Boat Seats, Helm Chairs, Pedestals

Considerations When Purchasing a Boat Seat

 

Boat seats are significantly different than the production of seats in nearly any other manufacturing. Marine seating must be able to stand up to harsh salt environments, sunshine, weather, and rough seas. Additionally, the seat and mounting system are subject to the constant stresses that are placed on the seat through boat movement while the seat is occupied.

 

Marine seating fits many uses aboard a vessel, from the full weather exposure of a bridge deck to the exposed position of a fishing chair. Inside the vessel, a seat can be at the helm station, as a captain or navigator position. A boat seat pedestal and the seat itself may receive more than three G’s of force in rough seas, placing near a thousand pounds of force on the structural components of the seat.

 

Made-to-Order vs Production Boat Seats

 

Seating may be manufactured with little to no options or it may be entirely custom built. Both H.O. Bostrom and Bentley’s offer seats that are custom built that offer many features, fabrics, and mounting options that will accommodate most boaters and their vessels. Garelick, Todd and Tempress offer a wide variety of seats, “ready-to-go” boat seats,and boat bench seats, with designs that fit many boaters’ applications. Go2Marine also carries many boat chairs with folding seats, from brands like Springfield, Wise, and Tempress.

 

H.O. Bostrom offers both low back and high back seats commercial helm seats. To provide the longest service life, seat frames are marinized with a five-step marine finish system. With a custom HO Bostrom seat, you may combine components to meet your special needs; i.e., the boat seat pedestal and swivel assembly on the high-back helm seat can also be used on the floor slide rail. Other variables include choices of the seat back height on many chair models, from either low or high back. Helm seats from H.O Bostrom have options such as footrests, reclining, tilt, different heights of suspension, and lumbar seat adjustment.

 

Bentley’s manufactures boat chairs for the helm position, in a high or low back, and nearly any seat generally found in runabouts and open powerboats. Bentley’s has a seat for nearly any position, including, helm seats, back-to-back seats, jump seats, and bucket for your boat refit or update. Not only can you choose from nineteen colors of genuine Naugahyde for your Bentley seat, but you can also combine/mix colors of the panels and armrests to give your boat chairs a truly custom look.

 

Attwood, Wise, and Todd marine boat seats are affordable and durable. Many rotational (Roto) molded seats, as well as traditional vinyl-covered seats, are available in several styles and models. Beyond the seat itself, Garelick offers boat seat hardware including adjustable bases, slides, swivels, and footrests. Attwood and Todd seats are standard in many small boats, as a second seat or fish fighting seat. If it’s folding backrest boat seats you’re looking for, Garelick, Tempress, Wise, and Proform all offer a variety of options for not only the perfect bass boat seats for your next fishing trip, but for virtually any small boat.

 

Boat Seat Fabrics:

 

Boat seating comes in a wide range of fabric types and colors. H.O. Bostrom offers Durawear and Duracoat Fabrics. Durawear, a high strength-wear resistant fabric, is unique compared to other high strength fabrics due to it's waterproof nature. A PVC coating on the backside creates this waterproofing, which makes Durawear ideal for outdoor applications or in wet environments such as boating. Durawear is superior to other FMVSS certified fabrics in terms of thread density, weight, strength, and surface abrasion. Duracoat vinyl has a cleanable surface protection which offers improved stain and abrasion resistance. Improved wear resistance makes Duracoat vinyl ideal for any application where vinyl is the choice material.

 

Bentley's Marine Seating offers sixteen rich colors that you can mix and match to your boat's theme that coordinate beautifully with today's updated marine gel coats and carpeting. Bentley's uses only genuine Naugahyde.

 

Todd seats are covered with heavy-duty marine-grade tufted upholstery that is double-stitched for years of reliable service.

 

Seats for Older Boats:

 

If you’re looking to re-upolster an older seat, you might consider purchasing a newer seat by Bentley's Marine Seating that will fit the look and feel of your boat. Bentley's has been crafting quality seats for over 40 years.

 

Seats for Large Vessels:

 

Yes, we do offer seating for Commercial or Military Vessels. Contact us for pricing. We have seat options that have been fitted to USCG, Navy, and Commercial Fishing Vessels.

 

Suspension:

 

The single biggest accessory that will aid in the comfort of a seat is a suspension system. Marine seats are subject to high loads when a vessel plunges over a wave and into the trough. Rough water and seas, whether small or large can be jarring to the operator's body. A well-designed marine suspension will do much to add comfort to the helm and other positions.

 

There are a couple of considerations when choosing a suspension system. You will need to take an honest look at how much load the seat will have in it and if the boat is subject to large seas. Suspension systems use a spring (vertical or torsion) and some sort of dampener (shock or liquid). In a few situations, suspensions may be pneumatic.