To: baidarka@imagelan.com
From: Willow <atlsysnet.com!willow@imagelan.com>
Subject: Re: Seat backs
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 12:50:33
Message-Id: <19960114125033.1a9e7e45.in@atlsyssvr.atlsysnet.com>
>
>
>Discussions of seats in kayaks is always good for some conversation. My
>question deals with the various ways of rigging seat backs.
>
>I'm close to finishing the frame on a Dyson 5.28 and am thinking about
>installing seating fixtures prior to covering. I would like to begin the
>conervation (but certainly not limit it to) two questions:
>
>1. Has any rigged up a Feathercraft type seating arrangement in a
>skin-on-frame boat? For those who have not seen a Feathercraft arrangement, it
>is a nylon sling hung from the gunwales and anchored to stringers I or II. A
>hindged seat bottom and back rests on the sling and is anchored in front to a
>cross member on the floor and to the top of the deck beam immediately behind
>the cocpit. I find it more comfortable than any kayak seat I've tried.
>
>2. What other arrangements have people used and how satisfied are you with
>them?
>
>Thanks
>
>Hi
I'm Bill in northern Maine. I'm building my second wooden skin boat. The
first was a Bruce Lemon Kit. I've been trying a number of seat designs and
I'm still trying. My first was a nylon sling type similar to the type you
described. I put a wooden dowel along side both the gunwalls and slung the
seat from that. Nylon stretchs when wet so getting the length right is
difficult. The seat tends to sway back and forth as the boat moves so you
don't have good hip control. I found it uncomfortable for long trips. Since
then I have tried air bags(hot stickey not comfortable for long times not
stable), 1" soft foam pads( OK for short hauls but not for long), Thick foam
3" pads cut and moulded(better but still not great for long hauls) now I am
working on a wooded framed woven seat( got the idea from a member of a local
Native American Tribe.
I have tried several seat backs, hard and soft. They have adjustable straps
that run forward to the next deck beam so I can adjust them while in the
cockpit. I am now using a flexable but stiff seatback with the webbing
attached to it and then run forward.
Building the boats is easy but I have found building a really comfortable
seat arrangement for long trips difficult. I'm still looking for the answer.
Take care
Bill Low