How to bail out when kneeling

[Giffman]

Still playing around, trying to figuring things out and getting comfortable. Loading / unloading for transport, kneel vs sit, single blade paddle vs double blade paddle,etc etc. It dawned on me that when kneeling, bailing out when the canoe rolls over could be a scary situation. While it’s not that hard to tuck my feet behind me under the seat and kneel forward to paddle, I’m not sure how to quickly pull them out if I need to. I can practice in the pool but it still kinda freaks me out. Probably something easy I’m missing. Can anyone share some techniques?

Thx

 

[Alan Gage]

I feel the same way. Also, I primarily sit and only kneel on occasion so a seat high enough for me to comfortably get my feet under is too high for sitting. I solved this by installing pedestal seats in my canoes. The seat is at my desired height for sitting and when kneeling my feet don't have to go under anything.

Alan

 

[dutchlennart]

a pool is good .with the current temps is is hard to find cold water so with a buddy in some shloow water to try is also a good idea.
not sure if there are commercially available quick release seats. I havesene on song of the paddle a numbeer os options diy for kneeling twarhts.
in the uk many paddle solo on a kneeling twarth in heavy pe "prospector" on shalllow smallish gr 2/3 streams with trees strainers and... There ir can turn ugly.

a lot depends on how agile are you . seathieght . footwear. enviroment. how big is the distance between your seat and the next obstanctel in your boat that prefends you from laying flat on the floor (thwarthe , yoke other seat or the end of the boat

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I feel the same way. Also, I primarily sit and only kneel on occasion so a seat high enough for me to comfortably get my feet under is too high for sitting. I solved this by installing pedestal seats in my canoes. The seat is at my desired height for sitting and when kneeling my feet don't have to go under anything.

Alan

I kneel more than sit, but this ^ is my preferred method in my river oriented solo canoes. With a pedestal, you come right out of the boat when it's called for, unimpeded.

In a tandem, I like a kneeling thwart for solo paddling. Not much to get hung up on. On flat water solos or tandems I like a contoured bench seat for kneeling. That allows a little more clearance for feet while keeping the seat at a good level for sitting.

Footwear choice helps a lot. If I'm going to be kneeling on a bench seat, I'm wearing either low cut water shoes or soft soled neoprene boots. Flexibility and minimal snag potential are important. Barefoot or footwear that slips off easily work too.

If your bench seat has open space at either end of the frame, it's a good idea to block that with something to minimize the chance of getting your heel hung up there. One of my canoes has that space covered with tight netting. On others, I use this...

Padded Seat with Saddlebags

Cordura nylon outer, 1/2" closed cell foam pad. Two quick release buckles (2 front/back). Each bag measure 6 1/2" x 5" x 4 3/4" Add comfort and storage at the same time.

cookecustomsewing.com

 

[Giffman]

Can you guys post a picture of your pedestal seats? I also like the idea of a quick release seat.

 

[Alan Gage]

Can you guys post a picture of your pedestal seats?

Mine will be different than most pedestal seats you see recommended for this purpose. Mine were designed mainly to give adjustability fore/aft while seated with the side benefit of allowing easy kneeling when required.

https://flic.kr/p/EpkrhP

 

[Giffman]

Nice! How do they fasten to the hull?

 

[Gamma1214]

That was actually my first question

 

[lowangle al]

Still playing around, trying to figuring things out and getting comfortable. Loading / unloading for transport, kneel vs sit, single blade paddle vs double blade paddle,etc etc. It dawned on me that when kneeling, bailing out when the canoe rolls over could be a scary situation. While it’s not that hard to tuck my feet behind me under the seat and kneel forward to paddle, I’m not sure how to quickly pull them out if I need to. I can practice in the pool but it still kinda freaks me out. Probably something easy I’m missing. Can anyone share some techniques?

Thx

The easiest fix would be to raise your seat enough that your feet will slide out easily. A higher seat will make sitting more comfortable too. You do need to make sure your boat is stable enough to allow you to do this. What boat are you paddling?

 

[Erica]

Doesn't anyone use thigh straps in white water anymore?

If I am wearing booties I can slip out easily from the seat, but with thigh straps I would have to release the straps.

 

[Alan Gage]

Nice! How do they fasten to the hull?

Some little strips of fiberglass

Alan

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Two examples of pedestals I've installed. First is in the Wildfire.


This one in the Guide. Note that it is lower and wider on top. A little better for sitting.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Doesn't anyone use thigh straps in white water anymore?

If I am wearing booties I can slip out easily from the seat, but with thigh straps I would have to release the straps.

With a pedestal, you slip right out of the straps. I have QD buckles anyway. QD is the way to go if you use straps with a bench seat.

 

[Giffman]

The easiest fix would be to raise your seat enough that your feet will slide out easily. A higher seat will make sitting more comfortable too. You do need to make sure your boat is stable enough to allow you to do this. What boat are you paddling?

14’ Swift Prospector

 

[dutchlennart]

Doesn't anyone use thigh straps in white water anymore?

If I am wearing booties I can slip out easily from the seat, but with thigh straps I would have to release the straps.

Many still do tigh straps. altough from what i see most new boats do a bulkhead pedeastal system. like in the pic

 

[stripperguy]

In my solo boats, I have a pedestal for the seats, one is an Alan Gage carbon bucket, the other is a wood framed woven seat.
Both attach to the pedestal with 3M dual lock, sort of Velcro on steroids. Quick and easy to adjust fore and aft, and if my foot or feet get tangled, the seats will just pop loose.
Pics to follow when I’m back home

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Many still do tigh straps. altough from what i see most new boats do a bulkhead pedeastal system. like in the pic

This is how my Esquif Vertige is set up, and I slip right out of that too, if I want to.

 

[lowangle al]

14’ Swift Prospector

Congratulations, that appears to be a very nice canoe. Prospectors are typically pretty stable, so you may be able to raise the seat just enough that your feet won't feel like they will get trapped, but not so much to make it tippy.