I have a new Northwind Solo which I used for the first time this past weekend. It has the kneeling seat, but when I tried to get in the kneeling position, I couldn’t slide my Muck-booted feet under the seat. So I just sat on the seat. Overall the canoe seemed fairly stable — and that was without a load of any kind. I’m wondering if there are others who have a kneeling seat but primarily use it for sitting? Or do most find others this configuration too unstable.

Not directly comparable, but my Magic came with a kneeling seat. I couldn't get my feet under it no way even with a pair of NRS water shoes. The boat felt too tippy to me with that seat so I ended up swapping it out for the standard Bell seat drops.

When I owned my NW Solo I never kneeled. I did raise the seat up about 2 inches from the original standard seat drops. I had no issues with stability loaded or unloaded. I now have a Northstar Firebird with the kneeling drops and am having some issues with getting my feet in and out with running shoes on. I currently am experimenting with the seat bolted directly to the gunwale in the rear and a 1 inch spacer in the front. Essentially raising the seat in a kneeling configuration 1 inch. Seat heights are not one size fits all and should be adjusted to your needs

RunningFox: "I have a new Northwind Solo which I used for the first time this past weekend. It has the kneeling seat, but when I tried to get in the kneeling position, I couldn’t slide my Muck-booted feet under the seat. So I just sat on the seat. Overall the canoe seemed fairly stable — and that was without a load of any kind. I’m wondering if there are others who have a kneeling seat but primarily use it for sitting? Or do most find others this configuration too unstable."

I switched to the kneeling drops on my Northwind Solo. I enjoy kneeling but, ultimately end up sitting 60% of the time. Even seated, I find the shorter drops to be much more comfortable than the longer drops. It is worth mentioning, even with the kneeling drops, my size 11 feet only fit under while barefoot.

Same here, no way i get my mucks under the seat, maybe if i bring them in flat if possible, dont want to imagine tipping over with my boots under there, we called that the panic test when we were kids playing in the pool.

I found with the lower seat in the NW solo and lower COG, I didn't see a huge advantage to kneeling... so I use the seat 95% of the time. I don't remember a problem with my feet fitting under the seat when I did kneel, maybe my size 9 boot just fits... will have to pay more attention next time I am out.

ghamer: "...I don't remember a problem with my feet fitting under the seat when I did kneel, maybe my size 9 boot just fits..."

Mine are size 12. No way they fit even barefoot.

I have the Nw solo with kneeling drops. Admittingly I don't kneel as much as I would like to because I also have trouble transitioning as easy as I want to from kneeling back to seated. I'm a size 11. I probably kneel 40% of the time. In my old town tripper I would kneel maybe 60 or 70% of the time. Seems like unless your barefoot, it's not as easy for me to go back to the seated position with th he space available. When kneeling by feet and ankles also aren't aa comfortable. They fall asleep or start to hurt. Maybe I need more saddle time, I got it last year and have only been out in it maybe 15 times. I do feel ok when seated, the kneeling seat is a little higher than the regular. Definately have to pay more attention to my position and stability when seated, more than I expected. A little disappointed. Hope that changes.

I’m a sitter. Had sitting drops in my NW Solo and it was way to low. Cut them down to almost nothing, 1.5” or so. I’m a big, top heavy guy. No issues whatsoever.

I bought a Northwind solo this spring too. Loving it so far. I sit and paddle from kneeling seat. So far I have felt stable.

Adjusting height by even a half inch either way can make a boat feel much more comfortable.