This is a reference page for your information, NOT a product to purchase. Please read fully and click on the links to the replacement parts.
The Phase3 Seat is found in some Wilderness Systems sit-in-side kayaks, made 2002 to 2012. This page largely addresses the seat parts of sit-in kayaks and to some extent sit-on-top kayaks.
The Phase3 Seat is also found on some Wilderness Systems sit-on-top kayaks, made 2009 to 2012. If you have a sit-on kayak please review this page and the Tarpon Seat Info Page.
Find the Serial Number and year your Wilderness Systems kayak was made with this link. Scroll down to Where Is the Serial Number on my Kayak?
These seats can be restored. Typically the need is for new seat covers and some related soft parts such as straps, not a whole seat. New seat covers and straps will be very easy to replace. A complete Phase 3 seat cannot be purchased as a replacement part! Air Pro seat parts are not necessarily compatible with original Phase3 seats. Use original parts for the best results. This page assumes that the underlying seat structure is sound and in good shape.
We stock a variety of Wilderness Systems Phase3 Seating replacement parts at TopKayaker. Use the links on this page to see the items described here.
The most commonly needed parts are the Spring and Plunger for kayak seat, the PhaseB Seat Back Cover and the PhaseB Seat Pad Kit. See a photo of the finished result of the PhaseB seat pads on the Phase3 seat.
IMPORTANT! if your kayak is outfitted with the Phase3 Lite Seat Back get the CSS Padded Seat Back Cover. If your kayak is outfitted with the Phase3 Seat Back Structure get the PhaseB Seat Back Cover. Otherwise Phase3 Lite outfitting parts are typically interchangeable with original Phase3 parts.
If you have a Phase3 XP sea kayak style back band you can replace the back support with nearly any of the common Sea Kayak Style Back Bands. The Seals Back Band is very similar to the original Tempest back band and corrosion proof. The Perception back band and the Dagger touring back band is identical to the Phase3 XP sea kayak style back band. The Phase 3 seat modification video will show this very clearly. You may only need to replace some back band straps and buckles.
The outfitting is always changing. We call the Wilderness Systems seat system, for sit-in-side kayaks, made prior to 2002, the Phase 2 seat. Phase3 and Phase3 Lite was introduced in 2002. Wilderness systems Tarpon kayaks were not outfitted with Phase3 seats until 2009. Phase 3 Air Pro was introduced in the 2013 model year replacing original Phase3. The original Phase3 parts are in the process of being discontinued. The original Phase3 seat system is no longer used to assemble modern kayaks. The Phase 3 Lite seat system was still used to build kayaks as of 2017.
The original 1st Generation Seat Back Cover and the 2nd Generation Seat Back Cover, that both fit onto the Phase 3 Seat Back Structure, have been discontinued. The new Air Pro Seat Back Cover is not an ideal match because it does not have an adjustable draw string, but otherwise a good fit. The CSS Padded Seatback Cover and the Phase3 Lite Seat Back Cover are acceptable matches and can be well secured with the draw string. The PhaseB Seat Back Cover is made to the original specifications from sunproof fabric (more durable than the original) with a draw string.
Expect similar changes over time to seat bottom cushions. the First Generation Phase3 Pad (7900-0042), the Second Generation Phase3 Pad (9800020) and the Phase 3 Lite Seat Pad (9800061) are all discontinued. The PhaseB Seat Pad Kit is the only substitution for it.
About 3 feet of 3/16 inch Bungee Cord, is often needed to tension the seat back support. You may need to remove the seat structure for this operation. If seat removal is not an option it could be possible to splice in a new section of bungee using fisherman knots.
The Phase3 seating cord lock often breaks or corrodes. Replace as needed while supply lasts. You will want two Klamptite Rivets to go with it, get extra rivets, just in case you bend one. A simple alternative would be a standard Cord Lock used with the existing T-Grip. Inspect your Phase3 Seat Cord for wear. Replace as needed. Replace T-Grips as needed while supply lasts. Early versions of the Phase 3 seat had an Orange Grab Ball as the grip.
The seat straps can fail. The Replacement Phase3 Seat Back Strap is best for sit-in-side kayaks. The Phase3 Leg Lifter Strap is best for sit-inside kayaks.
