6 Best Boat Seats For Inflatable Boats That Withstand Sun, Salt, and Spray
Discover the 6 best seats for your inflatable boat. Our guide highlights durable, marine-grade options that withstand sun, salt, and constant spray.
You’re three miles from the launch, the sun is high, and a light chop is starting to build. The problem isn’t the waves or the heat; it’s the slow, creeping ache in your lower back from sitting on the hard inflatable tube. A good day on the water can be cut short by a bad seat, turning an adventure into an endurance test. Choosing the right seating isn’t just about comfort—it’s about extending your time, enjoyment, and safety on the water.
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Choosing Seats for Inflatable Boat Durability
When you’re outfitting an inflatable boat, every piece of gear is exposed to a brutal trio: sun, salt, and spray. A seat that works great in a freshwater bass boat might delaminate and corrode within a single season in a coastal environment. The key is to look for materials designed specifically for this abuse. Your non-negotiables should be marine-grade vinyl, a high-impact plastic substrate, and stainless steel or anodized aluminum hardware.
Marine-grade vinyl isn’t just waterproof; it’s packed with UV inhibitors to prevent it from cracking and fading under relentless sun. The seat’s foundation, or substrate, should be a rot-proof plastic, not plywood, which can absorb moisture and fall apart. Any screws, hinges, or mounting bolts must be corrosion-resistant. Regular steel will rust into a mess, staining your boat and failing when you need it most.
Remember the classic trade-off triangle: weight, comfort, and durability. A heavily padded captain’s chair offers supreme comfort but adds significant weight and bulk, a real issue on a smaller inflatable. A simple padded cushion is lightweight and cheap but offers zero back support for a long day on choppy water. The right choice for you balances these factors based on your boat’s size and how you plan to use it.
Wise 8WD100-923 Folding Seat for All-Day Use
Imagine you’re planning a full day of fishing, with long periods of sitting and waiting punctuated by moments of action. You need a seat that provides support but doesn’t get in the way. The Wise Folding Seat is a true workhorse, hitting the sweet spot between all-day comfort and practical, space-saving design.
Built on a high-impact plastic frame, it uses compression foam padding that holds its shape and support far better than cheaper alternatives. The heavy-duty 28oz marine-grade vinyl is treated to resist both UV damage and mildew growth, critical for gear that’s constantly getting wet. The real advantage for an inflatable boat owner, however, is the fold-down design. When you need to stand and cast or just open up deck space, it collapses easily and stays out of your way.
Tempress NaviStyle High Back for Superior Support
If you’ve ever come back from a day on choppy water feeling like you went a few rounds in a boxing ring, you understand the value of good back support. For boaters who prioritize ergonomics, especially on longer runs or in rougher conditions, the Tempress NaviStyle High Back is a significant upgrade. It’s less of a seat and more of a command chair.
The contoured, high-back design provides crucial lumbar and shoulder support, reducing the fatigue that comes from your core muscles constantly working to keep you stable. Tempress is known for its rugged, rotationally molded construction, which creates a seamless and incredibly durable seat shell. This isn’t a flimsy piece of gear. The trade-off is its size; a high-back seat takes up more vertical and horizontal space, which can be a major consideration on an inflatable under 12 feet.
Leader Accessories Low Back for Compact Storage
For the owner of a smaller tender or a "roll-up" inflatable that gets packed away after each use, space is everything. You need seating that is functional but disappears when it’s time to deflate and store the boat. The Leader Accessories Low Back seat is designed for exactly this scenario, prioritizing a minimal footprint above all else.
This seat provides a comfortable place to sit and some basic back support, a huge improvement over sitting on a bare aluminum bench. Its greatest feature is how compactly it folds. It lays almost completely flat, making it easy to stow in a gear bag or car trunk. You are sacrificing the deep support of a high-back model, so it’s best suited for shorter trips. But for adding simple, effective comfort without the bulk, it’s an excellent and often very affordable choice.
Attwood Padded Seat for Classic Marine Comfort
Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best one. If you’re just looking to upgrade a hard factory bench seat on a soft inflatable boat (SIB) or a small rigid inflatable (RIB), the Attwood Padded Seat is a classic for a reason. It delivers a solid layer of cushioning without the complexity or weight of a full-backed chair.
This type of seat is essentially a thick, high-density foam cushion on a plastic base, upholstered in durable marine vinyl. It’s designed to be mounted directly to a flat surface or bench, instantly transforming it from a hard perch into a comfortable spot. While it offers no back support, it dramatically improves comfort for passengers and is perfect for casual cruising, fishing, or use as a secondary seat that won’t get in the way.
Seamander Captains Bucket for Helm Stability
If your inflatable is a larger RIB with a steering console, your seating needs are completely different. You’re not just a passenger; you’re a pilot. The Seamander Captains Bucket seat is built for the person at the helm, providing the stability and security needed to control a boat at speed and in turns.
A bucket seat’s contoured design holds you in place, preventing you from sliding around in choppy seas. This isn’t just about comfort—it’s about control and safety. Many models feature a flip-up bolster, a padded section at the front that allows you to comfortably stand and lean while steering, which is invaluable for visibility when docking or navigating tight channels. This is a premium option, and its weight and mounting requirements make it suitable only for inflatables with a solid, reinforced deck.
DeckMate Premium Folding Seat for UV Resistance
For boaters in high-intensity sun environments—think Florida, the Caribbean, or high-altitude mountain lakes—UV degradation is the number one killer of marine gear. The DeckMate Premium Folding Seat is an investment in longevity, built with materials specifically chosen to fight back against the sun.
The key difference is in the quality of the upholstery. This seat uses a plush, 32oz marine-grade vinyl, which is thicker and more resilient than standard vinyls. More importantly, it’s heavily treated with UV stabilizers to resist fading, cracking, and chalking for years. While it may look similar to other folding seats, the superior materials and robust stitching mean it will outlast budget options several times over, making it a smarter buy in the long run for anyone who leaves their boat uncovered.
Mounting Systems and Marine-Grade Materials
A world-class seat is useless if it’s not securely attached to your boat. For inflatables, mounting options are critical and vary widely depending on your boat’s design. Don’t overlook this crucial step.
- Bench Mounts: For many SIBs with aluminum or wood bench seats, a simple C-clamp style bracket is the easiest solution. It allows you to attach a seat with a swivel without drilling any holes.
- Pedestals: On RIBs with a solid fiberglass or aluminum deck, a pedestal mount is the standard. This provides a sturdy, elevated base for the seat.
- Swivels: A swivel plate mounted between the seat and the mount allows for 360-degree rotation. This is a must-have for fishing or for easily turning to talk with passengers.
No matter which system you use, insist on marine-grade hardware. Look for stainless steel components, especially in the hinges and fasteners. Anodized aluminum is also a great choice for mounts and swivels. Using anything less is asking for a rusty, failed component that could break at the worst possible moment, turning a great day on the water into a dangerous one.
Ultimately, the perfect boat seat is the one that gets you out on the water more often and for longer. Don’t get paralyzed by searching for the absolute "best" gear. Start with an option that fits your boat, your budget, and your back, and focus on the adventure ahead.
