Yet another seat question

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zpeteman
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Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:28 pm
Location: Florida

Yet another seat question

Post by zpeteman »

I'm building a Hiawatha 15' and am trying to determine the layout for the seats. The plans show that the measurement from the centerpoint to the front edge of the front seat should be 36''. The measurement from the centerpoint to the front edge of the stern seat should be from 42''-54''. I want to set them up for teenagers to use and figure the stern for a heavy boy (180lbs) and the bow for a lighter one (140lbs) and using the formula in Canoecraft that gives me some whacked out figures that are nowhere near what the plans call for. So I'm here again asking for advice. Do I follow the plans? Do I follow the formula? Or do I follow my eye and do what looks right?

Pete
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Glen Smith
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Post by Glen Smith »

Having dis-similar paddler weights makes it difficult to obtain "ideal" seat locations. Too close to the center of the canoe and it becomes difficult to paddle. Too close to the ends and it becomes less stable. I always verify seat location using the formula but then I never use it because one seat always ends up in a weird position. I position the bow seat so the bow paddler has adequate leg room then position the stern seat for what looks good.

Any gear on board can be placed to help adjust the boat trim as well as possible.
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Bryan Hansel
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Post by Bryan Hansel »

Stick with the plans. Maybe slap the stern seat at 50".
sedges
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sliders are wonderful

Post by sedges »

I would suggest putting in a canted(towards the stern) kneeling thwart pretty close to the center thwart to use for the solo times and run the rails for a sliding bow seat forward from there. I will never build another canoe, solo or tandem, with out an adjustable seat. Been refitting all the old ones that way, too. It will give you so many options including being able to slide the seat way back and have that 180 boy in the bow giving the light girl a chance to learn how to paddle in the stern.

If you think about it a bit, the heaviest person should be closest to the middle of the boat, which is a lot easier to do in the bow than the stern. With a heavy person in the stern the bow paddler would have to be so far forward as to not have leg room.
zpeteman
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Location: Florida

Post by zpeteman »

Thanks for the replies. I'm a little hesitant to try the sliding seat deal on my first canoe though. I'd rather keep stuff simple the first time around.
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Bryan Hansel
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Post by Bryan Hansel »

I agree. The more complicated a seat, the easy it is to break. I've had two sliding bow seats break in canoes that I've been in. One of a real nice commercial seat and one was one that I built. After that, I swore never to use them again. It's just as easy to throw a pack near the bow paddler.
Rick
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Post by Rick »

Pete,
I want to set them up for teenagers to use and figure the stern for a heavy boy (180lbs) and the bow for a lighter one (140lbs)
The seat locations shown on the plans will most likely be OK... symmetrical canoes normally trim slightly stern-heavy and track straight-line better that way. Fine adjustments to trim are possible by shifting loads fore and aft.

If there are doubts, or you want to experiment, install some temporary plywood seats with C-clamps and see how it trims out. The most common trim problems occur with bow-heavy trim, where keeping the canoe on course becomes difficult because it always wants to veer away, and paddling efficiency is reduced. Installing the seats so that there's some slight amount of stern heaviness normally is often good "insurance" to avoid the dreaded bow-heavy situation as paddlers and loads change from time to time.

Good luck!
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Doug
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Post by Doug »

"Some people hear the song in the quiet mist of a cold morning..... But for other people the song is loudest in the evening when they are sitting in front of a tent, basking in the camp fire's warmth. This is when I hear it loudest ...." BM
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Jim Dodd
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Post by Jim Dodd »

I built a Hiawatha from the earlier Canoecraft, and set it up as a tandem.
It is a great solo boat, and after the teenagers are gone, that might be how it's paddled most!
I'd position that bow seat to do double duty if it were me.
Enjoy the Hiawatha!
Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
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