I am looking to finally pull the trigger on buying a used canoe this fall from an outfitter. In my many trips before this year we have always used an aluminum canoe as that is what my Dad rented when I was young, (no other real reason, I guess it is cheaper to reant as well). The past couple of trips with my boys, (ages 36 and 31) we also rented a Wehnonah solo as well as the aluminum canoe instead of going with a 3 seater. This year it was just one son and myself to check out a new area, (Sawbill and Alton) and try several new items in camp before taking his son along next year. We rented a MN II, which was a great canoe, held a ton of gear and light, but I could NOT get comfortable sitting. I felt my knees were so much higher than my butt in the seat. I never had this issue in the aluminum ones.

Question is, is there a guide that shows the seat heights? I can find length, width, etc on almost every canoe but not seat. Thoughts are appreciated!!

Doug

We just bought a used canoe from an outfitter last fall. I am starting to think all outfitter canoes have the seats really low and the positioning fore and aft of the seats seems strange too. Maybe they are set up to keep people's center of gravity lower to have less swamping when there are inexperienced paddlers and maybe they assume a big heavy guy in the stern and lightweight person in the bow so they put the bow seat farther forward. I don't know. But to get to the point...

We are modifying our bench seat heights by adding some wood under the connection points. We are also extending the brackets so we can better position them fore and aft.

Unfortunately it isn't quite done yet or I would post pictures. But we have to finish this weekend to prep for a trip so I will post then.

I've never seen anything that lists seat heights. Just FYI the seats in my Polaris tandem are 8 inches above the floor and they are low seats for sitting. It's easy to raise the height of seats and you can also just bring a pad to raise your position, for example when I want to kneel in a boat with low seats I just sit on a flotation cushion and that raises me 2 inches or so.

bear in mind there is a direct relationship between raising those seat heights and stability of your canoe.

Early on, I found the guys that tended to capsize the most were the ones sitting on thick seat cushions in their canoes.

ockycamper: "bear in mind there is a direct relationship between raising those seat heights and stability of your canoe.


Early on, I found the guys that tended to capsize the most were the ones sitting on thick seat cushions in their canoes."

Yes, if raising the seat height, I strongly recommend doing temporary measures until you find that sweet spot between stability and mobility of body parts. And a thick seat cushion is not as stable as a fixed seat height.

Seat height will also change the shoulder to water distance and may benefit from a longer (or shorter) paddle. A pad and the higher center of gravity impact stability as noted by others.
I paddle with feet extended to a footrest in my Magic and a pack placed as footrest when in stern of a tandem. It creates the foot/butt anchor to the canoe. I have put my knees against the gunnel when no footrest is available. If I sit with my feet in front of me like in a chair my knees are higher like you describe.

Your seat should be high enough that you can get your feet under them if you are kneeling. There are times in heavy waves that kneeling will lower the center of gravity to the point where you can prevent capsizing.

Most seats are usually around 10” at the top of the seat from the bottom of the canoe. I’ve placed hundreds of seats in canoes over my years.
Tom

Thank you all for the thoughts and good ideas! I knew this group would come through for me.

I understand completely the stability factor and respect this first. I have always owned a cushion, used it as a pillow in tent, had it ready for a throw device for floatation if someone needed it overboard etc., but I have never sat on it in the canoe. This might be a test method before I lay the cash down but I will cross that bridge when I get there on the test "drive".

Does anyone own a Grumman Alumcraft canoe and could give me the measurement of the height of the seat? I agree with Tumblehome on 10" height being average, but just curious how that compares to Alumacraft.

Thanks, as always!!

Doug

I would agree with the previous comments that an adjustable foot rest for the rear paddler, or one in the middle for the solo paddler is the way to go. You plant your feet on the rest, and lock your knees to the side of the canoe. It gives you kayak like control of the canoe.

Also, in over 20 years of taking men on canoe trips all but one capsize involved paddlers sitting on seat cushions

Hopefully you can find pads of different thicknesses for your butt shimming exercise. One of my favorite pads is a gardener's kneeling pad that's stiff and about an inch thick. The pads made for hunters are comfy and raise you maybe 1/2". I measured several of my canoes and my Wenonah Advantage seat is also about 8 inches off the floor while a couple of my solos set up for sitting or kneeling are 8.5-9. Maybe the MNII where your knees felt too high had the footbrace too close? or something else made it feel odd?