New seat design.

Jim Dodd · Jun 18, 2024

On my latest composite build, I made a seat design change .

I have always used straight bars between the front and back rails on my Snow shoe corded seats.
A while back I made a bench, that the top was rounded , like a log.
It was very comfortable, and so I thought I would modify my seat frames to simulate that comfortable log bench.

Soon I will get the chance to spend a full day on the water with this new seat.

Here are some closer pics of the seat.

I will tighten the cords a little on my next one.
Another thing I liked about this seat, is I could shift my weight, fore or aft, for hull trimming, and it was still comfortable.
It also works if you want to heel the hull, to one side, and still be comfortable.
I posted this, so others can try it on their canoes.

alsg · Jun 19, 2024

Will be interested in your long term review.

Have you considered doing it with the short sides bowed down (like the long pieces)?

Woodpuppy · Jun 19, 2024

I think he’s on the right track- bowing the sides up lifts the woven suspension somewhat above the front and rear edges so your weight is borne by the suspension and not the frame. I’m very interested to see how that works, and then my next thought is- make the suspension full width for wider seating options.

Will Derness · Jun 19, 2024

Jim Dodd said:
On my latest composite build, I made a seat design change .

I have always used straight bars between the front and back rails on my Snow shoe corded seats.
A while back I made a bench, that the top was rounded , like a log.
It was very comfortable, and so I thought I would modify my seat frames to simulate that comfortable log bench.

Soon I will get the chance to spend a full day on the water with this new seat.

Here are some closer pics of the seat.

I will tighten the cords a little on my next one.
Another thing I liked about this seat, is I could shift my weight, fore or aft, for hull trimming, and it was still comfortable.
It also works if you want to heel the hull, to one side, and still be comfortable.
I posted this, so others can try it on their canoes.

You make a pretty seat.

ppine · Jun 19, 2024

That looks like a proper canoe seat. I am tired of wicker seats. The black webbing is pretty good, but yours is superior in every way.

Glenn MacGrady · Jun 19, 2024

alsg said:
Have you considered doing it with the short sides bowed down (like the long pieces)?

I think that would increase the likelihood that you end up sitting on the long sides of the frame, as with loose caning.

Jim Dodd · Jun 19, 2024

Jim Dodd said:
On my latest composite build, I made a seat design change .

I have always used straight bars between the front and back rails on my Snow shoe corded seats.
A while back I made a bench, that the top was rounded , like a log.
It was very comfortable, and so I thought I would modify my seat frames to simulate that comfortable log bench.

Soon I will get the chance to spend a full day on the water with this new seat.

Here are some closer pics of the seat.

I will tighten the cords a little on my next one.
Another thing I liked about this seat, is I could shift my weight, fore or aft, for hull trimming, and it was still comfortable.
It also works if you want to heel the hull, to one side, and still be comfortable.
I posted this, so others can try it on their canoes.

Here is a pic, of my old seats, just for reference.

alsg said:
Will be interested in your long term review.

Have you considered doing it with the short sides bowed down (like the long pieces)?

As others have stated, bow down on the sides, would lessen the comfort, in my thinking. Always good to try something different.

Jim Dodd · Jun 19, 2024

The Snow shoe cord works great, but I think webbing would be fine also.

alsg · Jun 19, 2024

All I can say is it worked for the Egyptians.

stool | British Museum

Ebony stool: the finest surviving example of its type, this stool combines precious materials and successful design with superlative craftsmanship. The leather seat dips in a double cove to give contoured support to the body from any of its four sides. Ivory inlay imitating garlands of lotus...

www.britishmuseum.org

Woodpuppy · Jun 19, 2024

Looks like one could use that with a chamber pot.

Gamma1214 · Jun 19, 2024

Looks like one could use that with a chamber pot.

Perhaps the origin of the word for that particular piece of furniture? (speculation. I'm not curious enough to Google it lol)

alsg · Jun 19, 2024

Woodpuppy said:
Looks like one could use that with a chamber pot.

That's a Thebes' stool, not a chamber pot! It's missing whatever woven material was originally on the seat.

stripperguy · Jun 21, 2024

Jim,
Is that nylon cord? Or nylon tube stretched flat?
Looks like you have varnish on the cord?
Too many years ago, I made a dozen or so seats woven with synthetic snowshoe lacing…neoprene outer layers with a center layer of nylon, tough, comfortable and durable. The place that supplied that lacing is long gone and I have yet to find another source for the same stuff.
Your lacing looks to be the next best alternative
Beautiful seat and it looks really comfortable
Thanks for sharing

Jim Dodd · Jun 21, 2024

Stripper guy
The Snow shoe cord is a flat tube. Incredible strength.
Yes, it is varnished with Spar urethane. I thin the first coat, and really work it into the lacing, for good saturation. It shrinks the cord some, so I lace the seats a little loose. 1/2" size cord from these guys. I bought a big roll years ago. Takes roughly 50' of cord for a seat.
Snow shoe cord

stripperguy · Jun 21, 2024

Thanks Jim, I'll definitely be buying some of that

sailsman63 · Jun 27, 2024

I, for one, would love to hear a use report for this new idea, @Jim Dodd !

On the subject of the Thebes stool, I looked at some of the dimensions. Given how low the seat dips (The upper corners are about 14.75") I suspect that in use it was more like a low squat: Feet flat on the ground, close to the stool, with the knees drawn up toward the chest. A very different pose than our even lower canoe seats, where we want our legs out straightish for bracing and mass control!

stripperguy · Oct 2, 2024

Jim,
I'm about ready to finish that carbon copy of a Sawyer Cruiser that I started last year...
Time for seats and thwarts.
For some reason, I can't see your top two photos, is it me? Or has Photobucket changed something again?

dcloots · Oct 2, 2024

stripperguy said:
Jim,
I'm about ready to finish that carbon copy of a Sawyer Cruiser that I started last year...
Time for seats and thwarts.
For some reason, I can't see your top two photos, is it me? Or has Photobucket changed something again?

I can not see the pictures either so my curiosity of the new seat design is getting the best of me.

BWCA66 · Oct 3, 2024

I can't see them either.

Alan Gage · Oct 3, 2024

I'll save Glenn some typing by saying this is a good reason to upload images directly to the site itself rather than a 3rd party hosting site.
I'll also say I'm not always great about doing that either, especially when the photos are already uploaded to the 3rd party site. For new photos I do try and load them here directly so they should survive as long as the forum does.

I somewhat copied Jim's design and can show a picture of mine with the arched side rails. My seats were flat but I'm sure Jim's was contoured.
I can't comment on comfort as I haven't sat on them yet.
Once webbed there was no noticeable arch in the actual seating area, it was pulled pretty much flat. Maybe if I would have stretched tighter it would have maintained the arch? Maybe even with the webbing pulled flat the arched supports created extra tension for a more taught seating area? I don't know.

New seat design.

Jim Dodd

alsg

Woodpuppy

Will Derness

ppine

Glenn MacGrady

Administrator

Jim Dodd

Jim Dodd

alsg

stool | British Museum

Woodpuppy

Gamma1214

alsg

stripperguy

Jim Dodd

stripperguy

sailsman63

stripperguy

dcloots

BWCA66

Alan Gage

Super Moderator

Similar threads