Best "value" suspension seat bases...

[Karl in NY]

Suspension seat bases range from as cheap as $100, to as much as $10,000 for active computer-controlled ones, typically only seen on military RIBs.

Can someone suggest the best "bang for the buck"? I prefer pedestal-mounts, even if the suspension pedestal has to intrude
into a a storage-base below it. I have been through archives both here and other boat-forums, but most were pretty dated.

(Disclaimer: my present boat hull is made from the material that begins with the letter "F", only due to lack of financial resources...sorry).

The seats adapted from the trucking industry appear to be ill-suited to marine humidity, even in a pilothouse, and all seem to rely on a plastic apron around the base, and few components on the ones I've actually seen were stainless or even galvanized, just painted carbon-steel.

I'm only planning on providing suspension for the helm seat, as I usually boat solo, and no regular passengers have back problems like me. I'll consider adding suspension to one additional seat, but only if the need arises. I prefer to be able to attach a seat mount with swivel, and back-tilt, and, height adjustment. In most pilothouses, I don't have the option of standing or leaning, since I'm 6'6" tall.

My use is in a huge lake (130 miles long), and chop is unrelenting, since both wind and currents come from the South, and I'm on the Northern end, just before Quebec border, so a long "fetch" distance.

Thanks in advance, and would like to acquire a welded-plate pilothouse in the future...but would need a windfall even for used.

[Tfitz]

I bought two of these seats for my boat and I'm happy with the quality and performance

http://m.ebay.com/itm/391218298030?_trk ... mwBanner=1

[noexcuses2]

http://wpsoutdoors.com/index.php/seat-base
they also make it in a shorter version.

http://shockwaveseats.com/product/s5-pro/

I am thinking of a pair these on my next, not cheap but sure will be nice on the back.

[Karl in NY]

Any experience with pedstal mounts, like this one:

http://shop.coolwaterproducts.com/Stand ... ST10XX.htm

[BCTony]

These are worth investigating:-

https://www.suburbanseats.com/c/closeout-truck-seats

I have had National air-ride seats in my permanently marine-moored pilothouse boat for four years now. They are extremely comfortable and even in the roughest conditions I simply forget about the ride. You are right that they are not prepared for the marine environement but with care and maintenance these at close-out prices are good value and should last for years.

[Karl in NY]

Appreciate all the input, and I've bookmarked this thread. I also need to add power-assist to SeaStar steering due some shoulder trauma. The body does wear out, and mine is the equivalent of a very old Ford Pinto or Chevy Vega, wouldn't be worth fixing w/o a good healthcare plan.