Canoe seat upgrade

[Northern Dancer]

Oooh this really sucks. I put my canoe in the floor so I could sit in it and check for correct thwart placement. The left rung support broke when I sat down. I think there was to much give with the side of the canoe, maybe due to no thwart support, that the front support gave way, and this allowed the seat to twist, plus i shouldve done better with the support, and the sudden stop with my weight on it finished off my seat. I have gained a couple of pounds this winter, but not that much. Uhnn Oh well. I don't know what to say.View attachment 4535

----> Had I known you were going to do that I would have yelled...STOP! One of the rules for canoe owners is "you never do that." But since you didn't ask .

 

[Northern Dancer]

I don't know...I think I may have mentioned before. Have you every thought of building your own canoe? It sure looks like you have the skills.

 

[killeroy154]

Yes I want to build a wood strip canoe. I've been clearing the tools and stuff along a wall in my work area just for that. But I feel I must master the canoe seat first.

 

[Northern Dancer]

@ killeroy154 ...that's very true. I've often admired those special skills some people have and wanted to jump right in. One has to crawl and walk before one runs. On occasion people will compliment me on a skill and I think nothing of it only to realize later that it has taken me awhile to accomplish the same.

I have a hunch - when the time is right - it will be done.

Now about sitting in a canoe on hard ground surface - we never do that. I remember taking my first official canoe course. The instructor was most adamant when you are getting into/out of a canoe you use
your paddle along the gunnels to distribute your weight to prevent damage [balance was important too]. Of course if you have an aluminum Grumman you might not have to worry about that.

My colleague Percy Hugget had one and he could manage it like magic.

 

[killeroy154]

You can't beat the aluminum canoes.

Experimental seat #3. I plotted and drilled holes for weaving the cane. Gave it the big butt test and now it's ready to weave the seat material. I don't want to hear any fat jokes either.

 

[killeroy154]

Making a little progress. The cat helped a little this time. I've got one more diagonal strand to go, and that should bring the shape in and finish the seat. But that will have to wait till next week, getting camping stuff together. Leaving Wednesday evening.

 

[killeroy154]

Oh cricky... I didn't load them right.

 

[killeroy154]

I started to make a new seat for my solo canoe last August. After a couple of attempts, failures, with making one out the neighbors ash tree I gave up. I decided to make a couple out of oak for my tadem canoe. Why oak? Because oak is harder than the black ash I had, and just because I wanted to try. Plus I had a piece of sawmill cut in my wood stash. I replaced the original seat hangers because they weren't wide, deep, enough for my new seat. I cut the hangers out of some scrap cherry, it wasn't oak but I have no regrets. Finally a successful seat. It sits way more comfortable than the original seats. I have the other seat in progress.View attachment 4639

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[killeroy154]

Almost done with stern seat. A couple of diagonal weaves, and then to install. Got up early and sitting on porch dreaming of new camping trips.

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[rz3300]

That looks really nice, and much much better than the bar with what is guess is called a cushion attached to it, which is what I am current working with. I bet you get that satisfaction of making your own too, but either way this is probably something I need to look into, and this looks like something I might aim for.

 

[killeroy154]

I enjoyed making the seats. White ash or hickory would've been better, but I didn't have any. I think the main thing to do is get your wood 1 1/4 thick and 1 3/4 or 2 inches wide. I got my plastic artificial cane from HH Gregg. It was a 1,000 foot roll and 12 of the pegs and edge binder for about 50 bucks which included shipping. I ordered twice as much then I needed, but I wasn't sure how much it took. There are great utube videos on how to make frames and weave the seats, and it can be done with a few simple tools tike hand saw and regular hand drill.

Two things I need to do is, work on my abbs like crunches and sit ups and I need a back rest. The exercises I can do lying in the floor while watching tv, and take periodic ice cream breaks. Ha.

I could go on. Thanks. I am rearranging my basement and planning on starting a wood strip canoe. I'll have to change my login to Sinking Canoe" if it doesn't float when I'm done. Well if I do start one I'll post something. Might be a couple of months?


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