The Final Solution is New Boat Seats
by Brad Wiegmann

Data shows that the average boater keeps their boat for four years before selling it. In today's economy more boaters are keeping their boats longer and putting off purchasing new boats. This leads to boaters owning their boats longer and boat seats being exposed to the elements causing damage requiring repairs or replacing seats. You're boat seats will last three years unless left outside exposed to Mother Nature where they last for one season or your first boating trip of the year- Murphy's Law on boat seats. Sooner or later your boat seats will need to be replaced. The only question is do you really want to try and fix them or purchase new ones to replace them. In most situations, the cost to fix or reupholster your boat seats is nearly the same as buying new ones.

Basically, boat owners have three options on fixing their damaged or worn out boat seats. The first is to purchase a repair kit and try to fix it yourself. While this may be an alternative, it's not a good one if you plan on reselling the boat. The directions on the label make it seem like an easy task and you can repair holes, rips, tears, or burns. In reality, it takes a professional upholster to use the kit correctly. Another problem with a repair kit is matching the color of the seat. No matter how good you are at mixing the colors, it's never going to match perfect. Plus that hole, rip, tear, or burn spot will always stick out where you fix it or be susceptible to damaging again. Repair kits should be used only as a temporary fix until a better option is found.

The second option is to have your boat seats reupholstered. Getting your seats reupholstered is a better option than the repair kit. Boat seats that have been reupholstered will last longer than repairing them; however, there are some major drawbacks to reupholstering including taking out and replacing the original seats, not getting to take the boat out because you have no seats to sit on, your boat seats could be at the upholstery shop for an indefinite amount of time, and cost. Cost maybe the biggest setback to having them reupholstered. In most cases, the cost to reupholster is the same as buying new ones.

The third option is to purchase new ones. After looking at the other two options this one makes the most sense. A repair kit is only a temporary fix at best. Reupholster seats usually cost the same as new boat seats. One company that specializes in selling new boat seats is The Boat Seat Store (www.boatingseats.com or phone (866) 970-9120). In business since 2006, The Boat Seat Store offers a wide selection of boat seats made in the USA to fit any boat or color pattern the boater wants. "Boat seats that look ragged makes your whole boat look bad and will affect the resale value of your boat. New boat seats totally change the look of any boat. We have the best selection of high quality boat seats available on the web. For example, our bass boat seats are made with UV protected marine grade 30-ounce vinyl to increase the life span of the seat," said Sean Hochstetler, Vice President of The Boat Seat Store.

Not only does The Boat Seat Store sell platform, bench, bucket, and other seats for all types of boats and pontoons, but Attwood Fishing Seats, Fishing Chairs, Swing Backs, folding fishing seats, Tournament Series Pro Butt Seat, and more. All of the seats come with mounting bolts to attach the seat to the pedestal. Also available is a wide variety of pedestals to attach the boat seat to the floor of the boat.

"It's so easy to replace a worn out or damaged platform boat seat; just detach the old seat, take out the old existing hardware, replace it with the new hardware (stainless steel hinge), screw the hinge down to the boat and then to the new boat seat," explained Hochstetler. Another consideration to replacing your boat seats is the time it takes to fix or reupholster them. Upholstery shops are normally busy and so you have to wait your turn to get them fixed. At The Boat Seat Store same day shipping is available on all in-stock boat seats and no shipping charges on orders over $100 or sales tax charged. The seats are shipped directly to your front door and delivered by FedEx Ground.

After purchasing new boat seats, the boat owner is responsible for keeping them clean and looking new. "Boat seats should be cleaned regularly with just mild detergent and water. The biggest threat to a boat seat is the sun. Its best to protect them with a cover of some type and 303 Aerospace Protectant," explained Hochstetler.

No matter if you plan on keeping your boat or reselling it, replacing the boat seats with new ones is the logical choice. It's easy to do, you have no lost boating time, and it will improve the resale value once installed in your boat.

Brad Wiegmann is a full time fishing guide on Beaver lake and Lake SWEPCO in Northwest Arkansas. Brad guides for Largemouth, Spotted, Smallmouth, Stripers and White Bass. He is also a free-lance writer who's weekly column "Speaking of Fishing" appears weekly in several local newspapers. You may also see him doing seminars, working outdoor shows or featured in outdoor magazines such as BASSMASTER Magazine, Outdoor life and Arkansas Sportsman. He also fishes the FLW Tour, Stren and local open tournaments. He is currently on the Pro staff, promotional staff and guide programs of numerous tackle manufactures, lure companies, and fishing related companies. You can contact him at (479) 756-5279, at bwiegmann@cox.net or visit his website at www.bradwiegmann.com for more information.