[Paddlewise] CANOE SEAT POSITION

The pivot point of the canoe should generally go thru the hips.  On
whitewater, if you error, it is on being a little far aft so you can turn
more quickly.  On flatwater, the same, but to avoid your bow plowing water.
On moving water, but not white, some like a little weight forward to improve
tracking.
    The height of the seat should take into account the height above the
bottom, not necessarily the distance below the gunwale.  This is because on
many canoes the depth is higher at the ends than the center.  If the seat is
a tractor type ( My preference), it should be a few inches of the bottom,
because you never kneel.  If it is a bench seat, it should be low enough to
safely sit on it in calm water, but far enough off of the bottom to allow
you to kneel with your feet comfortably under it in heavy weather.
"Comfort" means in an upset you can easily pull your feet out from under the
seat.
    If you are putting the seat in to allow you to solo paddle a tandem
boat, consider leaving it out.  When one person paddles a tandem, you need
to kneel in the fore - aft center, but to one side. That creates some rocker
that allows you to control the boat from the center.

                                        John


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************