Deck Chairs….

[Duffman]

Need a foldable deck chair for a bad back and knees crew member.

From a $130 cabelas/offshore angler model to a $400 + model not sure what to make of it.

They all look the same to me. Online pics anyway. Anyone have one. Thoughts ?

[Capt. Debbie]

They make those heavy duty deck chairs even with clamp on gimbals ( not very strong).

The problems with these chairs is they are bulky and dont store all that well on deck while fishing.

I used to run charters well offshore. I found a couple of things:
1- folding lawn chairs will indeed collapse from the pounding. The aluminum legs will bend under it. DONT BUY THESE!

2- Placing the chair as close to the stern takes out a lot of pounding. But depending on wind conditions, can be a wet spot with bow spray blown back into the boat.

3- Depending on the pounding your legs ( bouncy sea conditions) are a better shock absorber than these chairs. The multi $1000 helm chairs used on commercial stuff is cooler. But depending on the pounding, nothing totally negates the spinal compression.

I hope this helps?

[Duffman]

Thanks. Def helps.

What I’m not getting is everyone’s chairs look identical but pricing is all over the place.

Considering a bean bag too but afraid getting out of it would be a pia.

[Capt. Debbie]

The problem is Duff that they do NOT absorb shock.

They do take a load off so to speak. But shock is transmitted to spine.. goes from wave to shock the hull. The closer you are to the hull bang, the more you feel it. That's why on a pounding head sea the back ofthe boat rides softest. The front of the boat is like bull riding. A hurting cowboy/girl when they (try to) get out of bed the next morning.

Like I said the back of the boat rides softest.

These chairs are made of different metals and metal gages. If you pick them up you will feel the weight differences.

Originally Posted by Duffman

Thanks. Def helps.

What I’m not getting is everyone’s chairs look identical but pricing is all over the place.

Considering a bean bag too but afraid getting out of it would be a pia.

[Duffman]

The metal gauge on the seats makes total sense. Never thought of that being why the price points vary so much.

Throwing the bean bag idea around as well but may be a little more of a pia than folding up a chair and getting it out of the way.

Being a small boat guy sux sometimes

[Dawn Treader]

Not really a chair, but does anyone have any experience using those simple low-back chairs sold at West Marine? Looks like it has a back cushion that’s attached to the cushion you sit on and it provides some back support if you lean back.

A XXL friend that fishes on my boat can’t stand up very much so fishes seated on a cooler with a cushion. I’m considering getting one of those seats for him to help his back but don’t want to waste the money if it’s no good.