Thread: how to bend hardwood mahogany?

A friend asked if I could make new wooden seats for his sailboat. The original seats are mahogany and splitting therefore he wants to replace them. They have a slight bend that curves with the boat. He got four pieces of mahogany wood 5 feet long 3 inches wide 3/4 inch thick. I've heard how you can bend them by using clamps. Do you have to soak them in water and how? Do you start on one end and work slowly toward the other end by putting more clamps on it? Do you move it one inch at a time on a daily basis so you don't snap the wood? Can you do all four pieces at one time or do individually? How long a process is this? I'm sure there's more questions so can someone guide me to a section on this site or a website where I can follow instructions? Thanks in advance.