Seats and armchairs in the boat: types, popular models and tips for choosing

Seats and armchairs in the boat have to be purchased by most fishermen who prefer to get the most out of fishing. Fishing offshore involves the use of boats, and the most affordable option here is PVC products, which are easy to transport and store.

The problem can be solved by a soft inflatable seat for PVC boats, as well as other options for accessories for boats that replace the missing items in the package. A properly selected chair will brighten up the minutes before the bite and will make it possible to make the boat more comfortable for the owner and his guests.

The chair for the boat can be included in the standard design of the boat or mounted separately as an option. In most cases, it is considered an excessive addition, and until the vessel has been tested on the water, the owners consider it unnecessary to expand the equipment. Usually people think about buying a seat for the following reasons:

• to increase the comfort of the situation in the boat;
• to improve the position of the helmsman during control;
• to increase the duration of stay on the water during fishing.

Inflatable boats traditionally use 2 types of seats - hard and soft. They can be installed independently or used in the standard configuration of the craft. Soft seats are usually inflated and removed after use, you can even not take them with you if you plan to catch short-term fishing. Stationary options are fixed between the sides even before the boat is inflated.

The standard package usually includes the so-called banks - plywood benches, laid horizontally and fixed on the cockpit or on the bow of the vessel. They are not suitable for long sitting, which is why owners prefer to tune their boats for long fishing. Most often installed in a regular non-inflatable boat quick release chairs providing comfort for the time of fishing and not requiring complex dismantling.

The design of compact and light boats can be supplemented with popular seating options - these are plastic swivel chair with backrest, folding chairs and other models for fishing. With the help of these useful devices, you can ensure the maximum comfort of boarding during a long wait.

This division includes 3 main types.

• Rigid. Usually these are regular fishing banks fixed in one position permanently. In addition to plywood benches, there are also folding plastic options that are mounted on a stand. When folded, they take up a minimum of space, when disassembled, they resemble a chair.Folding structures are convenient, do not get wet due to plastic, in the presence of a movable element they can move along the cylinders or rotate 360 ​​degrees.

• Soft. Models with a solid polymer or metal base and soft upholstery. Most often it is a foam material with high elasticity. Outside upholstery is made of eco-leather or vinyl. Such seats are most often oriented for use on yachts, but they are also found in boat designs. In addition, pads are available to make the design of a can or a hard seat much more comfortable to use during long fishing.

• Inflatable. Their basis is durable nylon, used to create awnings, or rubberized waterproof material. Inflatable pillows are most often used as linings for a jar. But full-fledged chairs are quite comfortable and without a rigid frame. For short fishing, an inflatable pouffe will also be convenient; if you have a seat with a back, you can put your legs on it to create the most comfortable body position.

If we consider these 3 types of boat chairs in terms of comfort, the advantages will be on the side of inflatable models, which are optimal in terms of the level of back support. With long-term operation, this factor becomes very important. In addition, if fishing trips are rare, such seats do not have to be fixed permanently. They can be easily positioned in a way that is convenient for the owner of the boat and his guests, without fear of overloading.

The classification of chairs distinguishes several types of their fastening. The most common are rotary designs. Such a chair is mounted on panels placed between the cylinders in the space of the boat.

The design is convenient in that it can be mounted on the bow or stern. A special rotating mechanism is fixed on the panel. A special bearing is responsible for the ease of rotation, reliably protected from negative external influences by lubricants. The convenience of such devices is that they are compatible with most seats: inflatable, folding, folding. The main thing is that a mount for a swivel insert is provided in the chair itself.

With stationary fixation, the most budget option is to mount chairs with lacing. In this case, special rings are located on the cylinders, through which the cable is threaded. The chair is tied to the sides with lacing and is held quite tightly, but this option can hardly be called convenient.

Standard mounts - rigid or able to move along the sides of the boat, are clamped between the cylinders. The inserts are glued to their surface and become a kind of rails along which the seat can move. There are also self-locking models. In them, fastening is carried out using the cylinders themselves, between which the guides are simply clamped. The length is determined by the number of prefabricated sections and is increased, if necessary, based on the distance between the sides of the boat.

