Replacement folding seats with good hinges?

[Brownac1983]

I'm having a problem finding decent seats. I have a 1988 Traveler TX-160 (welded aluminum, very similar to a Tracker). When I got the boat 6 years ago, it still had the original Traveler branded seats which were still holding up fine structurally, but the vinyl was faded and cracked. About three seasons ago I decided to replace the seats and bought some off of eBay. They fit well and were decently comfortable, but the hinges were junk. I reached over my left shoulder to get something out of a storage compartment and the port side hinge just buckled. I chalked that up as being cheap and buying cheap crap, so I replaced them with a set from Cabelas (Bass Pro Classics I think). The hinges looked about the same, but I thought since I paid more they'd hold up better. They didn't. The seat started leaning back further and further each trip until it basically became a lay-flat, most notably on the port side (no doubt aggravated by reaching behind me for storage).

So now I'm in the market for seats again. I'm not a huge dude, I weigh about 190lb. It's not like I'm a 500 pound guy in a cheap seat. I feel like this shouldn't be happening.

Who sells decent boat seats with better quality hinges? Most hinges I see shopping online are the same as the ones that have failed on me. But I see some that have a round "ear" at the hinge point. Are those more sturdy?

My absolute limit for width is 17" (16" or 16.5" would fit better), which seems to be the limiting factor on buying better quality seats. A lot of the better looking seats I see online start at 18" wide.

Appreciate any help or advice. I don't mind paying more for better seats at all, I just want to make sure I'm actually getting better seats.


The hinges that bend look like this:


Are these style more sturdy?

 

[alldodge]

Never bought those kind of seats so no first hand knowledge. I would look for the strongest hinge

This is a different type and cannot see the hinge but looks good
https://www.bassboatseats.com/products/compact-sport-fishing-seat?variant=41404561490108

 

[Scott Danforth]

Look at getting seats made at your local upholstery shop.

TACO, MMC, Springfield and others make better hinges and brackets, but not necessary seats

Wise, and others make seats,

 

[airshot]

Good seats are pricey, but not sure you will find a real quality seat that narrow. Most good seats I have found are much wider and can cost near 4-500 per seat ! Check out Overton's or other marine parts dealers for their better seats.

 

[eggs712]

My Tempress folding seats have always held up very well. Competitively priced too.

 

[froggy1150]

If you still have the old ones you liked get them recovered

 

[Brownac1983]

Never bought those kind of seats so no first hand knowledge. I would look for the strongest hinge

This is a different type and cannot see the hinge but looks good
https://www.bassboatseats.com/products/compact-sport-fishing-seat?variant=41404561490108

I did see those and they do look good. I may go with them. I have an email out to them asking about the type of hinges and if the 17" width is a "hard" or "soft" measurement. Hoping to hear back today.

Look at getting seats made at your local upholstery shop.

TACO, MMC, Springfield and others make better hinges and brackets, but not necessary seats

Wise, and others make seats,

Thanks. Looking at those sites, it appears that their "premium" hinges use the same round-ear design as the ones in my second picture above, so hopefully that means they're a good strong hinge.
Wise does have a set that look like they would work. They're 16" wide and low back, designed to be a center seat in a G3 boat. They have a flat bottom with no mounting holes though, I'd have to try and figure out mounting.
My local upholstery guy is good, but he's at least 3 months out from being able to even look at them.

Good seats are pricey, but not sure you will find a real quality seat that narrow. Most good seats I have found are much wider and can cost near 4-500 per seat ! Check out Overton's or other marine parts dealers for their better seats.

That seems to be my problem. All the quality seats start out at 18" wide, most are 20" and up. The sub-17" market is mostly padding and covering variations of the same cheap seat design.

If you still have the old ones you liked get them recovered

I wish I did. Kicking myself for getting rid of them instead of recovering them.

 

[Brownac1983]

My Tempress folding seats have always held up very well. Competitively priced too.

I like those, but all the ones I've seen are too wide. 17" is a hard limit for me, to fit between the controls wireway and the livewell hatch. 16" or 16.5" would be better, but anything more than 17" would overlap my livewell hatch.