Seats

How to Choose the Right Boat Seats

When it comes to choosing the perfect seat for your boat, comfort is going to be one of your biggest concerns. The next most important factor is the purpose of the seat. Are you using it for passengers, the pilot, or is it a seat for fishing? Each of those options would require different seats. Here, we will walk you through the process of choosing the right boat seats.

Understand the Seat’s Purpose

There are a number of different purposes that a boat seat can serve. The first step to choosing the right one is to determine this purpose. Is this going to be the driver’s seat or a passenger’s seat? Maybe you need to replace the fishing seat?

Once you know the type of seat, there are a couple of additional considerations. Determine how many passengers your boat will need. If your boat does not have any storage, then you should consider investing in a seat designed with base storage.

Choosing the Design

Now we’ll need to understand the different designs that are available. This is an area where your choice is going to come down to how much money you can spend. The comfort of the seat is determined by the material and the most comfortable materials are more expensive. But comfort will not be the only consideration. You want to make sure that your seat will hold up in harsh environments. Of course, if you are just outfitting a small two-seat fishing boat then comfort is not as important as outfitting a pontoon boat.

Boat seats will have foam padding that provides lumbar support and cushioning that is designed to absorb shock. These are all designed to provide maximum comfort for riders. If you can afford it, then I recommend you find seats with cushions that are made with marine-grade vinyl. This material offers really amazing comfort and is also quite resistant to mildew.

The cushion is not the only concern though. You’ll need to make sure that you get a sturdy inside and outside frame. These are usually made of plastic since it’s more resistant to water. You should also look at the way the seat is assembled. Are they put together with materials like aluminum or stainless steel so that they are resistant to corrosion?

A great way to judge the quality of a seat is to look at its warranty. The longer the warranty offered by the manufacturer, the more durable the seat will be.

Measure the Space Available on Your Boat

Measuring the area where you want to install the new seat ensures that it will fit correctly. The problem is that a lot of people make the mistake of just measuring the seat cushions. You have to measure for the entire seat. Make sure that you are accounting for brackets, mounts, and any obstructions that might be present.

If you are not sure how to measure the available space, then you’ll need to take your boat to an outfitter so that they can take the proper measurements.

Save all Hardware

When you are removing your boat seat for replacement, make sure you save all of the mounting hardware. New seats do not include mounting supplies to you will have to use your old ones. However, if some of it needs to be replaced, then you can find boat mounting hardware at your local store.

Are There Any Related Items you Need?

When you are buying a new boat seat, it’s a good idea to determine whether or not there are any related items that you might need. The reason is because you can find bundles that will save money in the long-term. Coordinate your seat with other important items to get the best deal.