Lightweight seat suggestions

[Compo_Simmonite]

Due to ill health I've had to start using a mobility buggy. Unfortunatley no good off road and I've already had the indignity of the batteries going flat 8-)
My latest project therefore is adapting a rear engined petrol ride on mower into a mobility buggy. Perfectly legal (will be registered / taxed) as long a the rules for the "invalid carrage" category are followed.
One rule is weight (150kg max) so I'm trying to find a suitable lightweight seat. My electric bugies seat is very heavy so I can rule out using one of those. Lawn tractor seats with plastic shell are too low (I've also got back / spine problems so need full hight support). Car seats also tend to be heavy. Go cart not suitable nor are race car buckets.
Requirements - full height (headrest not essential but could be useful), vinyl covering (it'll get wet if I'm out when it rains so need to be able to wipe dry), non bucket.

Any ideas ?

Thanks.

paul H

[Steve_D]

Have a look at Northern Tools

Or Google glass fibre seat shell or something along those lines. A bare GF seat would be weather proof and if it fits you well will not be a problem with it not having any padding.

Steve

[Zumbruk]

http://www.motordrive.com/seats.htm

http://www.tillett.co.uk/index.asp

[magpies]

kirtley seats are very light and not expensive

[thescamper]

Why not get a carbon or glass fibre one custom moulded for you, wouldn't need to much padding and would of course fit perfectly. The question I suppose is who could do it for you.

[Mabbx]

Not the cheapest but very good quality carbon fibre pre-preg seats and possibly the lightest available - 2.2kg the last time I asked. You can easily get the covered for comfort.

http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Products/Carbon-Fibre-...

[skwdenyer]

I've been looking at this for a different project.

Boat seats seem to be a possible option; many are lightweight, moulded affairs.

The front seat from an original Fiat Panda ('hammock'-style) is pretty light weight. But the the Caterham CS3 seat may be a good option, too.

What are your back problems like? Might it be better for you to adopt a position similar to the 'kneeling chairs' that are used for working at desks? If so, you need a seat pad and some knee supports only. At the speeds you're likely to be going, there don't seem too many safety issues.

Have a look at the lightweight 'webbing' seats being used by recumbent bicycles and the like; again, they offer good support for minimal weight. It would be easy enough to get one made up to the size and shape you need - just some bent tube, welded together, and somebody to make up the cover with some sort of upholstery webbing to provide the necessary seat support.

[Compo_Simmonite]

Boat seats seem a good choice. Just need to see some "in the flesh".
Also the seats from a cheap and cheerful Chinese off road buggy could be viable.

Thanks for suggestions.

Paul H

[skwdenyer]

Talking about seats for recumbent bicycles, this might interest as a very light-weight solution.



ebay listing