Learn how to set up sandbar mode on the Sportsman Heritage 251, position the aft bench cushions, and use magnetic cushions throughout the boat.
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•The Heritage 251 replaces the previous independent pipe-and-receiver setup with a slide-in, slide-out mechanism that makes turning the aft seating toward the water quicker.
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•When converting to sandbar mode, turn each cushion around and swap it to the opposite side so the port cushion ends up on starboard and the starboard cushion ends up on port, which keeps the bench aligned straight across the stern.
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•Every horizontal cushion on the Heritage 251 is held by magnets instead of individual snaps, so you simply set each cushion in position and it stays secured even while underway.
A day on the water often includes more than one kind of boating. After reaching your favorite sandbar, the seating arrangement that worked for the ride out may need to change. On the Sportsman Heritage 251, the aft bench converts to sandbar mode, turning the seating toward the water behind the boat.
The Heritage 251 introduces an updated mechanism for making that change, along with magnetic attachment for all horizontal cushions throughout the boat.
A new way to turn the aft seating around
The Heritage series previously used independent pipes that fit into receivers on the deck to reposition the aft seating. The Heritage 251 replaces that arrangement with a slide-in, slide-out mechanism designed to make turning the seats around quicker.
The purpose remains the same: give the aft seating a second configuration for time at the sandbar. The change is in how you move between those configurations, with the updated mechanism simplifying the transition.
Getting the cushions in the right position
There’s one detail to remember when converting the bench: the port and starboard cushions switch sides.
Port is the boat’s left side when you’re facing the bow; starboard is the right. To arrange the cushions for sandbar mode:
- Remove the port-side cushion, turn it around, and place it on the starboard side.
- Turn the starboard-side cushion around and place it on the port side.
That side-to-side swap keeps the cushions aligned straight across the back of the boat in the reversed configuration. Simply turning each cushion around and returning it to its original side misses an important part of the setup.
Magnetic cushions throughout the boat
Magnetic attachment extends beyond the aft bench. All horizontal cushions on the Heritage 251 use magnets to secure them in place, eliminating the need to fasten individual snaps. Position a cushion in its intended location, and the magnets hold it in place.
The convenience extends beyond setting up at the sandbar. These cushions are designed to remain secured during underway travel, making magnetic attachment part of the boat’s everyday seating system.
Together, the updated seat mechanism and magnetic cushions make the aft seating easier to reconfigure. When it’s time for sandbar mode, the key detail is the cushion swap: turn them around, move them to opposite sides, and keep the bench aligned across the stern.