The Replacement Tarpon Seat Strap is best used for Tarpon sit-on-top kayaks, made before 2009. The Phase3 Strap Assembly for SOT kayaks, and some 1 inch wide webbing, is for Tarpon kayaks made 2009-2012. The Phase3 Strap Assembly for SOT kayaks (aka Phase3 Leg Lifter Strap for SOT kayaks) is the junction of the leg lifter strap (under seat) and the Back support strap (behind set). To entirely replace the seat strap system on a Wilderness Systems sit-on-top kayaks (circa 2009-2012) outfitted with a Phase3 seat get the Phase3 Strap Assembly for SOT kayaks and about 10-12 feet of 1 Inch Webbing. The Web Strap Pull Tabs are optional.
As needed you can substitute ANY of the straps above with; the Phase3 Seat Back Strap Kit (best for sit-in-side kayaks), the generic Seat Strap Kit can be used for the back strap as well as the leg lifter strap, for both sit-in and sit-on kayaks. 1 Inch Web Strap Products can be used to build these straps (no sewing needed!). See the Strap Related Videos: Pro Hatch Repair Part 2 of 3 (Cutting and sealing strap ends and melting screw holes). Pro Hatch Repair Part 3 of 3 (Working with tri-glides and buckles. applicable to super locks).
The Phase 3 Strap Tab, 2 pack and the Web Strap Pull Tab, 5 pack can be considered optional parts.
If seat bungee and hooks are needed (sit-on-top kayaks) use 1/4 inch Bungee Cord and Open Bungee Cord Hooks.
Push Rivets come with most seat pads. They can be needed separately at times, but a new push rivet will not fix a torn hole in a seat pad.
While the the Phase3 Seat Back Structure was previously a restricted part the remaining stock has become available because it is no longer used to make modern kayaks. The original version of the Phase3 Seat Back Structure did not look like Swiss cheese. The holes reduce the weight of the kayak. Usually the back structure does not fail. The Foam Filler Blocks, part number 7900-0015, can be substituted with the Zone Filler Blocks.
The Phase3 Backrest Riser is more likely to fail than the underlying back structure. Replace as needed while supply lasts. The riser (aka spine) is sometimes the cause of seat back failure, while the Spring and Plunger is a primary cause, a bad 3/16 inch Bungee Cord or Phase3 seating cord lock is also a cause of back support failure. The Phase3 Strap Guide would be on the Riser. The early version of this was flat, not arch shaped.
If you have a problem with your Phase3 Backrest Riser and-or the Phase3 Seat Back Structure, the Phase3 Lite Seat Back can be used as a substitute seat back for the Phase3 Seat Back Assembly. The Phase3 Lite Seat Back cannot be adjusted up and down, for tall or short people, but it is 14 inches tall and quite suitable for the majority of paddlers.
The original Phase3 Leg Lifter rarely fails but it can be replaced if needed, while supply lasts.
Phase3 seat bottom structures have not been commonly available and are now likely to be discontinued since 2012. While these cannot be purchased as replacement parts, old parts might be salvaged from junked kayaks. Usually these bottom structures do not go bad, but they can crack. Use the Contact Us Link (left side of page) if you have problems with the underlying seat bottom structure.
Some Pamlico kayaks were outfitted with the Phase3 Lite Seat Back that is not height adjustable.
Other Pamlico kayaks are height adjustable with the Cord Lock and T-Grip (sometimes an orange ball on early models).
Some tandem kayaks were outfitted with a Seat Adjustment Latch (now discontinued) that was secured to the seat bottom structure with 2 Pad Eyes. If you have broken a Pad Eye you can replace it and secure it with Klamptite Rivets. If you have broken or lost the latch it is best to replace with a stainless steel pin or bolt that you can source locally (even a nail would work).
Some seat pans, such as the Pungo Seat at the top of this page, may have nuts molded into the seat posts. These molded-in nuts could become dysfunctional. Contact us about options as needed.
Please use the video links below to view more information:
Phase 3 seat modifications
How to adjust Wilderness Systems Phase 3 outfitting
The WindRider trimaran, model years 2002 through 2005 is expected to be outfitted with the Phase3 Seat. The Mad River Serenade 13 canoe, circa 2013, is expected to be outfitted with the Phase3 Lite Seat. Much of the information on that page is very applicable.
This page addresses the original Phase3 seating, Phase3 Lite seating and to some extent the CSS seating (CSS = Comfort Seating System) as well as Freedom Elite seat (Ride and Commander) and Phase3 XP (Tempest sea kayak). See Freedom Elite Specific Parts. Phase 3 Air Pro is new and different and not addressed in here. It is unlikely that the Air Pro Seat parts can easily be applied to the older kayaks and are not well suited as a replacement parts for original Phase3 seats and Phase3 Lite seats. The Wilderness Systems policy of NOT providing a complete seat as a replacement part extends to Air Pro too!
