Marine Seating Trends Shift Toward Comfort, Ergonomics, and Shock Mitigation
By Craig Ritchie
Advances in seating reflect a universal desire among consumers for residential luxury everywhere.
While millennials and Gen Z consumers may differ in many ways from the baby boomer cohort which preceded them, one area where boat buyers of all ages agree is in the universal desire for greater comfort on the water. A clear trend at fall shows like IBEX is the continuing shift toward more ergonomic seating with greater feature content, including advanced shock mitigation technology.
Indiana, US-based marine furniture manufacturer Lippert Components took advantage of strong IBEX crowds to introduce its new line of heated and cooled captain’s chairs. Designed with a focus on the pontoon boat market, the new high-back, climate controlled seats feature a distinctive honeycomb stitching pattern on the seat, backrest and head cushion, along with fold-down arm rests for greater occupant comfort.
The product line includes models with heating and cooling elements in the seat only, in the back rest only, or in both positions, with a choice of seat-mount or console-mount temperature control.
Compatible with most standard pedestal bases, including sliding and swiveling mounts, the new thermal seats provide an upper back rest horizontal surface suitable for the integration of a sewn logo, allowing boat builders to subtly inject brand messaging.
Also showing a range of new seating products at IBEX was Springfield Marine, which used the event to formally launch its new Momentum and Bairdi lines of premium helm chairs.
“Trends show a clear shift toward more ergonomic seating and shock mitigation technology”
The performance-oriented Momentum line aims to grow the company’s penetration in the sport boat market, while its Bairdi line of captain seats and pilot chairs brings style and comfort aligned to the yacht and commercial seating markets, says Springfield Marine VP of marketing Danny Sweeney.
Both of the new seats series are compatible with Springfield’s new-for-2026 low profile electric sliding base, also unveiled at IBEX. “Our first-generation electric slides delivered the convenience of electric activation to move the seat fore and aft with the push of a button,” says Sweeney. “But by reducing the complexity of the design, this next generation utilises a new two-piece extrusion that slides more smoothly, along with a more powerful and quieter electric actuator for improved functionality.”
Also new for 2026 is a new line of suspension seating products reflecting Springfield’s August 2024 acquisition of New Zealand-based shock mitigation seating manufacturer Shark Ltd. The firm’s new Flex Suspension, Flex Pod and Flex Epic Package suspension product line is said to absorb up to 10Gs of force, providing boaters with a smoother ride and greater safety in choppy conditions.
Sweeney notes that the company has made significant investments over the past year to enhance its product development teams by adding new staff, engaging third-party designers and partnering with the Missouri University of Science and Technology to collaborate on engineering. “In the spring of 2025 we sponsored six engineering teams to work on design projects,” he says. “We will continue that relationship for in the spring of 2026.”
For Tough Environments
With a focus on extreme duty environments, Canadian suspension seat manufacturer Shockwave used the IBEX trade fair to formally introduce its S5-SS suspension seat base.
Crafted from 316 stainless steel, the new welded base is engineered specifically for use in hot, humid and salty marine environments where maximum corrosion resistance is essential. The S5-SS uses a Fox Rhythm air-sprung shock that offers both rebound rate and progressive dampening adjustments, says Shockwave recreational sales and marketing manager Tanis Bradshaw. The base provides four inches of vertical travel and one-and-a-half inches of forward cushioning to mitigate deceleration associated with wave impact.
She adds the base is compatible with a wide range of popular seat designs, as well as slide and swivel mounts