Re: [Paddlewise] Thermarest pad/Pygmy seat

Hey Mark,
I think the Thermarest pad is a neat idea, but the interface between the
hull and Thermarest needs some help so the top surface of the Thermarest
is more butt-shaped.  The way the plain Thermarest works is that your
butt cheeks are pressed together by the vee of the hull, and the
flatness (longitudinally) of the hull under the pad doesn't give you any
under-leg support.  While the Thermarest conforms somewhat to your
posterior, you still end up with too much pressure on your sciatic
nerves.

Have you ever considered carving a thin wedge of Minicel to just fit
under the thermarest seat?  Just carve a piece that is tapered to fit in
the bottom vee of the hull, with a relatively flat top profile.  Tapered
longitudinally from 0" at the back to about 2" under your thighs.  Glue
on a thin wedge of minicel around the sides and back to contain your
butt, and a small lump in the middle front as a "pleasure pod".  Then,
glue or glue/velcro the Thermarest pad to the top of this wedge.  You
will still have the pressure-evening properties of the Thermarest, with
more support for it so it better conforms to your shape.  I would think
that a setup like this would also make your boat/seat compatible with a
lot of other people's butts, in case you ever wanted to loan the boat to
a friend.

Shawn
Who doesn't have a Pygmy or Thermarest pad, but has paddled a Pygmy
so-outfitted and noticed that its fit and function was less than
optimum.

Mark Colvin wrote:
>> I also will be carving a new seat.  The thermorest does not suit me 
>>--numb leg syndrome:( 

-- 
Shawn W. Baker          0                                    46°53'N
© 2000            ____©/______                              114°06'W
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baker_at_montana.com    0        http://www.geocities.com/shawnkayak/
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