Suspension seats in bass boats

[ScottyJ]

Why don't any companies have suspension seats in their bass boats? I know it would require losing your under seat storage but with all the other storage in boats these days and the benefits of something like those seats you would think at least one company would try and have them. Not to mention it would be a huge selling point in a tough market.

I know there was recently someone who broke their back from getting slammed in a seat I think coming out of Tracy? It would be very beneficial for those of us with bad backs and help prevent others from potentially getting a back injury or a chronic back condition. Especially pros and people who spend a lot of time driving their boats and in rough water. Any thoughts?

Scott

[Dan Stahlman]

There is a company that makes them but I forgot their name. I looked them upand the seats would fit in a bass boat but the cost for seat and bracket is around 500 dollars. If I can find them I will let you know but you might try googleing them up. Love to have one in my boat but don't have the bucks to purchase it.

[DanO]

They are made by Attwood; I believe they're called Attwood SRS seating.

They are expensive, but not more expensive than back surgery.

DanO

[ScottyJ]

Ya I saw the Atwood seat when I was looking. There are lots of gifferent types of suspension seats or systems u can mount ur seat to. They are expensive to do as an aftermarket option but when ur buying a new boat it would be cost effective and something I think a lot of people would want.

[ACRon]

There are a couple of companies that have suspension variations.

At the half way down the page to the bottom "with suspension":
http://www.boatingseats.com/scripts/pro ... ategory=24

At the bottom of the page "Aqua Flex":
http://pilotchair.com/cat-llebroc-gt-1- ... eating.cfm

[Andy Giannini]

Super cool idea, but another thing to consider many guys going for a ride have bad back problems already. I think its called "Pre-existing conditions.." etc.

A guy should ask if your draw guy has back problems or whatever. If you stick a big wake and the other guy gets injured you and and your insurance is gonna be on the hook. Doesn't mean you should drive like an azz, just something to consider. (Most events are not the BASSMASTERS anyway slow down!)

We had one guy in a club that was totally messed up with his back with pain and disc problems etc, as a draw nonboater, on plenty of meds, and actually drank two 24 beers before getting on to another member's boat before light. (for pain.) I flatly told the Pres. I would not fish with him, he was too much of a liability. If he whacked his back, even on a minor error on my part, I would be screwed.

.02 A.G.

[ScottyJ]

Ya Andy that's part of what I was saying is lots ofpeople already have back problems and the constant jarring from riding in boats only makes it worse. Even the best drivers are gonna get bounced and jarred on rides in big chop and wakes. It only takes one misjudgement and hitting a wake to quick and getting a little too much air then getting slammed in ur seat to cause or worsen and existing problem.

[tunaman]

I can chime in and say that I have some back issues, and one year in the US Open I drew a guy driving a Nitro. No knock on Nitros, but it wasn't quite the same as riding in a Z boat. When we finally hit Temple Bar on Mead, after a somewhat typical snotty ride, he looked over at me and asked whether my back or neck hurt. I said "a little", and he said I should have been leaning forward rather than sitting back in the seat. Being used to the ride with the Rangers, with the springs and such, I realized that I had been spoiled by the Ranger ride and needed to account for the difference.

From that point on, if I wasn't in a Ranger I learned to do the lean, and it really helped when I drew a guy driving a Pro Craft, among others.

Ranger seats aren't 'suspension seats', but they certainly are superior to many out there IMHO. We can use all the help we can get when the things get rough!

Roger

[mark poulson]

I sat on my throw cushion in my old Tracker, and that really cushioned my back.
I don't need that in my Ranger, but I have it between the seats, and offer it to my non-boater.
So far, no takers.
Or course, I don't fish Mead, so I don't really know what rough water is like.
But I did ride as a non-boater on Havasu in a Champion, and my back suffered.

[scott h]

My 05 trition came withe the s.a.s seats, it rides good in bumpy water anyway but with theses seats it is awesome! Even with these seats u can still take a hard hit on the wrong wave and get hurt so like every other boating topic the moral of the story is having upgrades to make the experience more comfortable and enjoyable is no substitute for being safe while behind the wheel.

[scottsweet]

I have a Ranger Z21 and the current Z5XX series have the "Cockpit seating enjoys our exclusive and widely-acclaimed SRS Soft Ride Seating¨ I don't know if they are the same seats that Attwood makes, but they are a bit more cushiony...

I pulled that right off the Ranger website.

[BASSTUD]

I had no idea anyone made these seats,iv had back issues for years and really have to consider water conditione before i go out. Does anyone own one of these seats? would love to know if they work, they are exspensive but would be worth every penny if they actually work.

[ScottyJ]

BASSTUD: Ive sat in and messed around with the bigger set-ups that are in the big flat bottom aluminum river boats. They are adjustable based on your weight and from what I hear work great. That is what got me thinking to start this thread as to why they havn't incorporated them into bass boats. Doing research Ive learned that some boats have the SRS seats which has some suspension built into the inside of the seat bottom itself. As to how well that works compared to the other style I have no idea, but my guess is it will definitely be better than a standard bass boat seat. As you have also noticed they are quite expensive to get. If you want the SRS type seat for your boat ask around or go to a boat dealer and see if you can get a demo ride. Like you said, if it does make a difference the $ would be worth saving your back in the long run.

Scott