Seat upgrade options for older style seats

Hey friends. Please help me make a list of the best options to upgrade the older style soft seats (Pre-2015/Vantage).

There have been many great threads over the years, but it’s hard to chose with so many clever ideas and aftermarket options. Primary reason for upgrading is staying drier, with stability and comfort also important. Ease of installation a huge bonus at least for me.

What works for you?

Below are some ideas I’ve seen in past threads. Comments welcome from people who have tried any of these!

Modify original seats
Hobie iComfort
Make your own 2” thick foam pad and attached to the top of stock seat
Surf to Summit hotseat - https://www.surftosummit.com/collection ... eat-grande

Rigid boat seat replacement
Tempress/Atwood is supposed to fit perfectly into the AI/TI... any tried these in their kayak? Stability still OK? https://tempress.com/store/Trojan-With- ... -p97903110

Rigid mesh fishing/lawn chair style
Lots of options. Which fit best without major hull modifications?

Soft seat replacement
Surf to Summit has many options. Are the various GTS ones thick enough to keep you out of the water? Which one has the best shape to fit the hull? Has anyone tried “The Drifter” one with a 3” pad?? - https://www.surftosummit.com/collection ... kayak-seat






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We need to know which kayak you are wanting to upgrade?

2012 Oasis.

What is it about the seats you don't like? Sore butt, sore back? wet? Broken or slipping seats? The solution depends on the problem.

Wet. I’m mostly out in the ocean here in Maine. So at best the water is 65 degrees. Drier the better.

Is it the same hull as the current Oasis with a front hatch and side handles but no Vantage seat?
The problem with trying to rise out of the seat well puddle is that you raise the CoG. I have tried many alternative seats in my ‘14 Adventure and ‘10 TI but have no experience with a 2012 Oasis.
The Surf to Summit seat has a thicker base and drainage channels so that may be a drier option but I found the seat back uncomfortable.
I use a Sea to Summit seat in my Adventure which has a more comfortable back (all subjective) but it has a thinner seat pad. I have added an Airhawk motorcycle cushion for comfort and it keeps me a bit drier as well without too much of an increase in CoG. It has mesh and channels to help with drainage. https://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/view ... 7&p=278925
What I found most effective at keeping drier in my Adventure was to limit the amount of water that the side handles funnel into the seat well. It was such a problem with the older AI/TI’s that Hobie dropped the handles altogether but they have done nothing to prevent this on later models. We have a ’16 Oasis and the side handles still funnel water into the seat well but because of the Vantage seat its not such a problem.
On a 2012 model though much like my ‘14 Adventure you can prevent a lot of water from funneling into the set well by adding some 3/4 poly pipe covered in pipe insulation and shade cloth like this:

Thanks! Good feedback on the different style sea to summit models.

The 2012 hull is indeed the same less the vantage seat.

I also have a 2018 Oasis and I normally ride in the highest position. So I’m fine with a slightly higher CoG.

Next time I take her down from the hoist I’ll try to measure the seat height on highest setting vs top of the gunwale.

It’s confusing but they are totally different brands.
Sea to Summit
Surf to Summit.
Each have very different seats. The Surf to Summit GT Expedition has the better base but I liked the back on the Sea to Summit Cruiser.

Fair enough. I’ll prob try your handle-situation fix, and raising the stock seats with some cheap pool float foam first.

Is there a specific tape or mild adhesives that stick better to the hull plastic?

Did notice the different brands but thanks for pointing it out. Sea to Summit makes some great camping stuff! Cushy sleeping pads and pillows especially.


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I first raised the seats on our TI using Hullhugr boat fenders fixed using the bayonet twistnlock Hobie seat fittings. That was about a 2” lift which was OK on the TI but may be too high on the Oasis.

When the hull is properly prepared you can get a great bond using 3M VHB double sided tape. More info here -especially important Roadrunners flaming advice
https://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/view ... 11&t=60698