6 Most Comfortable Boat Seats of 2024

By Bryan ListorLast update: 2023-07-24

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 (Dec 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
  • Low Back Seat
Best For Light People
North Captain T1
  • Low Back Seat
Best For Small People
XGEAR Low Back Boat Seat
  • Low Back Seat
Best Overall
Wise Deluxe High-Back Seat
  • High Back Seat
Best For Long Fishing Trips
Tempress Elite High Back Helm Seat
  • High Back Seat
Most Durable
Leader Accessories High Back Fishing Folding Boat Seat
  • High Back Seat

Best For Small Fishing Boats (Low Back Seat): Attwood 98395GY

Attwood 98395GY
Attwood 98395GY
Pros
  • 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
Cons
  • 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

North Captain T1
North Captain T1
Pros
  • Easy to install – minimalist construction & include all mounting screws
  • Long-lasting – UV-resistant parts and thick-retention foam padding design
Cons
  • 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

XGEAR Low Back Boat Seat
XGEAR Low Back Boat Seat
Pros
Cons
  • 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

Wise Deluxe High-Back Seat
Wise Deluxe High-Back Seat
Pros
  • 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
Cons
  • 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

Tempress Elite High Back Helm Seat
Tempress Elite High Back Helm Seat
Pros
  • 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
Cons
  • 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

Leader Accessories High Back Fishing Folding Boat Seat
Leader Accessories High Back Fishing Folding Boat Seat
Pros
  • Affordable
  • High-quality and rugged – feature injection-molded plastic frame, marine-grade vinyl upholstery, and more
  • Nice support to the back – high backrest design
Cons
  • 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.


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