Consider choosing a new, comfy seat is a great way to improve your fishing/boating trips, especially if your boat is getting old and the factory chair becomes more useless. So, what is the most comfortable boat seat for your needs?
Here are the most comfortable boat seats (Apr 2024 Update):
- Best For Small Fishing Boats (Low Back Seat): Attwood 98395GY
- Best For Light People (Low Back Seat): North Captain T1
- Best For Small People (Low Back Seat): XGEAR Low Back Boat Seat
- Best Overall (High Back Seat): Wise Deluxe High-Back Seat
- Best For Long Fishing Trips (High Back Seat): Tempress Elite High Back Helm Seat
- Most Durable (High Back Seat): Leader Accessories High Back Fishing Folding Boat Seat
| 6 Most Comfortable Boat Seats | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Small Fishing Boats | Attwood 98395GY
| |
Best For Light People | North Captain T1
| |
Best For Small People | XGEAR Low Back Boat Seat
| |
Best Overall | Wise Deluxe High-Back Seat
| |
Best For Long Fishing Trips | Tempress Elite High Back Helm Seat
| |
Most Durable | Leader Accessories High Back Fishing Folding Boat Seat
| |
Best For Small Fishing Boats (Low Back Seat): Attwood 98395GY
- Reliable – made by a 100-year-history manufacturer & meet all the ABYC Code B standards
- Compact – measured by 7 Inches W x 16 Inches D x 16 Inches H
- Space-saving – foldable & detachable construction
- The fabric gets burning hot if exposed to the sun for a long time
- Not easy to clean
- The paint looks cheap a little bit
For small fishing boats, this compact and comfy seat is a nice choice.
It’s from Attwood Corporation - an award-winning leader in manufacturing, testing, and engineering of marine products for 100+ years.
It is designed to meet all the ABYC Code B standards with an emphasis on mildew- and UV-resistant vinyl fabric, durable shock-absorbent plastic frame with aluminum hinges, and supportive foam padding.
In addition to that, the straps are nice. The whole thing can be disassembled when not in use or folded down flatly for space-saving.
| Attwood 98395GY Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 7 Inches W x 16 Inches D x 16 Inches H |
Material | High-Impact Plastic Frame aluminum hinges vinyl fabric |
Highlight Features | made by a 100-year-history manufacturer meet all the ABYC Code B standards measured by 7 Inches W x 16 Inches D x 16 Inches H foldable & detachable construction |
The foldable, detachable design with no compromise of support and comfort of this seat will not cramp up the narrow space in your small boat.
Best For Light People (Low Back Seat): North Captain T1
- Easy to install – minimalist construction & include all mounting screws
- Long-lasting – UV-resistant parts and thick-retention foam padding design
- The finish on the bottom might show a cosmetic issue if it’s installed highly
This set of two packs will surely give you the highest satisfaction of both the quality and the look.
It is affordable, extremely comfortable, and made of great quality materials. Besides, the simple construction makes it easily installed on any standard four-bolt pedestal or swivel while all the mounting screws are enclosed in the package.
The thickness of the padding is perfect for lightweight people.
A notable thing is its compression foam can keep its firmness like new even after you’ve used it for a while.
Regardless, we’re glad that its entire construction is UV-resistant and strong to last as long as possible.
| North Captain T1 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | Height 20 ” X Width16 ” X Depth15.5 ” |
Material | Marine Grade Vinyl UV resistant polypropylene stainless steel mounting screws |
Highlight Features | minimalist construction & include all mounting screws UV-resistant parts and thick-retention foam padding design |
For light people, we greatly suggest the North Captain T1.
Best For Small People (Low Back Seat): XGEAR Low Back Boat Seat
- The foam might take a while for breaking in
- The seat isn’t adjustable
XGEAR was very thoughtful and intentional when designing this boat seat for small people. It is small to the size, measured only by 16"W *14"D *19"H but the foam padding thickness is well-supported and the injection-molded plastic frame is high-impact.
To make it capably hold up well years of abuse, it utilizes marine-grade vinyl fabric.
A small plus is you can flip it down when not in use for space-saving. The added tie-down straps and mounting hardware come in handy for assembly.
Overall, this is a great seat for the money.
| XGEAR Low Back Boat Seat Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 16"W *14"D *19"H |
Material | Marine-grade vinyl high-impact injection-molded plastic seat frame Aluminum hinges |
Highlight Features | measured only by 16"W *14"D *19"H high-impact injection molded plastic frame & thick foam cushion include tie-down straps and mounting hardware |
The small measurement of the XGEAR Low Back Boat Seat offers a nice fit for small people while the supportive foam padding remains the best comfort to its user.
Best Overall (High Back Seat): Wise Deluxe High-Back Seat
- Look great
- High-quality – made of marine-grade embossed vinyl fabric with mildew and UV resistance properties, and no-pinch aluminum hinges
- Supportive and comfy - compression foam padding and supportive high backrest design
- Might sit too high in the inflatable boats
- The back is a little bit flexible
The Wise Deluxe High-Back Seat is definitely a great gift for boaters. It looks great and the quality is top-notch.
The compression foam padding and supportive high backrest design plays a huge role in relieving your bad back after spending tons of time on the water.
The seat also feels solid and reliable, highlighting marine-grade embossed vinyl fabric with mildew and UV resistance properties, an injection-molded plastic frame, and no-pinch aluminum hinges.
