Page 749 - 2025 Parts & Accessories Catalogue

BOAT SEAT CLASSIFICATION
Seat Types & ABYC Requirements
Meets the Highest Standards
The American Boat & Yacht Council has established rigorous safety standards for seating hardware. Since seating is the critical interface between a boating passenger and a safe and comfortable boat, Attwood meets ABYC standards to ensure strength and safety of every product.
Seat Type: AN, Non-Operator
(Not to be used at the helm/driver position)
Seat Type: AO, Operator Seat Type: B
(Used at the helm/driver position) (Not to be used at the helm/driver position)
ABYC Requirements: ABYC Requirements: ABYC Requirements:
31.7.4.2
31.4.10
31.7.1
31.7.2
31.7.3
ABYC
Seat swivel locking mechanisms, when locked, shall not rotate relative to the seat base when subjected to a torque of 30 ft-ib (41Nm).
Type A Seat - a seated designated occupant position while the vessel is underway at any boat speed.
All Type A adjustable seat slide and swivel mechanisms shall be provided with a locking means for its slide and swivel operations.
Seats with fore/aft adjustment must sustain static load of 300 lbs. for 3 minutes in mid position.
Operator seats with a vertical adjustment feature shall have a positive vertical locking mechanism. EXCEPTION: Seats equipped with a pneumatic or electrical vertical adjustment feature that permits the seat to be set in any vertical position throughtout its vertical range of travel.
H31 Seat Standards
31.7.4.3
31.7.6.2
31.4.10
31.7.1
31.7.2
31.7.3
All operator’s seats shall have a positive locking mechanism that permits the seat to be locked in the forward facing position and any other intended position(s) and capable of withstanding 150 ft-lb (205 Nm)
of torque.
All seats interchangable with the operator’s seat must meet the requirements of this section.
Type A Seat - a seated designated occupant position while the vessel is underway at any boat speed.
All Type A adjustable seat slide and swivel mechanisms shall be provided with a locking means for its slide and swivel operations.
Seats with fore/aft adjustment must sustain static load of 300 lbs. for 3 minutes in mid position.
Operator seats with a vertical adjustment feature shall have a positive vertical locking mechanism. EXCEPTION: Seats equipped with a pneumatic or electrical vertical adjustment feature that permits the seat to be set in any vertical position throughtout its vertical range of travel.
31.4.11
Type B Seat - a seated designated occupant position at boat speeds not exceeding five miles per hour.
General requirements for all seat types. (AO, AN, B)
31.5.1 Seats that are readily removable from permanently installed bases shall be provided with a means for securing the seat, columns, pedestal, etc to prevent unintentional detachment from its installed position
31.5.2 Seats not intended to be in an installed position at speeds over five miles per hour shall have a means of securing any readily removable component of a seat assembly (e.g., seat, column, pedestal, etc) when
removed from its installed position.
31.9 All seat components meet ABYC structural testing requirements (final determination of compliance with standard is “as installed” by the boat manufacturer).
For more information see: www.attwoodmarine.com
Exceptions: 31.1 ABYC H31 standards do not apply to
canoes, kayaks, sailboats, inflatables, race boats, tiller steered boats and boats rated for less than 10 horsepower or manual propulsion.
Specific ABYC requirements are based on the specific seat type.
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