Springfield Stingray Runabout Bucket Helm Seat with Flip-Up Bolster

Springfield Marine has been building boat seats about as long as anyone, and the Stingray runabout seat is one of their bread-and-butter helm seats. It's a bucket-style seat with a flip-up bolster, finished in black and gray marine-grade vinyl over a foam cushion, and it comes with a headrest. If you're refreshing a tired helm seat on a runabout, a bowrider, or a small center console, this is a straightforward, comfortable replacement that looks the part.

The flip-up bolster is the feature that earns its keep. Drop it down and you've got a normal bucket seat for cruising and running flat water. Flip it up and you get a padded leaning post, so you can stand at the wheel with support behind your thighs. That matters more than you'd think on a long day. When you're working a channel, backing down a ramp, or just want a better sightline over the bow, standing with the bolster up beats hunching over the wheel. And when you want to sit back down, you just fold it flat again.

Construction is what you'd expect from a seat built to live outside. The shell is blow-molded composite, so it shrugs off spray and doesn't hold water. The cushion is high-density foam wrapped in marine-grade vinyl, the same kind of material you'll find on factory seating, chosen because it handles sun, salt, and the occasional wet swimsuit without falling apart. The black-and-gray color pairs with just about any deck or interior.

Comfort-wise, the bucket shape does its job. The seat back is high enough to support your shoulders, the headrest takes the pressure off your neck on longer runs, and the foam has enough give to stay comfortable through a full day. The 22-inch width suits most adults fine. If you're a bigger captain and you spend eight-hour days at the wheel, sit in one first if you can, because a fixed-width bucket is a fixed-width bucket.

A couple of things to know before you order. This seat is non-adjustable and non-foldable, so it sits at a fixed rake and doesn't collapse for storage. It measures 26 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 25 inches tall, and it ships as the seat only. You'll mount it to whatever seat base or pedestal you already have, so check that your existing base matches the seat's mounting holes before you pull the old seat. One more thing worth a thought: with the headrest, this is a tall seat. If you run a low bimini or a hardtop with tight clearance, measure your headroom on a pedestal first so the top of the headrest clears.

Installation is about as simple as boat projects get. Unbolt the old seat from its base, set the Stingray on the same base, and bolt it down with standard marine seat hardware. If you're moving up from a bench or a bare pedestal, plan on matching the bolt pattern, and add a swivel or a slider under the seat if you want it to turn or move fore and aft, since the seat itself doesn't adjust.

Who's it for? Owners of runabouts, bowriders, deck boats, and smaller center consoles who want a comfortable, good-looking helm seat without custom-upholstery money. It's a captain's seat that does the everyday stuff well: cruising, fishing, and hanging out at the sandbar with the family. Give the vinyl an occasional rinse and a quick wipe-down, keep the flip-up hinge clean and lightly lubricated so it stays smooth, and it'll hold up season after season. We keep these in stock and ship same-day on in-stock orders, so you can have your helm sorted before the weekend.