Has anyone every added a middle seat to a tandem to be able to paddle solo. Thinking of doing this as solos are hard to find and also can be expensive. Thanks

YMMV but here, on the East coast solo canoes regularly come up on Craig's list and often for much less than comparable quality tandems. Once paddled a solo boat it's really hard to enjoy paddling solo a tandem. Besides carrying a lot of unnecessary extra weight, there's no comparison between 26" wide solo and 34-36" tandem. The latter, for instance, renders sit-and-switch technique practically impossible. Also, wind is more of an issue, as well as tight turns when soloing a tandem &c.

What make/model tandem do you have? Much easier to flip your direction and paddle solo from the bow seat.

As EddyTurn points out, the width of your tandem will likely make it very difficult to paddle from the middle.

It's true that a dedicated solo can set you back more than a few dollars but if you like paddling solo you won't regret the investment.

I think you will find the traditional "Canadian" way this is done from before there were solos is kneeling to one side and the canoe is on its edge a little. Just watched Kevin Callen's Lost Canoe Routes of Ontario presentation at Canoecopia and saw this. Lots of videos on line. This is not the classic I was looking for. Keeling

I too second getting yourself a dedicated solo but until you do like mentioned already, paddle from the bow seat leaned. Check out a few of wintertrekker's trip videos on YouTube. He uses the Canadian stroke almost exclusively and makes it look effortless.

It's not a "Crazy canoe question" at all, and is often asked.
Yes you can add a seat, use a , drop in seat , a kneeling thwart, or if the tandem is symmetric reverse seating to paddle backwards. All work, I'm just no fan and prefer a true solo, the "sport car" of canoes!
Canadian style mentioned by Bill is fun in either tandem or solo, just not an efficient paddling technique, nor useful in windy wavy conditions. But it is a blast to use in smaller waters and streams.

butthead

It really depends on what type of canoe/portage pads you have but what works well for me and my Alumacraft QT-17 is that I take about 2" of closed-cell foam (those kneeling pads made for gardening work nicely or even a folded life vest will do) and place it on the center thwart between the portage pads. This makes a perfect seat in the very center of the canoe and turns it into a fine temporary solo.

I use an Essex Industries Canoe Seat in my Penobscot 17. This boat needs a good load for stability, which is helped by putting my weight near the middle. I use a double-bladed Bending Branches Impression Solo paddle. (The paddle in the picture is a different one.)

Above it’s suggested that you just turn your boat around and paddle from the bow seat, which is what I do. This works on some boats and not others. My boat is symmetrical - rocker is the same fore and aft. For asymmetrical boats this very well May lead to control issues. Paddling my tandem backward works for me but I do wish my seat was closer to the middle. If it were in the middle I think it would be a problem because of width, but I have not tried.

Yes it is done with some success depending a lot on the boat. I had a Ranger Otter* at one time and added a seat at the rear thwart position (where a kneeling thwart would likely be placed). Worked well for me. Currently have a Bell Magic and Northstar. Am planning to add a third seat to the Northstar to use as a solo. People have done it to a Northstar Polaris which is the same as a Bell Northstar. The Northstar and Polaris are said to be the best tandems to use solo.

As noted, you can turn some boats and paddle them backwards if the hull is symmetric. The Northstar, Polaris and Ranger are not.

* Ranger Canoe

I do it ALL the time on both my 17 and 19’ canoes. I even made a seat that sits right on top of the gunwales specifically for this purpose.

I actually find it enjoyable- apparently I’m the only one. It’s very stable and you can make it fly without another person in it.

If the seat is right in the middle the balance is perfect- no need to counterbalance anything. I’m not a fan of sitting in the bow seat backwards- did it for a long time but center seat is way better. IMO Sitting in the bow seat throws the balance too far toward the rear and it puts too much of the canoe in front of you to get caught by the wind- you’re on the losing side of a lever in that situation.

Wind isn’t ideal with a single person in the middle of a tandem- but is a non factor with light winds, and manageable in medium winds.

Sitting on top of the gunwales fixes the sit/switch paddle problem- even with a wide beam.

It’s basically my go to in the bwca as my better half/trip parter doesn’t like to fish too much. I actually bring my seat with on trips specifically for the purposes of doing this.

Sure a solo is better but this works very well for me. Go for it.

Grizzlyman: "If the seat is right in the middle the balance is perfect- no need to counterbalance anything."

Not necessarily so with an asymmetric hull like a Bell Northstar. A bit aft of center seems to be better in this case.

I think it depends on the canoe. I have a Wenonah Escape in kevlar and when I tried to use a jump seat it was impossible in stronger winds. I just kept getting pushed around too much. Doing the "sit in the bottom of the center of the boat" thing worked much better, but that would not be fun for 50-miles.

I have one of these in my B17. I love it, both on the portage and the lake.

Spring Creek Seat Yoke

At 36" wide in the middle, it's not as easy to paddle from the center as a traditional solo is, but enjoyable and very manageable. A kayak paddle makes it much easier, but I use my bent shaft most of the time.