Comfort question

I have a question and looking for advice. I've got my oldest brother, he's 66, talked into drifting and fishing a small river in his home town. He will be in a Mad River Journey 156, a heavy yet durable canoe. I made larger seats and a back rest for it years ago. The seat is flat with no tilt, and the back rest is adjustable. He's in pretty good condition, 5'11" maybe 250#, a little overweight, and pretty tough with no physical problems. Very little, like twice in his life, has he been in a canoe. I had him in it once 6 years ago, and it was a total disaster.

Question is, would he be more comfortable with the front of the seat tilted up? Sort of like a reclining position. I found out that raising the back of my seat is more comfortable for me because of my bad knees.


I'm looking for ways to make him more comfortable. Readjusting the seat is no problem, even on the river I can change the tilt with simple tools.
There will be no white water on this day trip. Small river, mostly shallow with few shoals. A nice day spending time with my brother and slamming some small mouth bass.
We will be in separate canoes.
Appreciate any advice
Roy

I think I would keep it level. If tipped back for more comfort paddling would be more awkward, at least for me.
I’m intrigued by the seat back, can you share more pics?
Jim

When you say it was a disaster the last time he was in a canoe what exactly do you mean by that?

I've never been a fan of back supports but I also realize that many people do like them and some find them a necessity.

For me personally I find that when I lean back on a backrest that it puts more weight on my tail bone, which becomes uncomfortable. If I sit in a seat with good posture then the weight is more spread out over my butt and thighs.

Maybe a lower back support that only supported the lower back would help?

Alan

How does he like his feet? My dad is similarly uncomfortable in a canoe, and I think part of it is that he keeps his feet flat and fairly close to him - lower legs pretty much vertical. He also needs back support in that position.

I agree that a reverse tilt would be uncomfortable and an awkward position to paddle from. Plus it would soon provide pain to the legs under the knees. It might also be bad for the back, so for me, straight upright might be better. Most of my canoes have a slight forward dop tilt to the front of the seat, which is admittedly best for racing, with feet pushing on adjustable fixed braces attached to the canoe.

yknpdlr said:

with feet pushing on adjustable fixed braces attached to the canoe.

Click to expand...

A foot brace might be a good idea. I find they make a huge difference in my comfort.

Alan

Instead of tilting the seat, make a wedge of minicel foam, which could be easily switched from front tilt to reverse tilt to removed for no tilt.

I would wait until he's been in the boat for a bit, and then ask.

One way to make it more comfortable would be to raise it up. I'm not comfortable on anything less than about 11.5" and prefer them higher than that. You will have to see how it will affect stability. You can do a test with a hard piece of foam on the seat to see if it might work.

You want comfort, add a footrest. It works with the backrest.

Wow. I didn't expect all this advice.

Boatman53 said:

I think I would keep it level. If tipped back for more comfort paddling would be more awkward, at least for me.
I’m intrigued by the seat back, can you share more pics?
Jim

Click to expand...

Keeping it level is the way it has to be for now. I've burned thru today, unexpectedly, working on a vehicle. I'll get pictures of the seat setup and post it later. It was the first one I made, and it could be made better.

Alan, yes the disastrous time we had, a few years ago, wasn't entirely his fault but he didn't help matters by trying to stand up and exit the canoe in waist deep water, which happened more then once. I'm glad it was summer time because we flipped several times. Like a bull in a china shop thing.

He didn't seem all that uncomfortable the last time, but we are older now. I'm hoping he enjoys it, and maybe we do some good canoeing trips.


I think the overall consensus is to keep it level for now, and see how he does. Foot brace is a great idea also. I've been meaning to put foot braces in my Raven.

Thanks again y'all, I'll get back with you in a couple of days.
Roy.

Whatever you end up doing for the seat itself, I'm sure will work out somehow.
More importantly, be sure he paddles from the stern...nervous or uncomfortable paddlers can get quite disturbed when they can't see or anticipate off camber movements.
From the stern he'll be able to see everything. And react accordingly.

From your description in post# 11 (he was more comfortable last time, etc.), it sounds like he has the same problem that plagues all of us: He just needs more time in the canoe.

Gamma1214 said:

it sounds like he has the same problem that plagues all of us: He just needs more time in the canoe.

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Yes you are correct, we both need more canoe time. It was a good trip, other then my poor planning for time. Brother was very comfortable. After 9 hours, I was in agony from sitting in that little Mohawk.
I'll post it in trip report. It was a quick over night trip but we had a great time.
Roy

Boatman53 said:

I think I would keep it level. If tipped back for more comfort paddling would be more awkward, at least for me.
I’m intrigued by the seat back, can you share more pics?
Jim

Click to expand...

Here are a few pictures of the seat back. This was the first one I made. The back corners could've been rounded off. I've seen lots better on here.


This wood slat keeps the seat from slipping off. It'll slide back when when flipped up side down, but won't fall off.



These notches cut in the back keeps the seat from moving, when it's being sat on.



The one strap adjust the tilt of the back. I got ahead of myself when I was making it, and cut these two brackets in half so I could slip the strap off with out removing the screws. I didn't need to cut them, but it works.



The buckle and adjustable strap length on the left side.


Brother said it was quite comfortable with a small pillow for some lumbar support.

One of these days I'll improve on my seat making.
Roy

Maybe you should try a lake trip. Let him adjust the back rest.

Thanks Roy, I got it now.
Jim