tractor seat base = suspension = happier back!
 

After blowing out my back on the memorial day trip I decided something has to change. So I ended up buying a tractor seat for $99 at my local tractor supply. I had to drill a couple extra holes in my existing seat base to mount my own captain chair to the tractor seat base (did not use the tractor seat part), but it was pretty straight forward. Come to find out the factory seat base on my 94 V21 was through bolted, so ended up ordering a plano style tackle locker to install in the dead space below the captain seat - should have done that long ago anyway. Cutting out for the tackle locker allowed me access to the through bolts in order to remove the old base. Lake tested the tractor seat suspension this weekend. Wow. Now it is just a matter of how long it holds up. The seat does sit up a couple inches higher but that hasn't proved to be a deal breaker for me yet. I was worried about that.

At $99 I figure even if I had to replace it every year it will be cheaper than back surgery....lol.
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interesting to see how long it holds up

Is the suspension hydraulic, pneumatic or just springs?

I think combination of hydraulic and spring. You can look it up online probably. It came from Tractor Supply, brand is Concentric and the box says Universal Tractor seat with adjustable suspension.

By having the combination of hydro and spring you don't bounce on it....when it compresses it comes up more slowly.

If you happen to be closer to an Agri Supply store, they carry them too!

For heavy saltwater use it probably wouldn't hold up for many years but I trailer and only hit the salt a dozen or so times per year. The rest of the time I'm on the lake, so I think it will last a few seasons.

There's a couple of bolts I need to replace with stainless that controls the tilt.

The suspension is adjustable for weight between 110 lbs and 265 lbs by turning the knob on top. I got the idea from a couple other people online who went this route instead of shucking out 700 bucks for a commercial model glyde ryde system.

Funny story, I was using my iphone as a flashlight tightening down the through bolts and accidentally dropped my phone through a 2 inch gap into the dead space of the hull that lies between the captain seat and passenger seat! She was waaaaay down in there and none of our hands would come close to fitting in the gap, let alone reaching it if we could. So I found a stiff metal rod, stuck some really sticky duct tape on there and got it out. It was a tense few moments. hahaha

Great idea!!

Yet another of the 1,000,000,000,001 uses for duct tape. :love:

Missed opportunity to cut a forward battery compartment in the deck.

I wonder if you could paint the seat base with galvanize in a can and then top coat with rustoleum white?