Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

Okay I have the standard black webbing seats in my canoe.

But with some slipped discs and dodgy knees (yes I really am falling apart)
I'm looking for a more comfortable arrangement.

Beck Mason had a drysack stuffed with foam which she used as a saddle. Looked very comfy and I regret not asking to try it out - just didn't occur to me.

Traditional kneeling thwart would put too much pressure on the old knees me thinks - although I should try one before passing judgement.

For solo paddling I tried perching on the edge of the webbing seat, right leg tucked under, left leg extended out - didn't seem too bad a position for being connected with the canoe etc and comfy to boot.

For tandem was thinking of something like this
Anyone tried it and if so was it comfy?


Anyone else got any tips on seating/kneeling combos for someone with a dodgy back and gammy knees? And no suggestions for standing up and paddling please as I can barely keep out of the water sitting down.

Good question

A stuffed drysack works well for keeping you low down in the boat and can be quite comfortable, downside is that it is not connected to the boat so can slide when you don't expect it

A kneeling thwart, can be very comfortable as you can limit how much pressure you put on your knees with your seating position, it is also good for keeping the back straight and having more connectivity with you boat for effective paddling.

Some good padding on the floor of your boat would help your knees, or even some Knee Pads, I find that the Gel filled ones work best. I find that these kneeling mats work well and we sell quite a lot of them. They are non slip and really grip well in the boat.



Never found the seat backs worked that well as you always seem to be laid too far back for comfort and effective paddling, great for just laying back on when you want a rest though.

Hope this helps?

Hi there,
I also find the knee pads the best option for me personally.

I adapted my old Canoe to fit a kneeling seat rather than a thwart in
the same position. It meant I could kneel when I needed connectivity with the boat, but could also sit and paddle to give myself a break. Downside is that the seat is bigger than the thwart, so fills up space in the boat which leaves less room for kit and also less room to self rescue yourself.

Hope it helps
Graham

Thanks to Graeme and Graham for your helpful replies.

Graham - any chance of a picture of what a kneeling seat looks like?

Quote:any chance of a picture of what a kneeling seat looks like?

Just in case Graham does not have any pictures, you can make one quite easily using a standard seat and using longer seat drops at the front to the ones at the back so in fact you angle the seat forward, you can raise and lower the angle and seat height to suit yourself, using these parts.



You can choose which width seat you go for as well, I would recommend the wide or extra wide one

I too have a tilted seat to either kneel or sit but I glued some WW spec Voyager pads in the bottom of my boat, I love 'em both comfort and support.


There are down sides to this set up as Graham has pointed out. As for the seat it has its place, mine is in the spare bedroom although on a sunny dawdle down the canal Mandy has been seen sitting back enjoying a cold glass of wine whilst being my bow "paddler."

Hope this is of some help....
Cheers
Tim

Thanks again chaps.

I have an extra Endless rive black webbing seat ( got the standard as I didn't realise that the widths relate to the seating area, thought they were for different canoe widths - yes I know the pictures show otherwise)

Haven't rushed off to fit it into the canoe as I want to get the right configuration.

Will get some knee pads and see how I get on with those first.
Also have a spare sling seat which might work quite well with knee pads....

Tim - what are the blocks at each end of the seat for?

(11-05-10 04:04 PM)kmac Wrote: [ -> ]Tim - what are the blocks at each end of the seat for?

The blocks are closed cell foam, they give me more contact with the boat, more contact = more control, what's good for the 'yakkers may well be good for the blessed ones. Next time you are out in your canoe place something between yourself and the gunwales such as a throw line and see how you get on.

Cheers
Tim

Understood, yeah need to get connected, thanks Tim

Hi,

Sorry haven't got the old boat anymore so haven't got specific pics - but it's pretty much like Tim's only without the fancy foam stuck in.

Graham.

Yes Graham's kneeling seat is just dandy. I'll take some pics sometime.

Hi kmac,

I found I kept sliding down the seat/kneeling thwart and my knees were killing me....

I ended up evo-stick'ing TWO layers of Black's finest roll mat to the hull... I've not had a problem since, it's like kneeling on the bed....



The channel in the middle allows bilge water to move around and aids sponging out...

Cheers
Red.

That looks great Red.