Phase 3 AirPro Kayak Seatback Kit

Pro: the backrest is awesome once it is installed. Adjustable. Gives great support. This is a must have addition to your kayak. Con: the directions are terrible. The black and white copy that is in the box is confusing and photos are too small. There is a PDF version online and the photos are better in color and when you can zoom in... but they are still large thumbnails at best. It took about 45 mins for me to assemble the back rest and install it properly. After figuring it out, I could easily set up the next one in 10 min or less. Not sure who set up the instructions but they are terrible... unlike the backrest. This is easily the best accessory that I have purchased for my kayak. I used it for 4 days straight and over 80 miles and I am so thankful I spent the money over the simple backrest that came with the kayak. Spend the money and join the club of people that have experienced absolutely terrible installation instructions.

Instructions are bad, watch utube videos to help figure it out. Once I did get it installed, I love it. Great seat back.

Just bought this seat back to replace a broken seat on my older perception, which luckily used the same type of seating system. The seat sits higher than my original and I was looking for something firm, to provide better lumbar support, which it does. The only issue is the installation instructions. Everything went smooth, until I reached steps 12-14. I went online but unfortunately no videos. I ended up figuring it out and wanted to share, in case it helps someone else. So, when you get to step 12, you stretch the looped bungee all the way up, from the bottom of the seat rest to the top and make sure the straps are on top. Then, the trick is you pull that bungee through the u-shaped slot on the seat and I then grabbed a screwdriver to hold the bungee in that u-shaped slot, from the back, so it would stay. You can then slide the entire seat each into that slot , and tuck the strap and bungees with hooks through with it. Then, I used the screw driver to set the bungee secure in that u-shaped slot and once it’s in, the seat will spring up and down. The instructions showed something completely different for this step, which had me guessing. Hope that helps!

I just bought a used 2007 Tsunami 145 Kayak. The seat was in bad shape. Actually the seat back and spine were in very bad shape. Initially I searched to see if I could just buy an entire replacement seat and just change the whole thing out. NOPE! It seems Wilderness Systems will not sell you an entire seat. You have to buy replacement parts piece by piece. I'm not sure what genius thought of that as a customer strategy but that alone is a huge fail. You have to search and find replacement parts wherever you can find them. You can try topkayaker.net. I decided to buy this seat back and spine and really just a lot of hope that I could make it work. The instructions were a joke. Hard to understand but the included photos of the steps were almost un-viewable. Not much larger than a postage stamp and dark & grainy. POOR QUALITY! I tried using a magnifier app on my phone to try and understand and decipher the photos. I became totally frustrated. Here is what I ended up doing. I was able to install the seatback and spline into my existing seat bottom. Not a problem. I abandoned the idea of using the cords and bungies that were included. The seat back will flop forwards and backwards. The seatback will also move up and down. When I sit in the kayak, it works just fine for me and stays in place as I sit. It actually may work better without all the complications that Wilderness designed into this seat. The included instructions should be completely redone by Wilderness with large easy to understand color photos. Wilderness should also make some videos in HD that show step by step instructions. Most of their videos look like they were made in the 80's. In closing, this seatback will probably work for the older Tsunami's. Just be prepared to make some modifications.

Excellent seat. I had to call Wilderness Systems to get them to explain installation, as the instructions are AWFUL. They even said so themselves. After he sent a link to a video that is not on YouTube for some reason, I was able to figure it out. Not correlated to the directions in any way though! It has been a great seat since then.

If it weren’t for You Tube I would never have gotten this seat installed. The directions are not good. Really not good, like there is a step missing or something. Once I got it rigged properly and lined up, it went just fine. It’s much more supportive than my old seat and the back adjusts to fit just above my PFD. Looking forward to time on the water again.

Everything was exactly as described! Very easy to install and functioned like the original. Only issue I have was the directions and pictures were blurry and hard to understand.

I have severe ADHD. I can sit at something for hours. Been going for 3 hours now. I can’t figure out the last steps that go out of order weaving and moving the bunjee into the riser. Anyone got any Info. I can’t find the video. I’ll just put a screw in it at the height I want. The directions suck ass!

Worked well in my Wilderness Tsunami 165. Very comfortable when doing long paddling.

Fits perfect in Tsunami 14.5 Take a picture of seat before you remove old one because instructions are black and white and zyou cant see anything on them. Overall perfect except instructions!

Great product, great back support. I find it a little harder getting in and out of the kayak now. Although increased comfortability from a backband is achieved. Fits on my focus 155 wilderness systems kayak.

Back worked just fine but should have bought whole seat

No buckle strap came in the package. There was also no spring in the package. Both are listed under 'Kit Includes', but were not in the box. The seat cover does not stay on well, and you can't tighten its fit. So it flew off while transporting the kayak on the highway. So now I have a seat that barely stays on (no spring) and with no seat cover. I had straps from the seat I was replacing, so that missing part was not the end of the world. And as others here say, the instructions are absolute garbage - please spring for a colour printer guys! Just save yourself the trouble and do not buy this.