard on a 31. So if it is a bench seat you would like to have build it and enjoy it.

Rocket might be the best one to contact as too how the original wheel looked.

[tokyosencho]

Thanks Tony,

Not sure if Rocket is checking this forum so much anymore... sent him a PM a few weeks ago but no reply yet… no worries.

[Rocket]

Sorry about the lack of response! My kid is ski racing and i am busy being a volunteer!

I went with a bench seat for my Baron. It comfortably fits four people wide. I love it because when you have people in the boat, everyone wants to ride up front, nice view, out of the wind. I can get you dimensions, but i would say keep the front bench from being too deep and too far away from wheel. Think about your position behind the wheel. The windshield can be at a slightly awkward height, so think about that as well. My bench has storage underneath ( you are pretty sophisticated with the whiskey decanters, mine fit a 24 pack of beer!) also, the back is open so you can kneel on the bench and put your feet through the back . I also thought about being able to stand in front of the bench in rough weather while still being comfortable at the wheel. I also made sure that you can walk on the seats, jump down from the gunwhales without worrying about the structure of the seats. Mine could withstand a full compliment if Tony’s fat friends jumping up and down.

Since the demise of free photobucket I have not been able to figure out picture posting but I am happy to send pictures by email. My email address is rod at urban impact dot com all one word.

[Carl]

Since the demise of free photobucket I have not been able to figure out picture posting but I am happy to send pictures by email. My email address is rod at urban impact dot com all one word.

Photobucket is back up

[tokyosencho]

For someone who was previously addicted to Fino 30's I have now become a Baron 20 addict.

For anyone interested

Here is a link to pictures of BOX my first Baron that has just arrived to my place in Japan. All original apart from an engine change in 1971. I have cushions for the engine cover too that sit snugly inside the rail, complete with the same red strip which is a excellent addition I think.




And here is a link to my second Baron SNATCH, which just arrived to my house in Florida. She is in need of some serious loving and will be getting it over then next few months.... hope to have her turned around, re-wooded, re-engined, re-painted and re-upholstered and looking splendid sometime in June.



Will post more pics as she comes back to life.

Cheers
Nigel.

[tokyosencho]

I think I might have answered my own question about the steering wheel on a Baron,

Here is a old advert scan and if you zoom in on the top two pics

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ao_5_fOYcCuHgZjOQnMg5KDF7FQ5bi8

you find a wheel possibly like these two

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ao_5_fOYcCuHgZjORHf-AAfUns3DfE0

or

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ao_5_fOYcCuHgZjOQyuQ_Bbdb0yzo2U

Cheers
Nigel.

[Yannis]

Fino 30 ! What a boat. I saw one a few years back, docked right on my side. A couple with a little girl inside, touring the islands.
I always wondered where they slept, when the guy told me that the girls sleep inside and him on the rear couch. He didnt seem to bother at all.
Was a tender boat on a superyacht before this guy bought it. What a marvel!

[tokyosencho]

Fino 30 ! What a boat. I saw one a few years back, docked right on my side. A couple with a little girl inside, touring the islands.
I always wondered where they slept, when the guy told me that the girls sleep inside and him on the rear couch. He didnt seem to bother at all.
Was a tender boat on a superyacht before this guy bought it. What a marvel!

Yep even rarer than the Baron... I heard less than 30 were made at the Magnum yard in Thunder Alley north Miami in the early 70's... stunning boat. I tried to buy one last year in genoa, but the owner took it off the market the day before I submitted a written offer.... I called him 6 months later and the swine had sold it, but said he regretted selling it every day.

Such a shame they never took off.

[Tommy]

Nigel, your Baron is stunning; congratulations on being a top steward of these classics!