An Innovative Canadian Company is Revolutionizing Marine Suspension Seating

Aug 23, 2018

If you haven’t already experienced the safety and comfort of marine suspension seating, you will soon – and you’ll likely have a Canadian company to thank for it. Based on Vancouver Island, SHOCKWAVE Marine Suspension Seating has been designing, developing and manufacturing marine suspension technology since 2001, largely for agencies like the U.S. Navy Seals, Canadian Coast Guard, European Law Enforcement and other tactical marine companies around the world.

In 2017, they introduced a product for the recreational market: the SHOCKWAVE S5.

“The S5 is designed to bring marine suspension seating to the masses,” says David Smith, Founder and President of SHOCKWAVE. “Once upon a time there were no shocks in cars, but now you wouldn’t dare get into a vehicle without them. I think that’s about to happen with boats.”

The S5 is a robust but easy-to-install module that can be fitted to virtually any boat. It is designed and manufactured in Canada to the same military standard that all SHOCKWAVE products are built and can be paired with virtually any seat, although it does have the option of being paired with a SHOCKWAVE Corbin2 available through the company. It’s a slick looking addition that can transform any boat into a vessel that allows you to feel better and travel farther.

With all the technology and Canadian manufacturing, you might expect the S5 module to come with a hefty price tag – but it doesn’t. It retails for $1100 CDN, which in the marine world is pretty reasonable.

“We wanted to create something that made it possible for everyday boaters to access the technology and safety of our products,” says Smith. “By using cast aluminum and an adjustable RockShox shock, we were able to keep it affordable while being at the top end of shock mitigation on the market.”

Already in use in boats around the world, the S5 is changing the way people view marine suspension. Once a fringe idea, it has become a must have for many boaters, including Jesse Legg, owner and operator of Sea Leggs Fishing, a charter fishing company outside of Victoria, B.C.

“It’s like riding on a cushion of air,” says Legg. “Long days on the water that previously could have been painful and a stressful experience are now manageable,” he says,” which is important for anyone who makes a living on the water.”

But it’s not just fishing guides who are benefiting. Don Parker was a longtime boating enthusiast, but back pain prevented him from getting out on the water near his home on the coast of Vancouver.

“This is a game changer,” says Parker, who stated unequivocally that he’s never getting back in a boat without marine suspension.

As the marine community learns more about marine suspension seating, the Vancouver Island based company, SHOCKWAVE, is becoming a more established name, helping revolutionize what is possible on the water. Will they become the Kleenex of marine suspension? Time will tell. But one thing is certain: anyone who has experienced a SHOCKWAVE S5 knows that the difference is night and day between a boat with, and a boat without, suspension.

Available at marine dealers now. Visit www.shockwaveseats.com/s5 for more information.