I'm paddling an Eddyline Falcon 16, one of the earlier production models, I think, and find the seat particularly uncomfortable. Sides are OK, but the flat bottom and perhaps the angle it's mounted in the boat make my legs go to sleep, even on relatively short paddles. I've added foam pads and even gel pads on top of that. I've gotten some relief, but not enough to make this truly comfortable. I am now intending to tear this seat out and replace it. Should be an interesting replacement quest - any of you have seats you'd particularly like to recommend? I'm assuming I might be able to purchase directly from the manufacturer as this is something not normally carried as a separate item in most shops I've been in. Do you have sources to suggest? My very first kayaks, some decades back, I did hand layup of my own seats (and the boats too, for that matter), so I may yet go that route if I can't do better otherwise. Another custom "need" here is a dip in the seat where the tip of my spine would otherwise come into contact with the it. I use a "horseshoe" shaped cushion in my car, and am otherwise uncomforable there too. Any help appreciated. Natalie Natalie Wiest Galveston TX *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Natalie Wiest wrote: > > I'm paddling an Eddyline Falcon 16, one of the earlier production models, I > think, and find the seat particularly uncomfortable. [snip] > My very first kayaks, some decades back, I did hand layup of my own seats (and > the boats too, for that matter), so I may yet go that route if I can't do > better otherwise. Another custom "need" here is a dip in the seat where the > tip of my spine would otherwise come into contact with the it. I use a > "horseshoe" shaped cushion in my car, and am otherwise uncomforable there too. Much easier than the hand layup to match your tush is to acquire some 3 inch thick minicell and carve it to fit. Use a right-angle grinder with 80 grit sandpaper on the pad and sculpt away! First I made rough cardboard templates to conform to the inside of the hull cross section fore and aft, tack-glued those to the front and rear of the minicell, and employed a long breadknife to saw to the templates. Save the templates if you like. Then sit on the minicell (while it is in the yak) and draw a line around where your bottom meets its top, carve a little, sit and draw again, repeat until satisfied. Oh, yeah, on one seat, I was not getting enough support under my thighs, so I contact-cemented another (taller) chunk of minicell to the front and carved it to conform to what was already there. Simple, simple. I have done this with two of my boats (one is an Eddyline Wind Dancer which came with the old style Eddyline seat) and velcroed the seats to the hull. Comfy, comfy, comfy. And, if you decide to loan (or sell) the boat to someone with a significantly different tush profile, they can pop out the seat, carve one to fit, and velcro it into place. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I had a lot of back problems, plus general discomfort with the seat in one of my kayaks. I bought a Creature Comfort seat from Chesapeake Light Craft. It is expensive, but it has pretty well solved my discomfort and back problems. As Dave says, you can also make your own out of minicell foam. Make sure that you have support under your thighs to avoid a lot of problems with your legs falling asleep. John Natalie Wiest wrote: > I am now intending to tear this seat out and replace it. - any of you have seats you'd > particularly like to recommend? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 6/29/00 9:49:41 PM, waddinj_at_recorder.ca writes: << I had a lot of back problems, plus general discomfort with the seat in one of my kayaks. I bought a Creature Comfort seat from Chesapeake Light Craft. It is expensive, but it has pretty well solved my discomfort and back problems. As Dave says, you can also make your own out of minicell foam. Make sure that you have support under your thighs to avoid a lot of problems with your legs falling asleep. >> It is really amazing how much difference an inch or two one way or the other makes in comfort. I made my foam seat and added first to the length of the seat and then the height of the front of the seat and then dug the seat, where my tuschy is, down to about 1/4" deep to raise my legs without raising my center of gravity. It took about 4 months and I still would like to make a couple of modifications, if I get some more foam. I've come to the general conclusion that seats should not be the basis on which I decided to buy or not to buy a boat, as long as it is constructed in such a way that I can make modifications. Good luck. It is fun work so don't be anxious about it. It will come, though you may take a lot more shorter trips until it is perfect. Joan Spinner * * * Paddling (very comfortably) on the Chesapeake Bay watershed in a red, CD, Breeze and a yellow/white CD, Gulfstream *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Check at the Aircraft Spruce & Plywood site for some foam that is said to make comfortable cushions in airplanes, where the small airframe makes it hard to squirm around and awkward to get out--like a kayak. bob phillips SE MI *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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