Take a Seat
Cost: $4,000 to $10,000

Can you put a price on comfort? The
answer is yes, if that comfort comes in
the form of your boat’s helm chair. If
you’ve ever cruised nonstop for long
distances, run in a serious chop or a
confused ocean, or endured some other
foul weather-related at-sea scenario, you
know that your helm seat is the unsung
hero of your boat’s helm station (and
your butt).

Choosing a significantly upgraded seat
to replace your worn and tired chair is
obviously a matter of personal
preference, but in making your selection,
remember that this is the one place where
you should not spare expense.

I’ve had great boating experiences in
the comfort of a fully cushioned,
electrically adjustable high-back chair,
like the ones from Stidd, a company that
has been in the business of providing
superior comfort in adverse conditions
for decades.

That said, I’ve also enjoyed running
boats with Pompanette’s Platinum Series
Chairs and their
telescoping pedestals
(I’m short and need the
adjustment), sliding
armrests, and powdercoated
finishes. And
at about $5,500, these
are also solidperforming,
moderately
priced chairs.

Teak ladderback
helm seats, like
those sold by
Release Marine,
Bluewater Chairs,
and Murray Brothers, are
often seen on hardcore
sportfishing boats.
And there
certainly is a lot
of eye appeal to
these golden-hue
beauties when
they’re set against
the brightness of
their stainless steel
pedestals. Add a
high-quality seat
cushion, and I’ve found
them to be pretty comfortable
when running in a sea. (The boat’s
a factor, too.)

Whether it’s soft and cushy or
sleek and sexy, a helm chair is an
investment that can pay dividends
for your back and when you decide
it’s time for a new dreamboat.

—Capt.Patrick Sciacca

Tune in Anywhere
Cost: $2,000 and up

Say you’re spending a week
onboard your boat with your
family. If you want to follow
the news or let the kids watch
cartoons, there’s really only
one option: satellite TV. As
Chris Watson, marketing
director for KVH explains,
“Adding satellite TV to any boat increases
its appeal and entertainment value at a
relatively low cost.” It also does wonders
for her resale value.

Whether you’re upgrading from a
traditional antenna or installing TV for
the first time, there are two giants on the
market that you’d do well to consider—
KVH and Intellian. While the companies
offer different products, both make good
on a similar promise: ensuring that you
can enjoy hundreds of channels and access
to HDTV programming while at sea.

So what system’s right for
you? “Most customers will buy
an antenna relative in size to
their boat and how far away
from land their excursions will
take them,” explains Aaron
Friedman, marketing manager for
Intellian. “The further away from
land they are, the larger the antenna
needed.” Intellian manufactures antennas
as small as 11″ and as large as 49.2″, while
KVH’s TracVision systems have antenna
dishes that range from 12.5″
to 32″ in diameter.

When it comes to
installation, Watson says
that KVH recommends
customers work with an
authorized dealer for its
larger systems, “[but] our
14-inch TracVision M3
and our 12-inch TracVision M1 use only
a single cable, support satellite TV
services throughout North America, and
are easily installed by a do-it-yourself
boat owner.” According to Friedman,
Intellian also suggests that most
installations be carried out by a pro,
though he adds that “[We] designed [our]
satellite systems so that the setup is very
simple and can be accomplished in a short
period of time. Each unit includes a setup
guide that provides step-by-step
instructions.”

With the possibility of a DIY installation
and the promise of
hundreds of channels, the benefits of
upgrading to satellite TV are—
forgive me—clear
indeed.

—Catherine Pearson

This article originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.