Meanwhile, it includes universal-fitting mounting fasteners so that you can mount the seat to any standard BIA four-bolt pedestal system.
| Wise Deluxe High-Back Seat Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | Height: 21.25", Width: 17", Depth: 21" |
Material | Marine Grade Embossed Vinyl Injection Molded Plastic Seat Frame Aluminum Hinges |
Highlight Features | compression foam padding and supportive high backrest design made of marine-grade embossed vinyl fabric with mildew and UV resistance properties, and no-pinch aluminum hinges include universal-fitting mounting fasteners |
With the catchy design, supportive backrest, comfortable seat padding, and durable construction, the Wise Deluxe High-Back Seat becomes our best overall performer this year.
Best For Long Fishing Trips (High Back Seat): Tempress Elite High Back Helm Seat
- Ultra-comfortable and –supportive – panels with lumbar support, comfy side armrests, and backside grab handle
- Simple to set up – include a mounting base
- Hold up well against harsh weather - Marine grade vinyl
- Expensive
- Might be a little too upright for some people
For those long fishing trips, we believe it’s worth investing in an ultra-comfortable seat to keep your back and butts from numbness, fatigue, and pain.
According to that goal, we find out this option – the Tempress Elite High Back Helm Seat – with an emphasis on captains’ comfort seat design with lumbar support and support panels. It’s also added with comfy side armrests and backside grab handle.
The frame as well as other parts are specifically designed to hold up well against the toughness of the marine environment or harsh weather conditions of fishing.
A nice bonus is the additional mounting base, which makes installation a lot easier.
| Tempress Elite High Back Helm Seat Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 26H x 23.5W x 27.5D Inches |
Material | Marine-grade vinyl |
Highlight Features | panels with lumbar support, comfy side armrests, and backside grab handle include a mounting base Marine-grade vinyl |
If you’re seeking the most comfortable boat seat for long fishing trips, this is a great choice.
Most Durable (High Back Seat): Leader Accessories High Back Fishing Folding Boat Seat
- Affordable
- High-quality and rugged – feature injection-molded plastic frame, marine-grade vinyl upholstery, and more
- Nice support to the back – high backrest design
- This seat does flex a little bit
When it comes to a boat seat, if its durability matters most in your standard (aside from comfort), then don’t hesitate to try this option.
Despite the low price point, it’s still constructed of lightweight yet heavy-duty injection-molded plastic frame, marine-grade vinyl upholstery, and more.
What we appreciate the most is its moderate comfort, thanks to the higher backrest design and compression foam cushion. Actually, our back really loved this seat!
| Leader Accessories High Back Fishing Folding Boat Seat Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 16"W*15.5"D*19"H |
Material | Aluminum alloy hinges injection-molded plastic seat frame compression foam cushion Marine-grade vinyl upholstery |
Highlight Features | feature injection-molded plastic frame, marine-grade vinyl upholstery, and more high backrest design |
If you’re a new boater and in need of a budget-friendly yet durable boat seat, we highly recommend trying this model.
How To Choose The Most Comfortable Boat Seat?
Dimensions
To get the right assembly, it’s important to choose the accurate boat seat dimensions, especially if you intend to use it in a small boat. The three solid things you need to consider are the height, width, and depth of the seat.
Type Of Seat
When it comes to boat seats, there is a wide range of styles and designs to choose from. Some are swivel chairs, swing back, or foldable backrest while others are specifically constructed for the boat captain.
The type of boat seat is more on the personal preference side, so before buying one, think carefully about which one is going to give you the most comfort.
Comfort And Back Support
These elements are worth considering intensively, especially when you’re about to take long trips on the water. A non-support and uncomfortable boat seat not only causes your butts and backs to easily feel numb but also puts some pressure on these two body parts.
In long-term use, that might lead to a bad back, which nobody wishes for – at least we think.
There are some important things to consider are foam padding density and backrest height. The foam might be stiff or soft (which depends on your preference) but it must be supportive.
Meanwhile, the backrest should stay high for extra support to your back and spinal.
Besides, pay attention to the foam’s thickness retention over time.
Which Brands Make The Most Comfortable Boat Seat?
Attwood
Renowned for their leading advanced technology, Attwood boat seats always bring peace of mind to worldwide users about its quality, comfort, and more.
Tempress
At Tempress, you’ve got freedom in the choices of products’ styles, colors, and designs with solid high quality. This is a well-known manufacturer based in Dallas, specializing in developing, producing, and distributing high-quality marine, after-market, and OEM products.
FAQs
What are the differences between boat seats and boat chairs?
The biggest difference between them is size. Boat seats are commonly smaller than boat chairs. In turn, they are equipped with armrests and a raising bar for extra comfort.
Low back vs. high back boat seat?
A high back boat seat is ideal for people who want extra back support and comfort as it features firmer, well-contoured foam padding. However, this type is costlier, which is worth investing for long trips.
A low back seat, on the contrary, is a more economical option or short trips.
What is the best boat seat material?
PVC - polyvinyl chloride or Expanded Vinyl
Are more expensive boat seats more comfortable?
Not at all! The “expensive” element is decided by several things: higher-quality materials, more ergonomic construction, extra add-ons, and brands.
How to mount a boat seat?
This tutorial video might help you:
How to clean and maintain boat seats?
The best way to clean a boat seat is by using warm soapy water and gently scrub it with a plastic bristle brush. If your budget is a bit looser, invest in the specialized seat cleaners.
Conclusion
When looking for the most comfortable boat seat, you should keep in mind three things – comfort and back support, type of seat, and its dimensions.
Each of these decisions depends on the space you plan to install it in your boat, your comfort preference, and the frequency you’re about to go boating as well as the average duration. We hope this ultimate guide comes in handy for your needs.
Bryan Listor
