G21 - Backrest Thoughts?

[morrow]

We currently have a 2020 G21. Looking at new G21s was super bummed to find out that the starboard passenger side backrest (behind the driver) no longer is available. We have this seat filled 100% of the time with a passenger facing backwards. Now it appears if someone wants to sit facing back behind the driver they have to lean against the driver's seat. This seems silly to me, and we were told it's been like that for a few years and you have to move up to a G23 to get that option now.

Unfortunately our private lake has length limits that prohibit us from getting a G23.

So any G21 users out there that formerly had the backrest that now don't, anyone miss it? Or did you learn to live without it?

[FMSKI]

I see what you mean there.
Rather than chopping short a G23 , you could get a relatively firm, seat-foam block, dimensioned (triangular-ish), sculpted and appropriately upholstered to fit in that "void" area. Supported by the d-seat back and can slide on base cushion

[DoubleUpDisaster]

Like you, I just discovered this change recently. It sounds like we’re in a similar spot: length restricted and loving our G21. We had a 2014, now a 2019, and just like on your boat, that seat is always occupied. I had planned to eventually work our way up to a 2021+, but this is (unbelievably) a huge miss from Nautique. I could understand leaving it out on the S or GS, but the G is supposed have just about all of the bells and whistles, regardless of length.

Edit - I just realized that the GS22 has a flip-up backrest on the starboard side. Why wouldn’t they do the same on the G21?

[jhiestand]

We have that back rest in our 210 but spend a decent chunk of time in friends' boats that do not have that back rest, and I can attest that in those instances we haven't gotten used to it. Seems clunky having to pile towels and soft coolers there to get comfortable, particularly in such a pricey wake rig. For that matter, I think not having the flip up additional port side seat is also a major fail. Perhaps newer riders (surfers?) no longer use those seating positions and we're just old school.