Contoured Canoe Seats

[Ray Kepler]

Hi, wondering if there are any tips on how to make these seats, the type that kinda dips down in the middle. Should I simply cut the long cross sections from a solid piece of wood, or is there a short cut/easier way to do this?
I can't find anything on the web.
Thanks in advance .

 

[pklonowski]

The contoured seats I've seen were made using bent front rails, either one-piece steam bent, or multiple-layered bent on forms. Either method will result in a much stronger front rail than cutting a curved shape through a straight piece of wood. When grain runs out the side of a board, cracks happen.

 

[patrick corry]

When grain runs out the side of a board, cracks happen.

You might look for a curved piece of stock that matches the curvature you want. I walk through a state park very often and there are always bits of trees cut and tossed aside where they have fallen across a trail. I'm constantly eyeing the curved or crotch bits to see if they might make a yoke or interesting deck piece for my wood canvas canoes. Curved wood is always preferred for boat parts. I've gotten more than a few odd looks from hikers when they see me trundling a wheelbarrow down the trail with a chunk of wood! I just tell them I'm doing trail maintenance.

 

[patrick corry]

I forgot to add... there are several canoe builders over on canoetripping.net who make these sort of seats.

 

[MGC]

If you have not paddled with a contoured seat, I would recommend it before you commit a large amount of effort to making them. They are not everyone's cup of tea. Much like a webbed seat tends to glue you in place, these force you into a pocket. That is OK for dipsy-doodling around, but when the going gets rough and you need to do a quick seat shift, these can be a hindrance. Essex Industries used to offer them. I'm not sure if they still do. Check Rutabaga.
Since a contoured seat is a modification, I would not be shy about buying them pre-built and keeping the original ones for a future restoration.

 

[Worth Gretter]

I agree with Mike. I took the tractor seats out of my 17 foot Wenonah for just that reason. They feel great at first, but you can't change position.