prototype canoe passenger seat

[tijos]

Hello,

I found this site over a year ago while looking for plans for a folding canoe passenger seat, and I’ve been lurking ever-since. Even though I didn’t find a plan, I did manage to learn a lot from the variety of postings here.

This past winter I finally decided to make a prototype folding passenger seat, and I decided to share it here with you. Hopefully it can give someone out there in the need for such a seat, some additional ideas.

The design requirements were that it be light, folding, usable as a shore seat and have a base on “skis” that run perpendicular to the canoe ribs (a 1938 Peterborough “Champlain Pleasure”)

Because it was just a prototype, and I didn’t know if the design was going to be comfortable or worthwhile, I used the opportunity to test a bunch of different woods. Basically, scraps I had around the shop. The green cording is 1/8” mystery/no-name rope I got at the dollar store…again didn’t want to spend because it was just a prototype. All joints were glued with 5-minute epoxy, and the whole was coated with spar varnish.

In the eventuality that the seat feels too flat, the walnut “skis” are only screwed in place. They can be replaced with wedge shaped ones, to give the seat more of an angle.

So far the flat “skis” prove to be quite comfortable on the floor, for reading and watching TV, but I have yet to try it in the canoe.

Passengers will now be spoiled with back support and dry butts. (HUMMM, I wonder if that is a good thing? )

Cheers,
Joseph
[IMG:444:500]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/ ... pen-49.jpg[/img]
The back is white pine, and the seat is red cedar, white pine, hemlock for the rungs and black-walnut for the “skis”(for durability). It is all mortise and tenon joinery with 3/8” walnut dowels for pinning and adding extra strength.
[IMG:486:414]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/ ... sed-19.jpg[/img]
[IMG:359:494]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/ ... 300-31.jpg[/img]
Four rubber bumpers were added to protect the finish when in the storage position.
[IMG:384:491]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/ ... tes-24.jpg[/img]
The hinge plates are cut from 1/8” stainless steel and 1” square aluminum tubing was used for the seat post.
[IMG:500:361]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/ ... -11-35.jpg[/img]

[Juneaudave]

Very nice!!! Did you fabricate the hardware or find it "off the shelf"?

[tom in caledonia]

Hi Joseph, I like it! A great idea for those with backs that need some more support. When you install it in your canoe, how will you do it? Are you going to raise it up 9 to 10"? How will you make it quick and easy to take out? Cross-pieces running the same direction as the ribs? So many questions.... A final one, how much do they weigh?

[tijos]

Hi Juneaudave,

The only part of the hinges that had to be made were the 3” circular plates, all the rest are standard SS nuts and bolts from the hardware store. I cut them from 1/8” SS plates using a jigsaw set on the slowest speed, and some WD-40 as lubricant. I then used a file to round-off the edges and spent a few minutes polishing them on a cotton wheel.

Hi Tom,

The seat just sits as-is on the floor of the canoe’s center section, no fasteners needed. It is meant to replace a well-worn piece of blue styrofoam insulation panel that passengers usually sat on. I tried to keep it as low as possible to keep a low center of gravity and maintain stability, it is only 3” high. It weighs in at about 4.5 Lbs.

As to the cross-pieces/ ribs part of your question, I’m not exactly sure what you mean. But I did design it for an old canvas canoe that has ribs going left to right (see picture below), so the chair “skis” had to go from front to back, in order to protect the planking. (I hope this is what you were asking)



Thank-you both for the kind words,
Joseph

[IMG:326:480]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/ ... inside.jpg[/img]

[woodman]

Joseph,
Great looking seat.
Im thinking of putting folding backs on my seats - How did you determine the "lean back" angle, and what is it?

Cheers
WM

[tijos]

Hi WM,

The angle is 115 degrees; I just copied it from a chair I found comfortable.

Although, I did plan some adjustability into the design, in case I didn't find it comfortable once it was all laced-up. To change the angle all one's got to do is add a spacer under the stop nut. The larger the diameter of the spacer the straighter the back would be. Luckily 115 degrees was fine and no spacer was required.

Hope this helps,
Joseph