Separately, it is customary to consider any transforming seat models for boats. Their main advantage is no need for dismantling during storage. The chair simply takes on a compact look and does not protrude beyond the banks. The material for creating folding seats is usually hard, washable, with a waterproof coating. It can be textolite, plastic or multilayer bakelized plywood with special impregnation.The back may be present, as well as additional soft inserts, but not necessarily.

Models with an adjustable back can also be classified as folding, but their mechanism allows you to change the height and angle of the upper part of the structure. The folding seat turns into a kind of mini-chaise longue, allowing you to provide your back with extra rest. The number of backrest positions depends on the design of the chair - in models with a rigid frame and soft upholstery, there may be more of them.

Among producers trusted by experienced fishermen, Most often, several brands are mentioned.

• Springfield. The company produces a popular series of Skipper folding soft seats, as well as less budget vinyl chairs Ocean, Romeo, Admiral. Ventilated plastic seats with removable underlays are also available.

• polar bird. The well-known domestic manufacturer "Snegir", specializing in the manufacture of PVC products, including boats, produces accessories for them. Armchairs in solder boats can be chosen with a stainless steel frame and eco-leather upholstery. Product prices are above average. Soft linings on the can, adapted to specific series of boats, look more budgetary.

• Folding. This brand specializes in the production of seats for boats with a folding back design, offering their products in the middle price category.

• X River. The company from St. Petersburg has been producing its own products since 2012. Among the brand's products are swivel chairs for PVC boats, as well as inflatable modules.Stands and stands can also be found in their range without worrying about compatibility with the chosen seat. The brand is known for a rich selection of inflatable ottomans and chairs, it also offers soft pads for benches and plastic modules with a folding back.

When choosing seats and chairs for fishing, you should pay attention to the recommendations of experts.

• Boat made of PVC with NDND it is best to choose the lightest additional accessories. Inflatable options are popular here, waterproof, easily pulled ashore and compact during transportation.

• For aluminum boat with metal bottom and inflatable sides craftsmen adapt hard or semi-rigid seats for boats, yachts, as well as stadium and office chairs. Their level of comfort is low, but back support is provided.

• When choosing seats in a rubber boat, it is worth considering the type of their fastening. If it is possible to fix the product on top of regular cans, you can not waste time on a long installation. Some options require mounting on a separate frame, which is mounted at a distance between the cylinders. In this case, the banks will have to be demolished, violating the standard rigidity of the hull and worsening the stability of the boat's behavior afloat.

• For a motorboat, it is important to select chairs, given the dimensions of the vessel. Inflatable structures have quite serious load limitations. And if you install too heavy chairs, there may be problems using the craft itself.

• Individual preference is also important. For example, if fishing is rather a rare hobby, you can get by with an ordinary inflatable pouffe, which is easy to store and transport. An experienced fisherman will most likely equip his boat with a swivel seat in a soft cover. The comfort lover will prefer a folding or inflatable chair with full back support and minimal setup requirements.

Of course, when choosing boat chairs, the cost of the product is also important. The most budgetary are usually inflatable models, plastic options without upholstery and soft vinyl options. The presence of a folding backrest for chairs with a rigid frame will be an additional advantage.

We will analyze how the installation of additional seats and chairs in the boat is carried out. In the case of soft inflatable models, everything is simple, since they do not require fastening. You can place the product on the bow or cockpit, arrange several rows of seats, lay it on top of the can. It all depends on the type of construction and the size of the chairs and pouffes.

In the case of frame hard seats, it is recommended not only to install them on holders, but also to supplement them with stands. This is especially true for rotating models, which require special attention. Here, first, the holders are attached to the cylinders, the swivel mechanism is installed, after which the chair itself is fixed - it is rigidly clamped with 3-4 self-tapping screws so that there are no backlashes.

A seat stand with a rigid frame and a swivel mechanism, folding and stationary, is needed to facilitate installation processes.It is made of aluminum or light duralumin tubes. When installing, the frame is bred to the sides and fixed with adjusting fasteners. This allows you to adapt the stand to cylinders of different widths; it is connected to the chair using a special bolt.

If you have to fix the soft seat in the boat, there should be no problems either. Typically, these accessories have 2 straps that can be mounted on a jar or stand. Installation takes a minimum of time, and in terms of comfort, such solutions are in no way inferior to their counterparts. Moreover, you can remove the chairs after fishing in a matter of seconds.

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