Convertible seat for watercraft

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include convertible seats for watercraft, and more particularly to seat systems configured to provide both standard and elevated (also known as casting or sighting) seat options for recreational watercraft, such as kayaks and the like. In various embodiments, a recreational watercraft such as a kayak may include both a standard seat in the cockpit, and an elevated seat comprising a molded-in seat platform formed in the hull and/or deck of the watercraft. In various embodiments, the standard seat may be configured to be stowed at least partially under the elevated seat when the standard seat is not in use. In other embodiments, an adjustable seating system for a watercraft is provided that includes a seat having a seating portion and a back support portion, wherein the back support portion is hingeably coupled to the seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seating portion, wherein the back support portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the back surface is contoured to provide an elevated seating surface when folded over the seating portion. In some embodiments, the seating portion may be adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via one or more elastic retention members and one or more adjustment straps that permit movement of the seating portion in a fore/aft direction.

1 . An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising:
 a first seat comprising a first seating portion and a first back support portion, wherein the first back support portion is hingeably coupled to the first seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the first seating portion in a storage position, and wherein the first seating portion has a first seating height;   a second seat positioned sternward of the first seat and having a second seating portion and a second seating height, wherein the second seating height is higher than the first seating height.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat is configured to stow at least partially under the second seat when the first back support portion is in the storage position. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the first seating portion is slidably coupled to the watercraft so as to permit movement of the first seat in a fore/aft direction. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 3 , wherein the first seating portion is adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via a pair of slide bars or via one or more front adjustment straps and one or more rear tensioning members. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the first back support portion is tilt-adjustable. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat further comprises a leg support element. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the first back support portion has a thickness dimension and provides an elevated seating surface relative to the first seating portion when in the storage position. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the first back support portion has a thickness dimension and provides an elevated surface adapted to receive a second seat, and wherein the second seat provides an elevated seating surface relative to the first seating portion. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the second seating portion is integrally molded into a deck surface of the watercraft. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the second seat further comprises a second back support portion hingeably coupled to the second seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the second seating portion. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 9 , wherein the second back support portion has a thickness dimension and provides an elevated seating surface relative to the second seating portion when the second back support portion is folded over the second seating portion. 
     
     
         12 . An adjustable seating system for a watercraft comprising a seat having a seating portion and a back support portion, wherein the back support portion is hingeably coupled to the seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seating portion, wherein the back support portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the back surface is contoured to provide an elevated seating surface when folded over the seating portion. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 11 , wherein the seating portion is slidably coupled to the watercraft so as to permit movement of the seating portion in a fore/aft direction. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 12 , wherein the seating portion is adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via a pair of slide bars or via one or more front adjustment straps and one or more rear tensioning members. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 11 , wherein the seating portion is integrally molded into a deck surface of the watercraft. 
     
     
         16 . An adjustable seating system for a watercraft comprising a seat having a seating portion and a back support portion;
 wherein the seating portion is adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via one or more elastic retention members and one or more adjustment straps that permit movement of the seating portion in a fore/aft direction;   wherein the one or more adjustments straps are configured to move the seating portion in a fore direction when tightened; and   wherein the one or more elastic retention members are configured to move the seating portion in an aft direction when the one or more adjustments straps are loosened.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more elastic retention members are configured to removably couple a rear portion of the seating system to the watercraft. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more adjustment straps are configured to removably couple a front portion of the seating system to the watercraft. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 16 , wherein the seating system is configured to be adjustable while in use. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable seating system of  claim 16 , wherein the back support portion is hingeably coupled to the seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seating portion, wherein the back support portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the back surface is contoured to provide an elevated seating surface when folded over the seating portion. 
     
     
         21 . An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising:
 a first seat comprising an integrally-molded first seating portion and an integrally-molded first back support portion, wherein the first seating portion has a first seating height;   a second seat positioned sternward of the first seat and comprising an integrally-molded second seating portion and an integrally-molded second back support portion and having a second seating height, wherein the second seating height is higher than the first seating height.