Re: [Paddlewise] Canoe Seats

From: Larry Snow <larry.snow_at_deltec.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 07:15:28 -0600
Steve wrote:

<kneeling was no where near as effective as the same maneuver performed in a
boat with a conventional seat; in fact I pretty much ended up still sitting
in the tractor seat with my legs doubled back beneath me. I think this has
something to do with the fact that the forward edge of the tractor seat is
too low for me to effectively use as a butt rest (as opposed to the
conventional seat in my tandem boat which is "just right"). In any event, I
eventually gave up trying to make the kneeling position work, and returned
to my normal seating arrangement.>

I kneel about 90% of the time when I paddle whatever the type of water that
I'm on, and have noted that the height of the seat is the critical factor in
how easy it is to assume a comfortable kneeling position (i.e. using the
front of the seat as a butt rest).  I used to have a Wenonah Jensen and
found that it was uncomfortable to kneel in because the seats were too low.
I had to do the same thing as Steve - basically sit on the seat with my legs
bent under it.  I was then positioned too low, so that my legs bent at a
sharper angle than with other boats.  This would put pressure on my legs
just above the knee and I would get uncomfortable and need to stop to walk
around much sooner.  I had seats made out of "lawn chair" material rather
than the tractor seats.  So to answer your question, I think that your
problem is the fact that Wenonah mounts the seats lower than other
manufacturers, rather than the problem being the tractor seat itself.  BTW,
I could kneel in my cruddy old Alumacraft (a.k.a. the aluma-tub or the
boom-a-craft) all day because the seats in that thing  were the perfect
height for me.

Larry Snow
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Received on Fri Mar 12 1999 - 05:15:55 PST

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