Take a Load Off with E-SeaRider

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    Take a Load Off with E-SeaRider

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    A bean bag on a boat? Thats absurd, you may say. They belong in front of basement TVs and in kids playrooms.

    We were skeptical, too. But Practical Sailor crew have been using two of the bags from E-SeaRider of St. Petersburg, Fla., for about a year-and we like them a lot. Theyre appropriate for daysailing, but for anything but larger boats, storing the bulky bags would be difficult.

    They provide comfortable, added seating underway or at anchor. The bags are lightweight enough to toss into the dinghy and take to shore for beach seating. They have stitched-on nylon handles for just this purpose.

    PSs bags were left outdoors for a year, their exteriors (24-ounce marine-grade vinyl made by Enduratex) exposed to sun, rain, and salt spray. “The only way water can get inside is if you use it as a float,” said E-SeaRider owner Pat Bennett. “You can leave it out in the rain, it can be hosed down, and it can take a big splash of sea-water.”

    Bennett explained that the Styrofoam beads that fill the bag are resistant to crushing and moisture absorption. Despite living in the Florida sunshine, heat, and humidity, our E-SeaRiders have resisted mold and mildew very well, and the colors have not faded.

    The bags come in many shapes, and you can choose the shape and color of the bag you want via the website.

    The bags are backed by a lifetime warranty when used under normal conditions. The marine vinyl is covered by a five-year warranty against fading or abrasion. The bags start at about $80.

    Contact –

    E-SeaRider, 888/335-3732, www.e-searider.com.
    Darrell Nicholson
    Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.