Seat installation question:

Have you installed your solo seat level or with a slight pitch (front of seat lower than back of seat).

I am following Kunz's (original Merlin) plan. Front of seat 6" aft of center. The shear line is nearly flat at this part of the hull. I have been thinking of designing my seat hanger to drop the front about 1/2" compared to the rear

I drop the fronts of all my seats tandem or solo about a 1/2 inch as you mentioned. I just like the way they feel.
CB

No set rule, experiment with what is most comfortable. Start long and cut your way back. If you're a kneeler definitely cant the seat a bit forward to make it easier on your backside.

Yep. That's what I do.

Thanks for the responses. I was leaning that way. Today, I went that way.

I dropped the front a little shy of 1/2". Looks good, don't know how it will feel till I get it on the water.

HPD,
At what distance below the top of the gunnel to seat top did you hang your seat?
Dick

Hi Dick
I think the better question would be what is the distance from the bottom of the seat to the hull. There is not a lot of freeboard in this canoe. Right now I have (on the front of seat) about 2.25" to the top of gunwale and about 8" from bottom of seat to hull.
Joe

Thanks, Joe!
I just wanted to compare my seat height to see if I had mine correctly located vertically. I plan on using a Crazy Creek III canoe seat on my Merlin next month for a 7 day solo and it has a 1-1/2" closed cell foam bottom pad and this will have the effect of raising the seat height. I want to keep a fairly low center of gravity so I may need to lower the seat accordingly.
Dick

Dick
I admire your combination seat/yoke, but I have wondered if the seat was comfortable (a bit of closed cell will make it so :). The top of your seat looks to be about 4 strips down from the sheer line..... which makes it a bit lower than mine

Where ya going on the solo (or is that a secret destination)

HPD,
Maybe I am ok with my seat height.

I just reserved my entry permit for June 15, 2011 for entry point #25 and have a satellite phone rented for that date also. So everything is a go and I am looking forward to the trip. I will be out at least a week and plan to cover some miles. According to Robert Beymer's book (route #25-2) I will be doing about 62 miles, 25 lakes,4 ponds, 1 river, 1 creek and 28 portages. I will be double portaging. I hope to do a trip report sometime later in the year.
Dick